Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Ketchup? Not a Good Idea — Check for Onion
No, ketchup is not a good food for dogs, though a lick off a fry is unlikely to cause harm. Ripe tomatoes themselves are fine for dogs, but ketchup adds sugar, salt, vinegar and spices, and most brands include onion powder and sometimes garlic powder, which the ASPCA warns can damage a dog's red blood cells. Some sugar-free or keto ketchups use sweeteners, and xylitol is dangerous for dogs. If your dog drank a bottle or ate a sugar-free ketchup with xylitol, call your vet. Here is what to know.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why ketchup is a poor choice for dogs
Ketchup is a concentrate: tomato paste cooked down with sugar or corn syrup, vinegar, salt and spices. Ripe tomato is not the problem; the ASPCA notes ripe tomatoes are safe, non-toxic treats for pets. What makes ketchup a poor choice is everything else in the bottle.
A tablespoon of regular ketchup carries a noticeable amount of sugar and sodium for a small dog. Neither does a dog any good, and both can upset the stomach. The AKC's guidance is to avoid adding salt, sugar and seasoning to anything you share with a dog.
Onion powder, garlic powder and xylitol
Many ketchups list onion powder among their spices, and some also use garlic powder. The ASPCA explains that onion, garlic and chives can irritate the gut and damage red blood cells, leading to anemia, and the AKC notes that garlic is three to five times more potent than onion. Powders are concentrated forms.
Sugar-free, no-sugar-added and keto ketchups replace sugar with sweeteners. Check the label for xylitol or birch sugar: the ASPCA warns xylitol can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver damage. If a ketchup lists xylitol, keep it well away from your dog.
If your dog ate ketchup
A lick off a plate or a fry dipped in ketchup is unlikely to cause more than mild stomach upset in a healthy dog. Offer fresh water and watch for vomiting or loose stool over the next day.
Call your vet if your dog ate a large amount, such as from a squeezed bottle or a pile of ketchup packets, especially if it is small. If the ketchup contained xylitol, call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 right away. A fee may apply. Keep the bottle to read the label.
How much ketchup is too much by weight
Ketchup should not be a treat at all. As a guide to how worried to be: a lick is unlikely to matter for dogs under 20 lb; a teaspoon is unlikely to matter for dogs of 20 to 50 lb; a tablespoon is unlikely to matter for dogs over 50 lb.
Beyond that, the salt and onion powder add up, and the risk is higher for small dogs and dogs with heart disease, kidney disease or diabetes. Dogs on a low-sodium diet should not have any. Ask your vet if your dog has a medical condition.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
Ketchup packets, bottles and puppies
The other risk is the packaging. Ketchup packets and plastic squeeze bottles can be chewed and swallowed, and pieces of plastic can cause choking or a blockage. Puppies are especially likely to grab packets from takeout bags or a fallen bottle.
If a puppy ate ketchup, watch it closely for vomiting or diarrhea, and call your vet if it swallowed a packet or a bottle cap, or if it seems tired, will not eat or has pale gums in the days that follow.
Signs ketchup disagreed with your dog
Mild signs include thirst, gas, a single vomit or a soft stool within a few hours. These usually settle within a day. Excessive thirst and frequent urination can follow a salty meal.
Onion and garlic damage can take a few days to appear, as weakness, tiredness, pale or yellowish gums, fast breathing or dark urine. Call your vet the same day for any of those signs, or for repeated vomiting, a painful belly or a dog that stops eating. Seek emergency care for collapse or seizures.
Better toppings and cookout treats
If you want to share a burger night, give your dog a few pieces of plain cooked beef with no bun, seasoning or sauce, or a slice or two of ripe tomato, which the ASPCA describes as safe for pets. Plain cooked chicken or a carrot stick also work.
Keep condiments, takeout bags and grill plates off low tables at cookouts, and ask guests not to share fries or burger scraps.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Is ketchup toxic to dogs?
Ketchup is not usually toxic in a small lick, but it contains salt, sugar and often onion or garlic powder, which are bad for dogs. Sugar-free ketchups with xylitol are dangerous. It is best not to share.
Can dogs eat fries with ketchup?
It is best not to. Fries are salty and fatty, and ketchup adds sugar, salt and onion powder. One fry is unlikely to harm a large dog, but do not make it a habit.
Can dogs eat tomatoes?
Ripe red tomatoes are safe for dogs in small amounts, according to the ASPCA. The green plant and unripe green tomatoes contain tomatine, which can cause vomiting and weakness, so keep dogs away from tomato plants.
Can dogs eat sugar-free ketchup?
Check the label first. Some sugar-free and keto ketchups contain xylitol, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar in dogs. Call your vet or poison control if your dog ate one with xylitol.
Can dogs eat barbecue sauce?
No. Barbecue sauce is high in sugar and salt and often contains onion and garlic powder. A lick is unlikely to cause harm, but call your vet if your dog ate a lot.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
