Nutrition & Feeding15 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, seeds, stems and similar parts to reduce choking or blockage risk.
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 handled cautiously because the stone can be swallowed.
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 emphasises washing produce and removing parts that can cause choking or blockage.
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 may be safe as an occasional treat if it is not raisin bread, while raw yeasted dough can be dangerous.
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, onion, garlic, butter and salty leftovers.
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 dairy.
Carrots	🟢 Yes	Usually yes, as a plain small treat. ASPCA lists carrots among pet-safe vegetable snacks, and advises cutting vegetables into bite-size pieces to avoid a choking hazard.
Cauliflower	🟢 Yes	Yes, dogs can usually eat plain cauliflower occasionally if it is washed, manageable and unseasoned. Avoid cauliflower cheese, onion, garlic, butter, gravy and heavily seasoned leftovers.
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 digestive upset in pets because they do not have enough lactase to handle large amounts of milk products.
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 spiced baking, but cinnamon is not needed in a dog's diet.
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, alcohol desserts and rich baked goods.
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 mince.
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, gravy, stuffing and seasoning.
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 can carry harmful bacteria and parasites.
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 beans mixed with onion, garlic, butter, salt, gravy or casserole leftovers.
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 dog-safe version is plain cooked flesh only, not roast leftovers with onion, garlic, butter, salt, gravy or stock powder.
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 discarding the rest, because indigestible parts can cause problems.
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 ingredients.
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 for dogs.
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 acids in citrus plant parts, peel, fruit and seeds can cause problems in large amounts.
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 cautiously because the stone can be swallowed and many peach foods are sweetened or baked.
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 Helpline identifies xylitol as toxic to dogs.
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 seasoned mixed vegetables.
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, while SPCA NZ warns against processed salty human foods.
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 okay, but processed meats like bacon should be avoided.
Potatoes	🟡 In moderation	Plain cooked potato may be okay in small amounts, but raw, green or seasoned potatoes are not dog treats. Green skin, sprouts and the potato plant itself contain solanine, so serve only plain cooked flesh — nothing fried, buttered or seasoned.
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 only, not pumpkin pie mix, roast leftovers with onion or garlic, buttered mash, soup, spices or sweet baking.
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, spices and mixed salads.
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 hygiene risks.
Rice	🟡 In moderation	Plain cooked rice may be okay in small amounts, but it is not a complete dog diet. Rice is filler rather than nutrition for a dog, so keep portions token-sized and let complete dog food do the work.
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 chips, seawater, salt dough, stock powder or large amounts of salty leftovers.
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. Pet Poison Helpline lists tomato plants among its plant toxins — the leaves, stems and unripe green fruit are the concern, while ripe red flesh is treated differently.
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, skin-heavy scraps or rich seasoning.
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 parts that can cause obstruction.
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. Most adult dogs have limited lactase, and ASPCA warns that milk and dairy can cause digestive upset in pets.

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

SPCA New Zealand, Dangerous foods for dogs — raw meat/bones/eggs (salmonella, E. coli, parasites), mouldy food (tremorgenic mycotoxins), mushrooms and toadstools, nuts (oils/fats, pancreatitis), citrus oils, dairy/lactose intolerance, onion family, checked 2026-08-29: https://www.spca.nz/advice-and-welfare/article/dangerous-foods-for-dogs
ASPCA Animal Poison Control, People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets, checked 2026-09-03: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets
ASPCA Animal Poison Control, Sharing Is Caring: Foods You Can Safely Share with Your Pet, checked 2026-09-03: https://www.aspca.org/news/sharing-caring-foods-you-can-safely-share-your-pet
ASPCApro, Bread Ingestion in Pets on the Rise, checked 2026-09-03: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/bread-ingestion-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
VCA Animal Hospitals, Can you feed pets certain fruits and veggies, checked 2026-09-03: https://vcahospitals.com/resources/preventive-dog/nutrition/can-you-feed-pets-certain-fruits-and-veggies
VCA Animal Hospitals, Prevent pet poisoning this 4th of July (watermelon rind and other indigestible foods), checked 2026-09-03: https://vcahospitals.com/resources/lifestyle-dog/hazards-safety/prevent-pet-poisoning-this-4th-of-july

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