Health & Allergies5 min read
Which Foods in an Indian Kitchen Are Unsafe for Dogs?
By The CBE Pet Kitchen team, Cooks at CBE Pet Kitchen, Coimbatore
Key takeaways
- Onion and garlic are harmful cooked, raw or powdered, so plain sambar, rasam and curries are off the menu.
- Raisins, grapes and tamarind have caused kidney failure in dogs.
- Cooked bones splinter. Biryani and mutton curry leftovers are a common risk.
- Call your vet first. Don't make your dog vomit unless the vet tells you to.
Most Indian homes share food with their dog without thinking twice. A spoon of rice from lunch, a piece of chapati, the last bit of a sweet at a function. Much of that is harmless. A few everyday ingredients are not, and they hide inside dishes we cook every day: onion and garlic in gravies, tamarind in sambar and rasam, raisins in payasam, cocoa in festival gift boxes.
This guide goes through the Indian kitchen shelf by shelf, so you know what to keep off your dog's plate and what to do if something slips through.
Why are onion and garlic a problem for dogs?
Onion and garlic damage a dog's red blood cells, and that can lead to anaemia. It doesn't matter whether they are raw, fried, boiled or powdered. Garlic powder and onion powder are concentrated, so a small amount of a masala mix can carry more than you expect.
This is the hardest rule in an Indian kitchen, because onion and garlic are in almost everything:
- Sambar, rasam, kurma, curries and most gravies
- Biryani, pulao and fried rice
- Chutneys, thokku and many pickles
- Ready masala powders and instant noodle tastemakers
The harm usually builds up with the amount eaten, so one lick of a plate is not the same as a bowl of leftover biryani. Even so, the safest habit is simple: if a dish has a tempering or a gravy, it isn't for your dog.
Is tamarind safe for dogs?
No. The Merck Veterinary Manual lists tamarind alongside grapes and raisins because tamarind has also caused kidney failure in dogs. That matters in South India, where tamarind is everywhere:
- Sambar, rasam and puli kuzhambu
- Puliyodarai and tamarind rice from the temple
- Tamarind candy and chutneys
Why are grapes and raisins so risky?
Grapes and raisins have caused sudden kidney failure in dogs, and nobody can say in advance which dog will react or how much it takes. Some dogs eat a few and seem fine; others become seriously ill. Signs such as vomiting, tiredness and refusing food can start within hours, and kidney damage can follow over the next two to three days.
Raisins turn up in more places than you might think:
- Kesari, payasam and sakkarai pongal
- Biryani and pulao garnishes
- Fruit cakes, plum cakes and festival sweet boxes
- Trail mixes and dry fruit gift packs
How dangerous is chocolate for a dog?
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which overstimulate a dog's heart and nervous system. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Cocoa powder and dark baking chocolate are the worst; milk chocolate is weaker but can still make a small dog very ill.
Festival time is when most chocolate accidents happen. Gift boxes sit on low tables, guests drop wrappers, and a dog with a good nose finds them in minutes. Keep sweets and gift boxes on a high shelf or in a closed cupboard during Deepavali, Christmas and birthdays.
Which sweets, snacks and drinks should dogs avoid?
| Food | Why it's a problem |
|---|---|
| Sugar-free sweets, gum and diabetic biscuits | Many contain xylitol, which can drop a dog's blood sugar dangerously and harm the liver |
| Filter coffee, tea, energy drinks | Caffeine affects a dog's heart the same way chocolate does |
| Murukku, chips, mixture, pickles | Very salty; too much salt causes thirst and, in larger amounts, serious illness |
| Ghee-heavy sweets and fried snacks | Rich, fatty food can upset the stomach and is linked to inflamed pancreas in dogs |
| Alcohol and raw dough | Alcohol is toxic to dogs; rising dough also swells in the stomach |
| Almonds, cashews, macadamia nuts | Fatty and hard to digest; macadamia nuts cause weakness and tremors in dogs |
If a relative in your home is diabetic, check the labels on their sweets and biscuits. Xylitol is the ingredient to look for, and it is increasingly common in "no added sugar" products.
Can dogs eat cooked bones from chicken or mutton?
No. Cooked bones are brittle and splinter into sharp pieces that can cut or block a dog's gut, sometimes badly enough to need surgery. Chicken biryani, mutton curry and fish fry leftovers are the usual culprits, and the bones are easy to miss in a gravy. Wrap bones before they go in the bin, and use a bin with a lid.
What can I safely share from my plate?
You don't have to stop sharing altogether. Plain, unseasoned food is usually fine in small amounts:
- Plain cooked rice
- Plain boiled chicken with the bones and skin removed, no salt
- Boiled pumpkin, carrot or sweet potato, without tempering
- Plain cooked egg
Keep shared food small, so it doesn't push out your dog's real meal. Our guide to how much fresh food your dog needs covers the daily amount, and our recipes on Our Food list every ingredient with its percentage, so you can see exactly what goes into each bowl.
What should I do if my dog eats something unsafe?
Call your vet straight away, even if your dog seems normal. Many of these foods cause harm hours or days later, and early treatment works best.
- Take whatever is left away from your dog.
- Note what was eaten, roughly how much, and when.
- Call your vet and give them your dog's weight.
- Don't make your dog vomit unless the vet tells you to. Some substances do more harm coming back up.
- Keep the wrapper, packet or a photo of the dish to show the vet.
Save your vet's number and the nearest emergency clinic in your phone today, before you need them. It takes a minute, and it saves panic later.
The short version for your fridge door
If a dish has onion, garlic, tamarind, raisins, chocolate, cocoa, xylitol, bones or a lot of salt, it isn't for your dog. When in doubt, give plain rice or a plain piece of boiled chicken instead. If you have questions about our own food, our FAQs answer the common ones.
Common questions
Is a little rice and dal safe for my dog?
Plain cooked rice and plain dal with no onion, garlic, tamarind, salt or tempering are generally fine in small amounts. The trouble is that most home dal is tempered with garlic or onion, so check before you share.
My dog ate one raisin from a sweet. Do I need to worry?
Call your vet. Dogs react very differently to grapes and raisins, and there is no amount known to be safe for every dog, so a vet should decide whether to act.
Can dogs have curd rice?
Plain curd suits some dogs and upsets others, because many dogs digest milk sugar poorly. If your dog gets loose stool after curd rice, that is the likely reason. Never add salt, chilli, ginger or tempering.
What should I tell the vet on the phone?
What your dog ate, roughly how much, when it happened, your dog's weight, and any signs so far such as vomiting or weakness. Keep the wrapper or a photo of the dish if you have it.
