Sources
We use public dog safety and veterinary reference sources to support food classifications, toxic food warnings, ingredient risks, and emergency guidance.
How sources are used
Sources are used for general safety context, not individualized veterinary diagnosis. Each page combines the relevant source references with risk-first classification rules, dog-specific preparation notes, and clear next steps for toxic exposures.
Core reference sources
Animal poison control referenceASPCA Animal Poison Control CenterPeople Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
- Used for
- Toxic and unsafe human foods for pets.
- Why it matters
- ASPCA is a core reference for foods such as chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, alcohol, xylitol, and yeast dough.
- Limitations
- Used for general hazard classification, not individualized diagnosis.
aspca.orgGovernment safety warningU.S. Food and Drug AdministrationPaws Off Xylitol; It's Dangerous for Dogs
- Used for
- Ingredient-specific safety alerts, especially xylitol.
- Why it matters
- FDA guidance is used when an ingredient has a specific public safety warning for dogs.
- Limitations
- Used for ingredient hazard context, not case-specific treatment advice.
fda.govVeterinary reference manualMerck Veterinary ManualFood Hazards
- Used for
- Veterinary hazard and clinical context.
- Why it matters
- Merck helps support toxicology and food hazard context for higher-risk foods.
- Limitations
- Used for general veterinary context, not a replacement for a veterinarian.
merckvetmanual.comDog nutrition and ownership guidanceAmerican Kennel ClubHuman Foods Dogs Can and Can't Eat
- Used for
- General dog nutrition, serving, and preparation guidance.
- Why it matters
- AKC helps support plain-form serving guidance for common foods dog owners search for.
- Limitations
- Used alongside toxicology references when a food has higher-risk forms.
akc.orgPoisoning and emergency-risk contextPet Poison HelplinePet Poison Helpline
- Used for
- Poisoning signs, urgency, and pet poison control context.
- Why it matters
- Pet Poison Helpline supports emergency-oriented guidance for toxic or uncertain exposures.
- Limitations
- Used for general poison-risk context, not as a substitute for direct consultation.
petpoisonhelpline.comReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Tomatoes?
- Used for
- Used for the distinction between ripe tomato flesh and tomato sauces, green tomatoes, stems, and leaves.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Yogurt?
- Used for
- Used for plain Greek-style yogurt, lactose tolerance, fat, and xylitol context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Bell Peppers?
- Used for
- Used for plain red bell pepper preparation, portion context, and the distinction from spicy peppers.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourcePetMDCan Dogs Eat Olives?
- Used for
- Used for olive oil and olive fat, digestive-upset, and pancreatitis-risk context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
petmd.comReference sourceMerck Veterinary ManualPancreatitis and Other Disorders of the Pancreas in Dogs
- Used for
- Used for high-fat dietary risk and veterinary escalation context in dogs.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
merckvetmanual.comReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Nuts?
- Used for
- Used for high-fat, salt, choking, and pancreatitis context across common nuts.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Blackberries?
- Used for
- Used for plain blackberry portions, washing, fiber-related stomach upset, and berry product context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Cinnamon?
- Used for
- Used for cinnamon powder, sticks, inhalation, essential oil, and baked-good risk context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Pears?
- Used for
- Used for fresh pear preparation, seeds and core removal, choking risk, and canned pear context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Pistachios?
- Used for
- Used for pistachio fat, salt, shells, mold-related risk, and veterinary escalation context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Salmon?
- Used for
- Used for cooked, boneless salmon and raw-salmon parasite risk context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Asparagus?
- Used for
- Used for cooked asparagus, raw choking risk, and toxic asparagus fern context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes?
- Used for
- Used for cooked sweet potato, skin, raw-potato, and carbohydrate context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.orgReference sourceAmerican Kennel ClubCan Dogs Have Green Beans?
- Used for
- Used for plain green beans, canned sodium, choking, and weight-management context.
- Why it matters
- Used to support the page's safety classification.
- Limitations
- Used for general context only.
akc.org Food-specific references
Some foods use additional food-specific references when a risk has a clearer dedicated source. These support individual pages and do not replace the core source hierarchy.
Food-specific poison referencePet Poison HelplineTomato
- Used for
- Tomato plant, green tomato, solanine/tomatine risk context.
- Why it matters
- This source supports the boundary between ripe tomato flesh and riskier green plant parts.
- Limitations
- Used for tomato-specific risk context, not broad nutrition advice.
petpoisonhelpline.com Limitations
Sources support general dog food safety context. They do not diagnose an individual dog, replace emergency care, or make a risky exposure safe. For toxic foods, symptoms, unknown amounts, or fragile dogs, contact a veterinarian or pet poison control.
See how we classify dog food safety verdicts.