Can Dogs Eat Roti, Rice, Curd and Other Home Food?
Plain roti, boiled rice, and small amounts of unsweetened curd are generally safe for dogs in moderation, but avoid all foods cooked with onion, garlic, or strong spices. Many common Indian home foods can upset your dog's stomach or cause serious poisoning. If your dog eats something unsafe, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness or drooling, and contact your vet.
- Vomiting or diarrhoea that lasts more than a few hours or happens repeatedly
- Weakness, collapse, or trouble standing or walking
- Pale gums, red urine, or very dark urine
- Drooling heavily, panting hard, or acting restless and distressed
- Ate food containing onion, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate or xylitol
- Bloated, tight stomach or trying to vomit but nothing comes up
- Refuses to drink water or seems confused
Which Home Foods Are Safe for Dogs?
Many plain, unseasoned foods from your kitchen are safe for dogs in small amounts. Plain roti made with just whole wheat flour and water is fine occasionally. Boiled white rice and boiled rice with plain boiled chicken are often recommended for dogs with upset stomachs. A small spoonful of plain, unsweetened curd can be easier to digest than milk for some dogs.
Other safe options include plain boiled vegetables such as carrots, pumpkin, beans and sweet potato. Plain boiled eggs without oil or spices are also safe. Small pieces of plain cooked chicken, without skin, bones or seasoning, make a healthy treat.
Always introduce any new food slowly and in tiny amounts first, then watch for signs of stomach upset such as loose stools or gas over the next day. What suits one dog may not suit another.
Foods You Must Never Give Your Dog
Several ingredients common in Indian cooking are dangerous or even deadly for dogs. Onion and garlic, whether raw, cooked, fried or powdered, damage a dog's red blood cells and can cause serious anaemia even in small amounts over time. This includes foods like dal tadka, curries, parathas cooked with onion, and any dish seasoned with garlic or onion powder.
Grapes and raisins cause sudden kidney failure in dogs. Chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is poisonous. Xylitol, a sweetener found in some sugar-free sweets and baked goods, can kill a dog within hours. Avoid all mithai, biscuits and sweets unless you are absolutely certain they contain no unsafe ingredients.
Other dangerous foods include cooked bones that can splinter, anything fried or very oily, foods with strong spices such as chilli, turmeric in large amounts, and any dish containing alcohol or caffeine. Even a single chapati cooked with a lot of ghee and spices can cause pancreatitis in some dogs.
Still unsure what's going on?If you are unsure whether a specific food is safe for your dog, or if your dog has eaten something and you are worried, describe what happened to Joey AI. The app can help you decide on the next steps based on your dog's signs and situation.
Ask Joey freeWhy Spices and Rich Food Cause Problems
Dogs have much more sensitive stomachs than humans. Spices such as chilli powder, garam masala, jeera and even too much haldi can irritate the stomach lining and intestines, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, and pain. Oil, ghee and butter in typical home-cooked food can lead to pancreatitis, a painful and sometimes life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas.
Street dogs and Indian Pariah dogs may seem to manage scraps and leftovers, but that does not mean the food is safe or healthy. Many street dogs suffer from chronic stomach problems, malnutrition and parasites precisely because they eat whatever they can find. Your dog at home deserves better nutrition and a lower risk of poisoning or illness.
Salt in home food is another concern. Dogs need far less salt than humans do, and too much salt over time can damage the kidneys or cause high blood pressure. A single salty paratha or fried snack is unlikely to cause immediate harm, but feeding salty food regularly is not safe.
How to Share Home Food Safely
If you want to share your food with your dog, set aside a small plain portion before you add any spices, oil, onion or garlic. For example, take out a little boiled rice, dal or vegetable before tempering. Offer only a spoonful or two as a treat, not a whole meal, because even safe foods can cause stomach upset if your dog is not used to them.
Roti should be plain, without oil, ghee, salt or garlic. Break it into small pieces to prevent choking. Curd should be plain and unsweetened, and only a tablespoon at a time, because some dogs are lactose intolerant and may get diarrhoea. Rice should be plain boiled white rice, not biryani, pulao or fried rice.
Always make sure fresh, clean water is available, especially after feeding any new food. Watch your dog for the next few hours. If you see vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive drooling, restlessness or any other unusual behaviour, do not give that food again and contact your vet if the signs continue.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Something Unsafe
If your dog eats food containing onion, garlic, grapes, chocolate or any other known poison, contact your vet immediately. Do not wait for symptoms to appear, because some poisons cause damage before any outward signs show. Tell the vet exactly what your dog ate, how much, and when.
Never try to make your dog vomit at home. Never give any human medicine or home remedy without asking your vet first. If your dog seems fine after eating something mildly unsuitable such as a piece of spicy roti, just watch closely. Offer small sips of water and wait. If vomiting or diarrhoea starts, or if your dog seems unwell in any way, see your vet the same day.
Keep all unsafe foods out of reach, and remind family members and visitors not to share food with your dog. Dogs are experts at begging, but giving in can put their health at serious risk.
Frequently asked questions
Can I give my dog roti every day?
Plain roti in small amounts occasionally is usually fine, but it should not replace balanced dog food. Roti does not provide complete nutrition, and too much wheat can cause weight gain or digestive upset. Avoid roti cooked with oil, ghee, salt or garlic. Always offer it as a treat, not a meal, and watch for any stomach problems.
Is curd good for dogs with diarrhoea?
A small amount of plain, unsweetened curd may help some dogs because it contains probiotics that support gut health. However, some dogs are lactose intolerant and curd can make diarrhoea worse. If diarrhoea continues for more than a few hours, or if your dog seems unwell, see a vet instead of trying home remedies.
Can dogs eat dal and sabzi?
Plain boiled dal without onion, garlic, salt, oil or spices is generally safe in very small amounts. Most sabzi is not safe because it contains tempering with onion, garlic, chilli and other spices. If you want to share, set aside a plain portion before seasoning, and offer only a spoonful or two as an occasional treat.
My dog ate food with garlic. What should I do?
Contact your vet as soon as possible, even if your dog seems fine. Garlic damages red blood cells, and symptoms such as weakness, pale gums, vomiting or dark urine may not appear for a day or more. Tell the vet how much garlic your dog ate and when. Do not wait for symptoms to start.
Can Indie dogs eat spicy food better than other breeds?
No. Indian Pariah dogs and other street breeds have the same digestive system as any other dog. Spicy and rich food can cause stomach upset, pancreatitis and poisoning in any breed. Street dogs may eat scraps out of necessity, but that does not mean the food is safe or that they are immune to harm.
Is home food better than commercial dog food?
Home food can be part of a balanced diet if prepared correctly, but most home-cooked meals do not provide complete nutrition unless carefully planned with a vet or canine nutritionist. High-quality commercial dog food is formulated to meet all your dog's nutritional needs. Feeding only table scraps or leftovers often leads to deficiencies, obesity and health problems over time.
This guide is general information to help you decide what to do next. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace an examination by a veterinarian. If your dog seems very unwell, contact a vet or an emergency animal hospital straight away.
Sources and further reading: