Nutrition & Feeding13 min read8 August 2026
Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat: The Complete NZ List (2026)
A complete NZ list of foods dogs can and can't eat, colour-coded 🟢🟡🟠🔴 with vet-based notes. Covers fruit, veg, meat, dairy and toxic foods.
Quick answer
This is a complete, at-a-glance list of common foods and whether they are safe for dogs in New Zealand. Use the colour key, then read the note — the note is the important part.
Colour key: 🟢 Yes (safe as an occasional plain treat) · 🟡 In moderation (small plain amounts, with care) · 🟠 Best avoided (not toxic, but not a good idea) · 🔴 No (unsafe or toxic — keep away).
⚠️ In an emergency, if your dog has eaten something toxic (like chocolate, grapes, onion, or xylitol/"sugar-free" products), do not wait for symptoms. Call your vet, an after-hours clinic, or the Pet Poison Helpline straight away. Have the packet and an idea of the amount ready.
Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat
| Food | Safe for dogs? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Almonds | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. SPCA NZ lists nuts such as almonds among foods that can cause problems for dogs, mainly because of oils, fats and obstruction concerns. |
| Apples | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, if the apple is plain, washed and prepared. ASPCA includes apples among fruits that can be shared with pets, and VCA advises removing cores,… |
| Apricots | 🔴 No | Dogs should not eat apricot stones, stems or leaves. A tiny piece of plain ripe apricot flesh is different from a whole apricot, but apricots are best… |
| Avocado | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. Avocado is not a good dog treat. |
| Banana | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, as an occasional plain treat. ASPCA lists bananas among fruits that can be shared with pets, and VCA's fruit and vegetable guidance… |
| Blueberries | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, as a small plain treat if your dog tolerates them. ASPCA lists blueberries among pet-safe snack options. |
| Bread | 🟡 In moderation | Plain baked bread is not usually a useful dog treat, but it is very different from raw yeast dough or raisin bread. ASPCApro notes that fully baked bread… |
| Broccoli | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes in tiny plain amounts if your dog tolerates it. ASPCA lists broccoli among pet-safe vegetable snack options. |
| Cabbage | 🟢 Yes | Dogs can usually have plain cabbage as an occasional food extra if it is washed, unseasoned and cut into manageable pieces. Avoid coleslaw, dressing,… |
| Cantaloupe | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat a little plain cantaloupe flesh. Remove rind and seeds, keep pieces small, and avoid fruit salad with grapes, alcohol, syrup or… |
| Carrots | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, as a plain small treat. ASPCA lists carrots as a pet-safe vegetable snack, and SPCA NZ includes carrot in homemade dog treat ideas. |
| Cauliflower | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain cauliflower occasionally if it is washed, manageable and unseasoned. Avoid cauliflower cheese, onion, garlic, butter,… |
| Celery | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain celery as an occasional crunchy treat if it is washed, cut into manageable pieces and served without dips or seasoning. |
| Cheese | 🟡 In moderation | Sometimes, but only as a limited plain treat if your dog tolerates dairy. ASPCA's people-food guidance flags milk and dairy as foods that can cause… |
| Cherries | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. Dogs should not eat cherry pits, stems or leaves, and whole cherries are risky because the stone can be swallowed. |
| Chives | 🔴 No | No, dogs should not eat chives. Avoid fresh chives, dried chives, dips, soups, mashed potato toppings and herb mixes that contain chives. |
| Chocolate | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat chocolate. |
| Christmas Cake | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat Christmas cake. |
| Christmas Pudding | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat Christmas pudding. |
| Cinnamon | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid giving cinnamon to dogs as a treat. A tiny amount baked into food is different from eating cinnamon powder, spice mix, essential oil or heavily… |
| Coconut | 🟡 In moderation | A little plain coconut flesh may be okay for some dogs, but keep it small and plain. Avoid chocolate coconut bars, sweet slices, coconut cream curries,… |
| Cooked Beef | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat a little plain lean cooked beef. Avoid cooked bones, fat trimmings, onion, garlic, gravy, marinades, barbecue sauce and seasoned… |
| Cooked Bones | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat cooked bones. |
| Cooked Chicken | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain cooked boneless chicken as an occasional food extra. It must be free from cooked bones, skin-heavy scraps, onion, garlic,… |
| Corn Cobs | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat corn cobs. |
| Cucumber | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, as small plain pieces if your dog tolerates them. ASPCA lists cucumber among foods that can be safely shared with pets. |
| Curry | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat curry. |
| Eggs | 🟡 In moderation | Plain cooked egg may be okay as an occasional small treat, but raw egg is not a safe shortcut. SPCA NZ warns that raw or undercooked meat, bones and eggs… |
| Fruit Mince Pies | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat fruit mince pies. |
| Garlic | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat garlic. |
| Garlic Bread | 🔴 No | No, dogs should not eat garlic bread. Garlic, garlic butter, onion powder, salt, fat and rich bread toppings make it a food to keep out of reach. |
| Grapes | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat grapes, raisins or currants. |
| Green Beans | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain green beans as an occasional treat, as long as they are washed, manageable and unseasoned. The unsafe version is green… |
| Ham And Bacon | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. ASPCA warns that processed meats such as lunch meat or bacon can be high in salt, and SPCA NZ warns against processed human foods for dogs. |
| Hot Cross Buns | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat hot cross buns. |
| Ice Cream | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. SPCA NZ notes many dogs are lactose intolerant, and ASPCA's people-food guidance warns that milk and dairy can upset pets. |
| Instant Noodles | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat instant noodles. |
| Kiwifruit | 🟡 In moderation | Plain ripe kiwifruit flesh may be okay in small pieces if your dog tolerates it. ASPCA lists kiwi among foods that can be safely shared with pets. |
| Kumara | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain cooked kumara as an occasional treat if it is unseasoned and your dog tolerates it. Kumara is sweet potato, so the… |
| Leeks | 🔴 No | No, dogs should not eat leeks. Keep raw leek, cooked leek, leek soup, stock, stuffing and pie fillings away from dogs. |
| Lunch Meat | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid giving lunch meat to dogs. Processed slices are often salty, fatty, smoked or seasoned, and may contain onion, garlic, preservatives or rich sauces. |
| Macadamia Nuts | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat macadamia nuts. |
| Mango | 🟡 In moderation | Plain ripe mango flesh may be okay in small pieces, but remove the skin and stone. VCA advises feeding only the pieces of fruit you would eat and… |
| Meat Pies | 🔴 No | No, do not use meat pies as dog treats. Pie pastry and fillings are usually rich, salty and fatty, and may contain onion, garlic, gravy or other unsafe… |
| Mushrooms | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid mushrooms for dogs, and treat wild mushroom eating as a vet question. SPCA NZ warns that mushrooms and toadstools can be poisonous and even fatal… |
| Nutmeg | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid nutmeg for dogs. A trace baked into food is different from a dog eating spice directly, but nutmeg is not a dog treat and is best kept out of reach. |
| Oats | 🟢 Yes | Dogs can usually have plain cooked oats occasionally, but avoid sweetened porridge, milk-heavy bowls, chocolate, raisins, xylitol, salt and flavoured sachets. |
| Onion Gravy | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat onion gravy. |
| Onions | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat onions. |
| Oranges | 🟡 In moderation | Tiny peeled pieces may be tolerated by some dogs, but oranges are not necessary and should not be a routine treat. SPCA NZ warns that citrus oils and… |
| Peaches | 🔴 No | Dogs should not eat peach stones, stems or leaves. A tiny piece of plain ripe peach flesh is different from a whole peach, but peaches are best treated… |
| Peanut Butter | 🟡 In moderation | Only if it is xylitol-free and plain, and only as an occasional treat. ASPCA notes that some peanut butter products contain xylitol, and Pet Poison… |
| Peas | 🟢 Yes | Dogs can usually have plain peas occasionally, but they should not replace complete dog food. Avoid butter, salt, gravy, onion, garlic, creamy sauces and… |
| Pecans | 🔴 No | No, avoid giving pecans to dogs. Nuts are fatty, can upset digestion, and pecans can be a problem in baking, trail mix or mouldy nut mixes. |
| Pepperoni | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid giving pepperoni to dogs. It is processed, salty and fatty, and may contain garlic, onion, chilli, smoke flavouring or other seasonings. |
| Pineapple | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, as plain small pieces if your dog tolerates it. ASPCA lists pineapple among pet-safe fruit options. |
| Plums | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. Dogs should not eat plum stones, stems or leaves, and whole plums are risky because the stone can be swallowed. |
| Popcorn | 🟡 In moderation | Plain air-popped popcorn can be an occasional tiny treat, but most human popcorn is not a dog treat. ASPCA lists air-popped popcorn as a pet-safe snack,… |
| Pork | 🟡 In moderation | Only plain lean cooked pork in tiny amounts, if your dog tolerates it. ASPCA says small amounts of lean cooked pork without bones or seasoning can be… |
| Potatoes | 🟡 In moderation | Plain cooked potato may be okay in small amounts, but raw, green or seasoned potatoes are not dog treats. ASPCA's garden safety guidance distinguishes… |
| Pumpkin | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain cooked pumpkin as an occasional treat if it is unseasoned and your dog tolerates it. Keep it simple: cooked pumpkin flesh… |
| Quinoa | 🟡 In moderation | Plain cooked quinoa can be okay for some dogs as an occasional extra, but it should not replace complete dog food. Avoid onion, garlic, salt, dressings,… |
| Raisins | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat raisins, sultanas, currants or foods that contain dried vine fruit. |
| Raw Chicken | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid raw chicken as an ad hoc treat. SPCA NZ warns that raw or undercooked meat, bones and eggs can carry harmful bacteria, parasites and household… |
| Rice | 🟡 In moderation | Plain cooked rice may be okay in small amounts, but it is not a complete dog diet. SPCA NZ includes brown rice in homemade dog treat ideas, while still… |
| Salami | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid giving salami to dogs. It is processed, salty and fatty, and may contain garlic, onion, spices, smoke flavouring or other seasonings. |
| Salt | 🔴 No | Dogs should not be given salt as a treat, and very salty foods are best avoided. Salt is not a snack; it is a food-safety concern when dogs get into salty… |
| Sausage Rolls | 🔴 No | No, avoid giving sausage rolls to dogs. The processed filling and pastry are usually salty, fatty and seasoned, and may contain onion, garlic or sauces. |
| Sausages | 🟠 Best avoided | Avoid giving sausages to dogs. They are usually fatty, salty and seasoned, and may contain onion, garlic, herbs, smoke flavouring or rich sauces. |
| Spring Onions | 🔴 No | No, dogs should not eat spring onions. Avoid raw spring onion, cooked spring onion, garnishes, salads, stir-fries, noodles, dumplings and leftovers. |
| Stock Cubes | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat stock cubes. |
| Strawberries | 🟢 Yes | Usually yes, as a small plain treat if your dog tolerates them. ASPCA lists strawberries among foods that can be safely shared with pets. |
| Stuffing | 🔴 No | No, dogs should not eat stuffing. It can contain onion, garlic, chives, leeks, raisins, currants, alcohol, rich fat and salty seasoning. |
| Tomatoes | 🟡 In moderation | Only ripe red tomato flesh in small amounts, and not as a regular treat. ASPCA and Pet Poison Helpline both flag tomato plants and green tomatoes as toxic… |
| Trifle | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat trifle. |
| Turkey | 🟢 Yes | Yes, dogs can usually eat plain cooked boneless turkey occasionally. The unsafe version is turkey with cooked bones, stuffing, onion, garlic, gravy,… |
| Walnuts | 🟠 Best avoided | Best avoided. SPCA NZ includes walnuts in its nuts warning for dogs, and also warns that mouldy foods can be dangerous for dogs. |
| Watermelon | 🟡 In moderation | Plain watermelon flesh may be okay in small amounts, but rind and large chunks are not good dog treats. VCA lists watermelon rinds among indigestible food… |
| Xylitol Lollies And Gum | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not eat xylitol lollies, gum or sugar-free sweets. |
| Yoghurt | 🟡 In moderation | Best limited, and avoid it if your dog is sensitive to dairy. SPCA NZ notes most dogs are lactose intolerant, and ASPCA warns that milk and dairy can… |
Drinks
| Drink | Safe for dogs? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not drink alcohol. |
| Coffee | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not drink coffee or eat coffee grounds, coffee beans, energy drinks, caffeine tablets or espresso-flavoured foods. |
| Tea | 🔴 No | No. Dogs should not drink tea as a treat. |
How to read this list
A 🟢 or 🟡 rating means a food is generally tolerated as an occasional, plain, properly prepared treat — not a meal, and not a daily habit. Treats of any kind should stay under about 10% of your dog's daily calories; the rest should come from a complete, balanced dog food. Introduce any new food in a tiny amount and watch for stomach upset.
A 🟠 or 🔴 rating means skip it. "Best avoided" foods aren't usually poisonous but carry a choking, fat, or digestive risk that isn't worth it. "No" foods are genuinely unsafe — some are toxic even in small amounts.
Individual dog tolerance varies, and this list is general guidance for healthy adult dogs, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a health condition, is very young or old, or you're unsure, check with your vet first.
References
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
- Pet Poison Helpline, Poison List (toxins by severity): https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/
- Merck Veterinary Manual, Food Hazards for Small Animals: https://www.merckvetmanual.com/special-pet-topics/poisoning/food-hazards
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