Which foods are unsafe for dogs, and what should I do if mine ate one?

Short answer: a few everyday foods can upset a dog's body, including chocolate, grapes and raisins, xylitol, onions and garlic, and raw bread dough. If your dog has eaten one, the next step is simple: stay calm, call your vet or a poison helpline, and tell them what happened. Early advice from a vet helps most, and they will tell you whether anything more is needed.

The foods to know about

Chocolate. Dark and baking chocolate and cocoa powder are the most worrying. Milk chocolate is less so, and white chocolate very little. The first signs are usually vomiting, diarrhoea and restlessness, often within 6 to 12 hours. Your vet will ask what type, how much, and how big your dog is, so it helps to have those ready.

Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants. Some dogs react to these with an upset stomach and sometimes kidney problems. Vomiting or diarrhoea usually starts within 6 to 12 hours, and kidney effects can follow over the next day or two. There is no way to tell which dogs will react, so any amount is worth a call.

Xylitol. This sweetener is in sugar-free gum, mints, some peanut butter, baked goods, toothpaste and some supplements. It can lower a dog's blood sugar within about 30 minutes, or several hours later if it was in a slow-digesting product. It can also affect the liver over the following day or two. Early help works best, so please call straight away.

Onions, garlic, chives and leeks. These can make a dog unwell a few days after eating them, not straight away. Raw, cooked and powdered all count, and garlic is stronger than onion. Check gravy, sauces and soup mixes. How much was eaten matters, and your vet can tell you what it means for your dog, so a quick call is the simplest way to know.

Raw bread dough. Yeast dough swells in the warm stomach and makes alcohol as it rises. That can cause a bloated, uncomfortable tummy and a drunk, wobbly dog, and your vet will want to check a dog who has eaten it. Alcoholic drinks and food made with alcohol call for the same step.

Macadamia nuts. They can cause vomiting, weakness, wobbliness, tremors and a raised temperature, usually within 12 hours. Dogs usually recover within a few days, and a quick call to your vet is still the right step. Salty and fatty nuts can also upset the stomach.

Coffee, tea and energy drinks. These can make a dog restless and unwell, much like chocolate. If your dog has had some, give your vet a call and tell them how much.

Nutmeg. The small amount in a recipe is very unlikely to cause serious trouble, though it can upset the stomach. A large amount of the plain spice is what to avoid.

Avocado. It is not a big worry for most dogs, but the stone can get stuck and it is very fatty, so it is best not to share it.

Corn on the cob and bones. These are not poisons, but they can lodge in the throat or gut, and a vet may need to help.

If your dog has eaten one

Take a breath. Then call your vet, even if your dog looks completely well, because many of these take hours to show. It is better to call than to wait and see. It helps to have the packaging nearby, and to know what was eaten, roughly how much, when, and your dog's weight. If your vet is closed, an emergency vet can help. In the US you can also call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-426-4435) or Pet Poison Helpline (1-855-764-7661), where a fee may apply. Elsewhere, it is worth asking your vet for a local number to keep handy.

While you wait for advice, please do not try to treat your dog or make them vomit. Your vet will tell you what is right for what was eaten and how long ago.

Making it easier next time

Keep food, sweets and dough out of reach, keep your dog out of the kitchen while you cook, and ask guests not to share snacks. Reading labels for xylitol and closing bags and bins takes care of most of it. If your dog tends to scavenge on walks, our guide to dogs that eat trash has some gentle first steps.

Sources: Dogs Trust, toxic foods: dogstrust.org.uk. Blue Cross, foods poisonous to dogs: bluecross.org.uk. RSPCA, poisoning in dogs: rspca.org.uk. ASPCA, people foods to avoid: aspca.org. AVMA, household hazards: avma.org. US FDA, potentially dangerous items: fda.gov. Merck Veterinary Manual: chocolate, grapes, xylitol, onion and garlic, bread dough, macadamia, avocado. Pet Poison Helpline, nutmeg.

General education only, not veterinary advice or a plan for your individual dog. If your dog may have eaten something on this list, please contact a vet. See our legal page.