Food and nutrition guides, including what to check before you share a bite.
Yes, most healthy dogs can eat a little peeled banana as an occasional treat. Offer a small, manageable piece or a little mash. Keep the peel away, and do not assume banana bread, chips or pudding have the same safety profile as plain fruit. [1]
Avocado is best left off your dog’s treat menu. A small accidental taste of plain flesh is different from swallowing a pit, eating skin or consuming guacamole, but none should be judged from a simple yes-or-no food list. The pit can cause choking or an intestinal blockage; call your veterinarian promptly if it was swallowed or is missing. [1]
Yes, dogs can eat a small amount of plain watermelon flesh. Remove the rind and hard seeds, and cut the fruit into manageable pieces. Offer it as an occasional snack rather than a meal or a replacement for drinking water. [1]
Yes, most healthy dogs can eat a small amount of plain strawberry. Wash the fruit, remove the leafy top and stem, and cut or mash it to a texture the dog can manage. Offer a little first and watch for digestive upset before giving more. [1]
Many dogs can eat a tiny amount of plain cheese, but some cannot tolerate dairy or rich foods. Cheese can be high in fat and salt, so it is best treated as an occasional reward rather than a regular addition to meals. [1]
Dogs can eat a small amount of plain, fully cooked potato if it suits their diet. Do not intentionally feed raw potatoes, green potatoes, sprouts or potato plants. Keep butter, gravy, onions, garlic and seasoning out of a portion meant for the dog. [1]
Yes, most healthy dogs can have a few plain blueberries as an occasional treat. Wash them, remove stems and check for spoilage. Mash or cut the berries if whole ones are difficult for your dog to manage. Blueberries are optional extras, not a substitute for complete dog food. [1]
No. Dogs should not eat grapes or raisins. If your dog ate either, call your veterinarian or an emergency veterinary hospital now, even if your dog is acting normally. Cornell advises treating any ingestion as an emergency because the amount that causes harm is unpredictable. [1]
Yes, most healthy dogs can eat a little plain apple flesh. Wash the apple, remove the stem, seeds and core, and cut the fruit into pieces your dog can comfortably manage. Apples are an optional snack, not a requirement for a balanced diet. [1]