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Some dog treats can expose a dog to toxic ingredients, harmful bacteria, choking, intestinal blockage, or injury. The 21 entries below are hazard examples—not an FDA-approved list of 21 specific commercial treats, and not a claim that every product in a broad category is dangerous. Check labels, consider how your dog chews, and ask a veterinarian about risks related to your dog’s health.
What treats should dogs avoid?
Avoid giving dogs treats containing ingredients the FDA identifies as dangerous, including xylitol, chocolate, grapes or raisins, macadamia nuts, onions, garlic, and salt. Raw treats carry a bacterial-contamination risk; bones and treats a dog can swallow whole can cause choking, blockage, or injury. A very hard chew may also pose a dental risk. These hazards are different: an ingredient’s toxicity is not the same problem as contamination, choking, or tooth damage.
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The FDA does not provide a vetted list of exactly 21 commercial dog treats to avoid. The numbered items here are examples of products, ingredients, or situations that illustrate the documented hazards. Some overlap—for instance, xylitol can appear in different kinds of products—and the risk varies with the item and exposure. This is a practical checklist, not a complete toxicology guide or a universal safe-treat list.
Which ingredients in human foods can make a treat dangerous?
Check both dog-treat labels and human foods you might share. The FDA names several edible hazards, but they do not all affect dogs in the same way or at the same exposure. Keep these items out of reach rather than trying to judge safety from a small-looking portion. See the FDA’s guidance on potentially dangerous items for pets.
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- Xylitol-containing gum. Some gum contains xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. Do not share gum, and store it where a dog cannot get into a purse, pocket, or discarded wrapper.
- Xylitol-containing candy. Some sugar-free candies use xylitol. “Sugar-free” is a reason to inspect the ingredient list, not a guarantee that a product is suitable for a dog.
- Nut butter containing xylitol. Some nut butters contain the sweetener. Check the label every time before offering a spoonful or using nut butter to fill a toy.
- Other sugar-free or low-sugar foods containing xylitol. Xylitol can appear in other foods marketed as sugar-free or low sugar. The product category alone cannot tell you whether it contains the ingredient.
- Products labeled with xylitol’s other names. The sweetener may also be called wood sugar, birch sugar, or birch bark extract. Scan the ingredients rather than relying only on the front-of-package description.
- Chocolate treats. Chocolate is among the foods the FDA identifies as dangerous for pets. Keep chocolate desserts and candy away from dogs; do not assume a bite is harmless because the product was made for people.
- Grapes. The FDA lists grapes as a potential danger. Avoid offering them as snacks or adding them to a homemade treat.
- Raisins. Raisins are also listed by the FDA. Watch for them in foods such as baked goods and keep those foods away from dogs.
- Macadamia nuts. These nuts are on the FDA’s list of potentially dangerous items. Do not use them as a treat or share foods that contain them.
- Onion-containing foods. Onions are listed as a hazard. Avoid sharing dishes or snacks with onion ingredients.
- Garlic-containing foods. Garlic is also named by the FDA. Do not treat a seasoned human-food snack as dog-safe simply because garlic is one ingredient among several.
- Very salty foods. The FDA includes salt among edible dangers. Avoid using salty snacks as rewards; the fact that a dog wants a food does not make it an appropriate treat.
- Avocado. FDA consumer guidance also names avocado as a potential pet hazard. Do not assume a human snack or dip containing avocado is suitable for a dog.
This list is deliberately limited to hazards named in FDA guidance; it is not an exhaustive list of toxic foods. The possible consequences and risk depend on the food and the dog’s exposure. For individual questions about a particular food or a dog’s medical needs, contact a veterinarian rather than extrapolating from this list.
Which 21 treat examples illustrate the main risks?
The entries below group the examples by what can go wrong. Items 1–13 are food or ingredient examples; the rest describe contamination, chewing, swallowing, or a historical reporting signal. They are not 21 separate products proven unsafe, and a broad category should not be treated as uniformly harmful.
- Gum with xylitol — ingredient hazard.
- Candy with xylitol — ingredient hazard.
- Nut butter with xylitol — ingredient hazard; check the label.
- Other sugar-free or low-sugar food with xylitol — ingredient hazard; the label is decisive.
- A product listing wood sugar, birch sugar, or birch bark extract — these are other names for xylitol.
- Chocolate candy or dessert — the FDA lists chocolate as dangerous for pets.
- Grapes offered as a snack — a listed food hazard.
- Raisins in a snack or baked good — a listed food hazard.
- Macadamia nuts used as a treat — a listed food hazard.
- Onion-containing leftovers — a listed food hazard.
- Garlic-seasoned snacks — a listed food hazard.
- Salty human-food snacks — salt is included in FDA guidance.
- Avocado-containing food — named in FDA consumer guidance as a potential hazard.
- Raw meat pet treats — raw pet food is more likely than processed pet food to contain harmful bacteria, according to the FDA.
- Other raw pet-food treats — the same contamination concern applies; this does not mean every raw item is contaminated.
- A bone that can break or be swallowed — bones can lodge in the digestive tract, and sharp pieces can injure it.
- A bone fragment — a sharp piece can cause injury even if the original chew was larger.
- A treat a dog gulps whole — a swallowed treat can lodge in the windpipe or gastrointestinal tract.
- A chew that is too large for the dog to manage safely — size and shape matter if the dog may try to swallow it whole.
- A very hard chew — hardness is a relevant dental-damage consideration; ask your veterinarian about a chew suited to your dog.
- Jerky treats viewed as automatically safe—or automatically unsafe — the FDA’s historical investigation warrants context, not a blanket conclusion about every jerky product.
Are raw dog treats safe?
Raw treats are not risk-free: the FDA says raw pet food is more likely than processed pet food to contain Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. That is a contamination-risk comparison, not a finding that every raw treat is contaminated. The FDA says not feeding a raw diet is the single best way to prevent infection from those bacteria.
If you handle pet food or treats, wash your hands and clean bowls and utensils afterward, as the FDA advises in its safe-handling guidance. These hygiene steps reduce handling risks; they do not turn a raw treat into a processed product or remove the reason for the FDA’s risk-reduction advice.
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Can bones and hard chews hurt a dog?
Yes. A bone can become lodged in a dog’s esophagus, stomach, or intestines, and sharp pieces can injure the digestive tract. Treats swallowed whole may lodge in the windpipe or gastrointestinal tract. The FDA discusses these hazards in its advice on keeping pets safe around holiday hazards.
Watch how your dog chews: size, shape, and the dog’s tendency to gulp matter, not just the product label. Supervise treats and chews, and do not let your dog gulp large quantities. A chew’s hardness is also worth considering because of potential dental damage; ask your veterinarian for advice if you are uncertain what is appropriate for your dog. Supervision can help you notice trouble, but it cannot make a hazardous chew safe.
A blockage may cause vomiting, diarrhea, reduced activity, loss of appetite, or abdominal pain. Signs may take hours or days to appear. If your dog is distressed, you suspect it swallowed a bone or treat, or concerning signs develop, contact a veterinarian promptly rather than waiting for symptoms to pass.
What does the FDA’s jerky investigation mean?
The FDA’s jerky investigation page reports approximately 5,200 complaints as of December 31, 2015; reports involving more than 6,200 dogs, 26 cats, and three people; and more than 1,140 reported canine deaths. These are historical report counts, not a current risk rate. The FDA cautions that adverse-event reports cannot establish incidence or compare relative safety because the number of animals exposed and the rate of reporting are unknown. Reports also do not establish that a jerky treat caused each illness.
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Most reports involved chicken jerky, with others involving duck, sweet potato, and combinations with dried fruit, sweet potato, yams, or rawhide. Those details describe what appeared in the historical reports; they do not prove that every jerky treat, every product from a particular source, or all treats containing those ingredients are unsafe. Read the FDA’s jerky pet-treat investigation for the limits and scope of its findings.
If a treat appears linked to illness, keep its package and lot number. The FDA says lot information is useful in reports; suspected adverse events can be submitted through its Safety Reporting Portal. Reporting an event is not the same as proof of causation, but preserving product details can help identify what was involved.
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What should I do if my dog ate a risky treat?
If you suspect your dog ate xylitol, contact a veterinarian, emergency animal clinic, or animal poison control center promptly. The FDA’s xylitol guidance specifically recommends seeking professional advice for suspected ingestion. Do not wait for signs before calling.
For a swallowed bone or treat, or if your dog appears distressed or develops vomiting, diarrhea, reduced activity, loss of appetite, or abdominal pain, contact a veterinarian promptly. Because signs of blockage may be delayed, an apparently normal moment does not rule out a problem. Keep the packaging or remaining treat available so you can tell the veterinarian what the dog may have eaten.
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For suspected ingestion of another potentially dangerous food, contact a veterinarian for advice specific to the item and exposure. Do not guess at a safe amount from a general online list: the FDA’s hazards do not share one threshold or one effect.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How can I choose and handle treats more carefully?
Use a short check before offering any treat. No FDA source here identifies one treat that is safe for every dog, and individual medical or dietary needs require individualized veterinary guidance.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Read the ingredient list. Check especially for xylitol in products marketed as sugar-free or low sugar, including nut butters. Look for its alternate names: wood sugar, birch sugar, or birch bark extract.
- Keep hazardous foods inaccessible. Store human foods, candy, gum, and treats where a dog cannot reach them; promptly secure products and wrappers after use.
- Consider contamination risk. If following FDA’s advice to reduce Salmonella and Listeria risk, avoid raw pet food and raw treats. Wash hands, bowls, and utensils after handling pet food or treats.
- Match the chew to the dog. Consider the dog’s size, chewing style, and whether it may swallow the item whole. Supervise rather than leaving a dog alone with a chew.
- Limit the amount available at once. Do not let a dog gulp large quantities. Carrying a limited portion for training can help manage access, but a pouch does not prevent choking or make an unsuitable treat safe.
- Ask about individual needs. For a dog with a medical condition, dietary restriction, or other specific need, ask a veterinarian rather than assuming a general treat recommendation applies.
The practical rule is to evaluate the actual ingredient list and the way your dog will eat the treat. “Natural,” “low sugar,” or “for dogs” does not answer every question about toxicity, bacteria, choking, or chewing injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I tell the vet if my dog ate xylitol?
Share the product name, ingredient label, and your best estimate of when the dog may have eaten it; keep the packaging available while you call. If you cannot confirm whether it contains xylitol, explain that uncertainty rather than delaying professional advice.
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Does the FDA publish an official list of 21 dog treats to avoid?
No. The FDA sources cited here describe hazards and safety guidance, not a ranked catalog of 21 commercial treats. Product formulations can also vary, so an ingredient label is more useful than assuming a whole product category has one risk profile.
Can I rely on a treat being safe because it is labeled for dogs?
A pet label does not answer every concern, such as whether a dog might swallow a chew whole or whether a raw product carries bacterial contamination risk. Check ingredients and consider the dog’s chewing behavior and medical needs.
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Should I report a dog’s illness after eating a treat?
If you suspect a treat may be involved, preserve its package and lot number and consider filing an adverse-event report through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal. A report records a concern; it does not by itself prove the treat caused the illness.
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