Health & Safety

What Your Dog Should NEVER Eat on Halloween?

Chocolate, xylitol, raisins and five more Halloween hazards, what to do if your dog eats one, and safe swaps.

By Updated 5 min read
What Your Dog Should NEVER Eat on Halloween?

Halloween means candy bowls on the counter, chocolate everywhere, kids coming and going, and plenty of treats within reach of a curious nose. For us it is part of the fun. For dogs, some of those Halloween favorites can be seriously dangerous.

The tricky part? Your dog cannot tell a harmless treat from one that could make them sick. Here are the Halloween foods your dog should never eat, what to do if they get into something, and dog-safe treats they can enjoy instead.

Keep chocolate, sugar-free candy containing xylitol, raisins and grapes, candy wrappers, macadamia nuts, alcohol, raw yeast dough and rich, fatty leftovers away from your dog. If they eat any of these, remove what is left, keep the packaging and call your vet or an emergency clinic straight away. Do not wait for symptoms.

Which Halloween foods are dangerous for dogs?

FoodWhy it is a problem
ChocolateTheobromine and caffeine are toxic to dogs
Sugar-free candy and gumMay contain xylitol, which can crash blood sugar and harm the liver
Raisins and grapesCan cause kidney damage
Candy wrappersChoking and intestinal blockage
Macadamia nutsWeakness, vomiting, tremors, poor coordination
AlcoholVomiting, weakness, breathing difficulty
Raw yeast doughExpands in the stomach and produces alcohol
Fatty leftoversStomach upset and, in some dogs, pancreatitis

Why is chocolate dangerous for dogs?

This is the big one. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate and cocoa powder generally contain more of these compounds and can be especially dangerous.

Depending on how much your dog eats, chocolate poisoning can cause vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, increased thirst, a rapid heart rate, tremors and seizures.

Never leave a bowl of Halloween chocolate anywhere your dog can reach it.

And do not assume a small piece is automatically safe. If your dog eats chocolate, contact your vet or a pet poison service for advice.

Give them this instead

Your dog does not need to sit there watching everyone else enjoy their treats. Give them one made for dogs. Freezbone Treat Refills can be stuffed into a Freezbone toy and frozen for a longer-lasting treat your dog can safely enjoy while the family gets into the Halloween spirit.

Freezbone treat refills being packed into a toy for a dog-safe Halloween treat

Is sugar-free candy safe for dogs?

Sugar-free does not mean dog-safe. Some sugar-free candies, gums and other products contain xylitol, a sweetener that can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs and serious liver problems. Even a relatively small amount can be dangerous.

Check the ingredient list before giving your dog any human food, or better yet, keep sugar-free candy completely out of reach. Our xylitol guide lists the label names it hides under.

Can dogs eat raisins or grapes?

No. Raisins turn up in Halloween snacks, baked goods and trail mixes, and grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage in dogs. There is no reliable way to predict which dogs will become seriously ill, or how much it takes.

So do not wait to see whether symptoms appear. If your dog eats raisins or grapes, contact your vet promptly.

What other Halloween foods should dogs avoid?

Candy wrappers

Dogs swallow wrappers because they smell like chocolate, caramel or peanut butter. Wrappers can cause choking or an intestinal blockage, so keep empties off the coffee table and out of open trash cans.

Macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts can be toxic to dogs, causing weakness, vomiting, tremors and coordination problems. Watch for them in cookies, brownies and snack mixes.

Alcohol

Halloween parties mean more drinks around the house. Keep them away from your dog, including unattended glasses on low tables. Alcohol can cause vomiting, weakness, coordination problems and difficulty breathing. Your dog does not need a sip to join the party.

Raw dough

Baking Halloween cookies? Keep raw yeast dough away from your dog. Swallowed, it can expand in the stomach and produce alcohol as it ferments, which can become a serious emergency. Do not leave dough on the counter while you decorate or get ready for guests.

Fatty foods

Leftovers are not dog-friendly just because they are not toxic. Rich, greasy foods can cause stomach upset and, in some dogs, contribute to pancreatitis. Leave fatty appetizers, greasy meat scraps and rich desserts off your dog's menu.

What should I do if my dog eats something toxic?

Do not wait for symptoms. If you know or suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, xylitol, raisins, alcohol or another dangerous food:

1. Remove it

  • Take away whatever is left so they cannot eat more

2. Keep the packaging

  • Your vet may need to know exactly what your dog ate

3. Note how much and when

  • A rough estimate is far better than none

4. Call for help

  • Contact your vet or an emergency veterinary clinic
  • Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinary professional specifically tells you to.

What can my dog have instead on Halloween?

Your dog does not need to share your candy to feel included. Something made for dogs is a far better way to keep them occupied while everyone else enjoys the festivities.

Fill a Freezbone with a dog-safe frozen treat and give it to your pup before the trick-or-treaters arrive. It gives them something to focus on while you deal with the doorbell, the costumes and all the excitement.

“The perfect size for my two Klee kai and so cute for spooky season! I love that it keeps them entertained with dinner for about 30 min and totally calms them down!”
Shayla M., verified buyer

Freezbone tip

Freeze the fill the night before. A solid fill lasts longer, which means more of the doorbell rush happens while your dog is busy. The Freezbone recipe videos have fills that hold together.

If the doorbell and costumes are what really unsettle your dog, our guide to Halloween fears helps, and these ways to include your dog in trick-or-treating keep them part of the fun.

One last reminder: keep candy bowls, treat bags, desserts, drinks and food-covered plates where your dog cannot reach them. If you are not sure whether something is safe, do not give it to them. A little planning keeps Halloween fun, festive and out of the emergency vet's office.

General information, not veterinary advice. If your dog has eaten something that might be toxic, contact your vet or an emergency clinic right away.

Frequently asked questions

  • It depends on the dog and the chocolate. Dark chocolate, baking chocolate and cocoa powder are generally the most dangerous. Do not assume a small piece is safe: if your dog eats chocolate, call your vet or a pet poison service.

  • It can be. Some sugar-free products contain xylitol, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and serious liver problems in dogs, even in small amounts.

  • Wrappers can cause choking or an intestinal blockage. Note what and roughly how much your dog swallowed and contact your vet for advice.

  • No. Do not try to make your dog vomit unless a veterinary professional specifically tells you to. Remove what is left, keep the packaging and call your vet.

  • Give them something made for dogs, like a Freezbone toy filled with a dog-safe frozen treat, before the trick-or-treaters arrive.

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Written by Freezbone Team

We make freezable, refillable chew toys in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and test every fill and routine on our own dogs before we write about it.

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