Can dogs eat crisps?
✓ Reviewed against PDSA, Blue Cross & Animal PoisonLine guidance · Last updated: 2026-06-17
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The full picture
Crisps are essentially fried or baked potato slices with enormous amounts of salt and flavourings. A single crisp stolen from the sofa isn't an emergency. But crisps are one of the worst deliberate treats. Flavoured crisps — cheese and onion, salt and vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, BBQ — frequently contain ingredients toxic to dogs. Onion and garlic powder are especially common.
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
- Sodium toxicity
- Onion/garlic in flavoured crisps
- Obesity
- Choking
Safe portion size
Ideally none.
Safer alternatives
- Plain baked sweet potato chips
- Carrot sticks
Does size or breed matter?
The risk with crisps 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.