Can dogs eat biscuits?
✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last updated: 2026-06-17
How we keep this site free. Some links on this page take you to Amazon or other online retailers (including vet pharmacy partners Best Vet Care and Canada Pet Care via CJ Affiliate, and treat/supplement partners via AWIN). As an Amazon Associate, CJ publisher, and AWIN publisher we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure.
The full picture
'Biscuits' covers a huge range of products — plain digestives, rich tea, and shortbread are non-toxic but nutritionally pointless and high in sugar. The dangerous ones are: chocolate biscuits (chocolate digestives, Hobnobs, bourbons), raisin biscuits (Garibaldi, fruit shortbread), nut biscuits (sometimes macadamia), and anything with xylitol (rare but check sugar-free ranges). A single plain digestive dropped on the floor isn't an emergency. A packet of chocolate digestives is. Always identify what type of biscuit before deciding the response.
If your dog ate more than a safe amount
For a small accidental taste, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, or signs of discomfort over the next few hours. For a large amount or if your dog is small or has existing health conditions, call your vet. When in doubt, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center on (888) 426-4435.
Risks to watch for
- Chocolate varieties are toxic
- Raisin varieties are toxic
- Xylitol in some sugar-free ranges
- Empty calories, weight gain
Safe portion size
Not recommended. If sharing, a small plain biscuit (digestive, rich tea) occasionally.
Safer alternatives
- Dog biscuits from pet stores
- Plain cooked chicken
Does size or breed matter?
The risk with biscuits is almost always the ingredients rather than the base food itself — added sugar, salt, xylitol, raisins, chocolate, or onion/garlic seasoning are what turn an otherwise low-risk item into a genuine hazard, and toxic doses of these ingredients scale with body weight. Always check the specific recipe or ingredient label before assuming a shop-bought or homemade version is safe, and treat small and toy breeds as reaching a dangerous dose from a much smaller amount than large dogs.