Food list
Fruits for dogs: the safe ones, the risky ones, the never
Most fruit is fine in small pieces. Two fruits are not, and one of them is the reason vets ask about grapes before anything else.
Fruit is the easiest place to start with dog-safe food, and the easiest place to make a serious mistake. The same bowl that holds a harmless handful of blueberries also holds grapes, which can shut down a dog's kidneys with no warning and no reliable dose threshold. The difference is not the sugar or the sweetness. It is chemistry.
For the safe fruits below, the rules are consistent: fresh or frozen, never canned in syrup, washed, and cut into pieces small enough to swallow. Remove every stone, pit, core and seed — not because the flesh is dangerous, but because apple seeds, apricot kernels and cherry pits release cyanide when chewed, and because a plum stone is a perfect intestinal obstruction.
Dried fruit is a different category. Drying concentrates both sugar and, in the case of grapes, the toxin — which is why raisins and sultanas are among the most dangerous foods on this site. Treat dried fruit as a no unless it is a single piece of unsweetened apple or banana chip, and even then only as an occasional treat.
Stone fruit flesh is safe. The pit is not. Peach, plum, cherry, apricot and nectarine stones contain amygdalin, which the gut converts to cyanide. Small dogs have died from chewing a single cherry pit. Cut fruit away from the stone, throw the stone straight in the bin, and never leave a bowl of cherries where a dog can reach it.
Safe fruit: 25 foods
Apple
SafeCrisp, fibre-rich and a good chew. Remove seeds and the core first: apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when crushed.
Serve 2–3 slices, no core
Banana
SafeSoft, potassium-rich and easy to mash into a meal. High in sugar, so keep it an occasional extra rather than a daily habit.
Serve 2–3 slices
Blueberry
SafeOne of the best small treats: antioxidants, vitamin C and almost no fat. Freeze a few for a long-lasting summer snack.
Serve 5–8 berries
Strawberry
SafeSweet and low in calories. Wash well and cut in half so it cannot lodge in a small throat.
Serve 3–4 berries, hulled
Raspberry
SafeFine fresh or frozen. The tiny seeds are harmless to dogs, unlike the seeds of stone fruit.
Serve 6–10 berries
Blackberry
SafeSafe in moderation and pleasantly tart. Wild berries from a hedgerow can carry parasites, so rinse or use shop-bought fruit.
Serve 6–8 berries
Watermelon
SafeA hydrating summer treat that most dogs love. Remove rind and every seed: rind is hard to digest and seeds can block the gut.
Serve 2–3 seedless cubes
Cantaloupe
SafeSoft, fragrant and rich in vitamin A. Scoop out the seeds and discard the rind before offering a piece.
Serve 2–3 cubes, rind removed
Honeydew melon
SafeMostly water and gentle on the stomach. As with all melon, remove seeds and rind and keep portions small.
Serve 2–3 cubes, rind removed
Pear
SafeGentle on sensitive stomachs and a good source of fibre. The seeds and stem should always be discarded.
Serve 2–3 slices, no core
Peach
SafeRipe flesh only. The stone and leaves contain cyanogenic compounds and are a genuine choking hazard.
Serve 1–2 slices, stone removed
Nectarine
SafeSame rules as peach: flesh is fine, the stone is not. Cut around the pit rather than letting your dog gnaw it.
Serve 1–2 slices, stone removed
Plum
SafeFlesh is safe in small amounts. Plums are a mild laxative, so too many pieces can cause loose stools.
Serve 1–2 slices, stone removed
Mango
SafeSweet and soft with plenty of vitamin A. Peel it and remove the stone: the skin is tough and the stone is a blockage risk.
Serve 2–3 cubes, peeled
Pineapple
SafeFresh or frozen chunks are fine in moderation. The bromelain enzyme can irritate a sensitive mouth, and canned fruit is too sugary.
Serve 2–3 small chunks
Orange
SafeThe flesh is safe and a useful source of vitamin C. Citrus peel and pith can upset the stomach, so peel fully.
Serve 1–2 segments, peeled
Tangerine
SafeSame guidance as orange. Small dogs should have one segment only because of the sugar content.
Serve 1–2 segments, peeled
Kiwi
SafeHigh in vitamin C and fibre. Peel it and slice thinly; the hairy skin is unpleasant and hard to digest.
Serve 1–2 slices, peeled
Papaya
SafeSoft and easy to chew, with enzymes that can help digestion. Scoop out the seeds and remove the skin.
Serve 2–3 cubes, seeds removed
Persimmon
SafeRipe flesh only, and never the seeds or the calyx. Unripe fruit is astringent and can cause stomach upset.
Serve 1–2 small pieces, seeds removed
Cherry
SafeThe flesh is safe; the pit, stem and leaves are not. Never give a dog cherries with the stone still in.
Serve 2–3 cherries, pitted
Apricot
SafeFlesh only. Apricot kernels contain cyanide-releasing compounds and are dangerous even in small amounts.
Serve 1–2 pieces, stone removed
Cranberry
SafeSafe fresh or dried without added sugar. Do not treat it as a cure for urinary problems; see a vet for those.
Serve 5–6 berries
Fig
SafeFresh figs are fine in small amounts. Avoid dried figs and fig jam, which concentrate sugar, and never let a dog eat the leaves.
Serve 1 small fresh fig
Coconut flesh
SafeA little fresh coconut is safe. It is very high in fat, so avoid it entirely if your dog has had pancreatitis.
Serve 1 small piece
Only with care
Wild berries
CautionOnly feed berries you can positively identify as edible. Several wild berries and nightshade family plants are toxic to dogs.
Serve Avoid unidentified plants
Lemon
CautionThe juice and peel are very acidic and the oils can irritate the mouth. Dogs have no need for lemon in their diet.
Serve Not recommended
Lime
CautionSame as lemon: acidic, aromatic oils in the peel, and no nutritional benefit for a dog.
Serve Not recommended
Grapefruit
CautionAcidic and bitter, and the peel oils can cause stomach upset. There is no reason to feed it.
Serve Not recommended
Never feed these
Grape
ToxicGrapes and raisins can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs. There is no reliable safe dose, so treat every grape as a risk.
Serve None — never
Raisin
ToxicDried grapes are more concentrated and are hidden in cakes, trail mix and Christmas pudding. Ingestion needs a vet call.
Serve None — never
Avocado
ToxicThe flesh is high in fat and the skin, pit and leaves contain persin. Reported effects include vomiting, diarrhoea and pancreatitis.
Serve None — avoid
Three fruit questions people ask most
Is fruit actually good for my dog?
It is a reasonable source of fibre, vitamin C and water, and most dogs enjoy it. It is not necessary. A complete diet already contains everything a dog needs, so fruit works best as a low-calorie treat that replaces a biscuit rather than adding to the total. A handful of blueberries is roughly 5 kcal — an excellent trade. A banana is closer to 100 kcal and needs to come out of the daily budget.
Can I give frozen fruit?
Yes, and frozen berries make an excellent summer treat. Freeze individual blueberries or slices of watermelon on a tray, then bag them. Avoid frozen whole grapes for the same reason you avoid fresh ones, and avoid freezing fruit into a block that a dog could try to swallow whole.
What about fruit juice and smoothies?
No. Juice removes the fibre, concentrates the sugar, and in the case of grape juice is actively dangerous. Smoothies often contain banana, yogurt, honey and sometimes xylitol-sweetened protein powder. If you want to give fruit, give fruit.
Where to go next
If you are building a bowl rather than handing out a treat, the calorie calculator will tell you how much of the daily budget fruit is allowed to occupy. If your dog has already eaten something from the red group above, go straight to the grape and raisin guide or the emergency checklist.