Can dogs eat it?
Is it OK to feed my dog table scraps?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Occasional small scraps of plain, dog-safe food are fine for most healthy dogs, as long as they stay within about 10 percent of daily calories and never include toxic ingredients. The trouble is that table food is often seasoned, fatty, or salty, and feeding from the table teaches begging. The best approach is to put scraps in your dog's own bowl, away from the table.
The 10 percent rule
Treats and extras of any kind should make up no more than about 10 percent of your dog's daily calories, so the complete food can do its job. For a 10 kg (22 lb) dog needing around 550 calories a day, that is roughly 55 calories, about the same as a small piece of chicken plus a couple of green beans. Many dogs gain weight gradually from scraps that seem tiny.
If you add scraps, reduce the main meal to compensate.
Scraps that are generally fine
Plain cooked lean meat, plain cooked fish without bones, plain boiled rice or pasta, cooked egg, and plain boiled vegetables such as carrots and green beans are reasonable choices in small amounts. Prepare them before salt, sauces, butter, and seasoning are added.
Keep a small container in the fridge for set-aside plain portions.
Scraps to avoid
Anything containing onion, garlic, chives, or leeks; chocolate; grapes and raisins; macadamia nuts; xylitol; alcohol; and caffeine should never be shared. Fatty trimmings, skin, gravy, and cooked bones are common causes of vomiting, pancreatitis, and blockages. Heavily salted or spicy foods add further stomach upset.
When you are unsure what is in a dish, do not share it.
Preventing a begging habit
Dogs learn quickly that the dinner table pays off. Feeding from your plate or hand during meals encourages drooling, staring, whining, and jumping up. Instead, teach your dog to lie on a mat during meals and reward it there, or put any scraps into its own bowl after the family has finished.
Consistency matters: one person sneaking food under the table undoes the training.
Dogs that need extra care
Dogs with food allergies, pancreatitis, kidney or heart disease, diabetes, or weight problems may need a strictly controlled diet. For these dogs, even small scraps can cause setbacks. Ask your vet which extras, if any, are suitable.
Key takeaways
- Keep all extras under about 10 percent of daily calories.
- Share only plain, unseasoned, dog-safe foods.
- Never share foods with onion, garlic, chocolate, grapes, xylitol, or alcohol.
- Feed scraps from your dog's bowl, not the table, to prevent begging.