| Verdict for dogs | Caution |
| Severity | 2 / 5 — Mild — usually stomach upset; watch them. |
| Safe amount | A taste at most |
| Category | Human snacks |
| Source | ASPCA Animal Poison Control — People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets; ASPCA Animal Poison Control — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants database · reviewed 2026-08-07 · confidence: medium |
Plain ketchup is mostly sugar, salt and vinegar — not toxic in a lick, not something to give. The catch is that many ketchups and most pasta and barbecue sauces contain onion and garlic powder, which are toxic, so check before assuming it is just tomato.
Don't make it a habit. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or a lost appetite over the next day and call your vet if it doesn't settle or your dog seems unwell.
Never induce vomiting and never give any medicine unless a vet tells you to — it can do more damage than the poison. What we will and won't tell you.
If you're sharing food because you want to treat them, a treat formulated for dogs does the job without the guesswork.
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Can cats eat ketchup? — Don't feed it to cats either.
Not toxic, but be careful — ketchup isn't poisonous to dogs, and it comes with caveats that matter. Plain ketchup is mostly sugar, salt and vinegar — not toxic in a lick, not something to give. The catch is that many ketchups and most pasta and barbecue sauces contain onion and garlic powder, which are toxic, so check before assuming it is just tomato.
Watch for: Vomiting, drooling or diarrhea; Weakness, tiredness or collapse; Pale or yellow gums; Red or brown urine; Fast breathing and a fast heart rate — signs can take 1–5 days to appear. Some signs lag by a day — call, don't wait.
The safe amount is a taste at most, as an occasional treat rather than a daily habit. Large amounts mainly cause stomach upset; if that doesn't settle within a day, call your vet.