Ingredient Safety Guide

Dogs

Remove the core and seeds. Unsweetened applesauce is fine.

Safe amount: A few slices or 1–2 tbsp applesauce

Hamsters & Gerbils

Seeds removed, tiny pieces only.

Safe amount: A fingernail-size piece

Horses

Quartered to reduce choking risk.

Safe amount: 1–2 apples a day

Dogs

Fine in moderation. High in natural sugar.

Safe amount: A few slices

Horses

Peeled or whole. Sugary, so treat-size only.

Safe amount: Half a banana

Rabbits

Fresh basil leaves in rotation.

Safe amount: A few sprigs

Dogs

Lean, cooked and unseasoned. Drain the fat.

Safe amount: Part of a balanced diet

Horses

Always soaked before feeding.

Safe amount: Per your feeding plan

Guinea Pigs

Excellent vitamin C source.

Safe amount: A slice a day

Rabbits

Seeds removed.

Safe amount: A thin slice

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

Finely chopped.

Safe amount: A small amount

Backyard Chickens

Blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.

Safe amount: A handful

Dogs

Low-calorie fruit, raw or frozen.

Safe amount: A small handful

Hamsters & Gerbils

Raw or lightly steamed, small florets.

Safe amount: A tiny floret

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

Raw, grated.

Safe amount: A small amount daily

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

Phosphorus-free calcium dusted on food.

Safe amount: A light dusting

Dogs

Raw or cooked. Cut to a safe size to prevent choking.

Safe amount: A few pieces

Horses

Cut lengthwise to reduce choking risk.

Safe amount: 1–2 carrots a day

Hamsters & Gerbils

Thin slices.

Safe amount: A small slice

Cats

Dried catnip is safe. Some cats get very excited, others ignore it.

Safe amount: A pinch

Dogs

Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.

Safe amount: Part of a balanced diet

Cats

Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.

Safe amount: Part of a balanced diet

Cats

Cooked, boneless dark meat has more taurine than breast.

Safe amount: Part of a balanced diet

Rabbits

A leafy herb most rabbits love.

Safe amount: A handful

Guinea Pigs

A favorite daily green.

Safe amount: A handful

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

A staple green for bearded dragons.

Safe amount: Daily

Dogs

Soothing for itchy skin when rinsed off well.

Safe amount: For bathing only

Birds

Used in suet cakes and birdie bread.

Safe amount: As part of a recipe

Dogs

Fine in small amounts to thicken gravy.

Safe amount: Small amounts

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

Gut-loaded and dusted with calcium.

Safe amount: Per age and size

Dogs

Low-calorie and hydrating.

Safe amount: A few slices

Guinea Pigs

Hydrating; good on hot days.

Safe amount: A slice

Fish

Blanched or raw slices.

Safe amount: A slice

Rabbits

Pesticide-free leaves and flowers.

Safe amount: A handful

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

Excellent calcium-rich staple for bearded dragons and tortoises.

Safe amount: Daily

Hamsters & Gerbils

Dried flowers to forage.

Safe amount: A pinch

Hamsters & Gerbils

Good protein source.

Safe amount: 2–3 worms

Backyard Chickens

High-protein treat, great during molt.

Safe amount: A small handful

Dogs

Serve fully cooked.

Safe amount: Treat-size portions

Cats

Fully cooked only.

Safe amount: A teaspoon or two

Hamsters & Gerbils

Hard-boiled or scrambled with no oil, for protein.

Safe amount: A pea-size piece twice a week

Birds

Fully cooked, shell can be dried and crushed for calcium.

Safe amount: A small piece

Dogs

Plain, cooked or raw, with no salt.

Safe amount: A few beans

Horses

Omega-3 fats for coat condition.

Safe amount: Up to 1/2 cup a day

Guinea Pigs

Plain, vitamin C-fortified pellets.

Safe amount: About 1/8 cup a day

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

Pesticide-free flowers and leaves.

Safe amount: A few flowers

Birds

Chopped, in rotation.

Safe amount: A small handful

Backyard Chickens

Complete feed for laying hens. Should be 90% of the diet.

Safe amount: Free choice

Hamsters & Gerbils

A natural seed hamsters love.

Safe amount: A pinch

Rabbits

Fresh mint leaves in rotation.

Safe amount: A few sprigs

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

A good staple green.

Safe amount: Daily

Dogs

Plain oats cooked or baked. Skip flavored instant oatmeal.

Safe amount: Small amounts

Hamsters & Gerbils

Plain rolled oats.

Safe amount: A pinch

Birds

Rolled oats in suet cakes and bread.

Safe amount: As part of a recipe

Backyard Chickens

Rolled oats are a filling winter treat.

Safe amount: A handful per bird

Horses

A traditional grain; feed by weight.

Safe amount: Per your feeding plan

Birds

Halved oranges attract orioles and tanagers.

Safe amount: Halves on a feeder

Dogs

Curly parsley in small amounts. Avoid spring parsley.

Safe amount: A pinch

Rabbits

Fine in rotation with other greens.

Safe amount: A small handful

Dogs

Green peas, fresh or frozen. Skip canned peas with added salt.

Safe amount: A spoonful

Fish

Blanched and shelled, for goldfish.

Safe amount: One or two peas

Horses

Fresh or dried leaves or a few drops of food-grade extract.

Safe amount: A small amount

Dogs

Plain cooked or canned pumpkin adds fiber. Avoid pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and nutmeg.

Safe amount: About 1 tsp per 10 lb of body weight per day

Cats

Plain purée can help digestion.

Safe amount: 1/2–1 tsp per day

Backyard Chickens

Flesh and seeds are a favorite flock treat.

Safe amount: Free choice in moderation

Hamsters & Gerbils

Raw, unsalted.

Safe amount: 1–2 seeds

Birds

Cooked and rinsed, for parrots.

Safe amount: A spoonful

Rabbits

Plain timothy-based pellets, no seeds or colored bits.

Safe amount: About 1/4 cup per 5 lb

Dogs

Plain cooked rice is easy on the stomach.

Safe amount: Part of a meal

Cats

Plain cooked rice in small amounts.

Safe amount: A teaspoon or two

Rabbits

A good leafy green. Avoid iceberg.

Safe amount: A handful daily

Guinea Pigs

A good leafy base. Avoid iceberg.

Safe amount: A leaf or two daily

Dogs

Cooked or canned in water, boneless, no salt added. Never raw.

Safe amount: Part of a meal

Cats

Cooked or canned in water, boneless, no salt added.

Safe amount: A tablespoon as a treat

Dogs

Canned in water with no salt added. Rich in omega-3s.

Safe amount: 1 sardine for a medium dog

Cats

Canned in water, no salt added.

Safe amount: Half a sardine as a treat

Backyard Chickens

A treat, not a feed. Keep treats under 10% of the diet.

Safe amount: A handful per bird

Fish

Raw, peeled and unseasoned, for gel food.

Safe amount: As part of a recipe

Fish

Blanched leaves.

Safe amount: A leaf

Fish

Algae powder for color and plant-eating fish.

Safe amount: A pinch

Dogs

Fresh or frozen, sliced. Naturally sweet, so keep portions small.

Safe amount: 2–3 berries

Birds

Gives wild birds energy in cold weather. Use no-melt recipes in warm months.

Safe amount: Free choice in winter

Birds

Plain white sugar and water, 1:4. Never honey, brown sugar, sweeteners or red dye.

Safe amount: 1/4 cup sugar per 1 cup water

Dogs

Serve cooked and plain. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest.

Safe amount: Treat-size portions

Birds

Cooked and mashed or diced, for parrots.

Safe amount: A spoonful

Cats

Essential for cats. Homemade cat food must include a taurine source or supplement.

Safe amount: Per your vet or recipe

Rabbits

The base of a rabbit diet. Unlimited fresh hay every day.

Safe amount: Unlimited

Guinea Pigs

Unlimited hay is essential for teeth and digestion.

Safe amount: Unlimited

Horses

Low-sugar base for treats.

Safe amount: Per bag directions

Cats

Plain, cooked, boneless and unseasoned.

Safe amount: Part of a meal

Bearded Dragons & Reptiles

A good staple green.

Safe amount: Daily

Cats

Plain, unflavored gelatin only.

Safe amount: Small amounts

Fish

Binds homemade gel food.

Safe amount: As part of a recipe

Dogs

Seedless flesh only, no rind.

Safe amount: A few cubes

Backyard Chickens

Hydrating summer treat; rind is fine to peck.

Safe amount: Free choice

Dogs

Fine baked into treats unless your dog has a wheat allergy.

Safe amount: As part of baked treats

Guinea Pigs

Raw and sliced.

Safe amount: A slice or two

Fish

Blanched slices for plecos, goldfish and snails.

Safe amount: A slice