How we decide what is safe.
Every one of our 204+ food safety profiles follows the same four-step clinical review process before it is published โ and is re-examined every time new veterinary evidence emerges.
204+
Food safety profiles
across 10 species
4-step
Review process
no exceptions
12
Board-certified reviewers
DVM, PhD, DABVT
2026
Last full audit
re-reviewed quarterly
The four-step review process
Every food profile โ from a common fruit to an obscure herb โ passes through the same four stages before it reaches the database. There are no shortcuts and no exceptions for well-known foods.
Primary literature review
Each profile begins with peer-reviewed veterinary toxicology literature, not general web content. Our researchers draw from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center case database, the Merck Veterinary Manual, the Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care, and species-specific journals such as the Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery. Secondary sources are accepted only when no primary literature exists for a given species-food combination.
Every citation is logged in our internal reference database with DOI, publication year, and sample size. Entries supported exclusively by expert opinion are flagged accordingly.
Dose, mechanism, and species analysis
A food's risk cannot be reduced to a binary safe-or-toxic label without accounting for dose, body weight, and species-specific metabolism. For each entry we document: the active toxic compound or compounds, the minimum toxic dose per kilogram of body weight where data exist, the mechanism of action (hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, haemolytic, neurotoxic, etc.), and how that mechanism differs across species.
Grapes, for instance, are nephrotoxic in dogs and cats via a mechanism still not fully elucidated as of 2026, while they pose no identified risk to horses. This granularity is what separates a clinical reference from a general pet-food list.
Board review and verdict assignment
After the literature summary is complete, a board-certified veterinary toxicologist on our review panel assigns one of three verdicts โ Safe, Caution, or Toxic โ and writes the clinical notes visible on each food's profile page. Disagreements between reviewers are resolved by re-examining the cited evidence, not by majority vote.
Every entry carries the reviewer's credentials and the review date. Where evidence quality is low, the profile explicitly states the confidence level so readers can make informed decisions.
Continuous re-review cycle
Veterinary toxicology is not static. New case reports, species-specific pharmacokinetic studies, and re-analyses of older data appear regularly. Each profile in Database.pet is scheduled for a re-review at least once per year, and any entry flagged by a new publication is reviewed on an accelerated timeline regardless of schedule.
The last-reviewed date is displayed on every food profile. If you spot a profile that appears outdated or conflicts with a recent clinical finding, our editorial contact is listed on the Review Board page.
What our three verdicts mean
Each profile carries exactly one verdict. The verdict is derived from the dose-response evidence and applies specifically to the species named in the profile โ the same food can carry different verdicts for different animals.
Safe
Well-tolerated at appropriate serving sizes for the species, with no significant toxic compounds identified at normal quantities.
Important nuance: Safe does not mean unlimited. Portion context matters: even non-toxic foods can cause gastrointestinal upset if fed in excess. Where relevant, the clinical notes include portion guidance.
Caution
Acceptable only under specific conditions โ limited quantity, certain preparation methods, or removal of a hazardous part such as seeds, pits, skin, or bones.
Important nuance: Caution verdicts always include the specific condition in the profile notes. A food listed as Caution for dogs due to its pit is still Toxic if the pit is ingested โ the verdict applies to the correctly prepared form.
Toxic
Contains one or more compounds documented to cause harm in the species, even at small quantities. The food should be excluded from the animal's diet entirely.
Important nuance: Where a minimum toxic dose is known, it is included in the clinical notes. Toxic does not always mean immediately life-threatening โ it means the risk profile does not justify any benefit in a species that does not require it.
Why dose is always part of the verdict
Toxicity is inherently dose-dependent. A few grapes can trigger acute renal failure in a 10 kg dog; a single grape consumed by the same dog is unlikely to cause permanent harm, though we still classify grapes as Toxic because no safe minimum threshold has been established. Conversely, xylitol is so potently hepatotoxic in dogs that even small quantities present in a single stick of sugar-free gum can be fatal. Our clinical notes always specify whether a minimum toxic dose is known, so you can understand the margin involved.
Species-specific review considerations
The depth and reliability of veterinary toxicology literature varies substantially by species. Our editorial standards account for this by adjusting confidence ratings and source requirements based on what the field actually knows.
Dogs & Cats
The most extensive clinical literature exists for companion carnivores, which benefits confidence levels across our canine and feline entries. Many entries are supported by controlled studies or large case series from poison-control databases.
Birds & Avians
Avian metabolism differs significantly from mammalian metabolism. Many foods tolerated by mammals are acutely toxic to birds due to differences in hepatic enzyme activity. Our avian entries rely heavily on avian-specialist journals and USDA toxicology data.
Small Mammals (Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Hamsters, Ferrets)
Small herbivores have highly sensitive gastrointestinal tracts and hindgut fermentation that creates toxicity risks not present in carnivores. Literature for these species is sparser, and entries with low-confidence evidence are flagged.
Horses
Equine toxicology is a well-established field due to the agricultural and economic importance of horses. Our equine entries draw from published clinical cases, USDA plant toxicology databases, and equine veterinary textbooks.
Fish & Aquatic Species
Water quality, tank chemistry, and feeding behavior interact with food safety in ways unique to aquatic species. Our fish entries emphasize compound solubility and ammonia impact in addition to direct ingestion risk.
Reptiles
Reptiles are ectotherms with significantly lower metabolic rates and different hepatic processing. Oxalate sensitivity, vitamin A toxicity, and goitrogenic compounds are areas of particular clinical concern across reptile species.
Staying current with veterinary science
Veterinary toxicology is an active field. Clinical case series refine minimum toxic dose estimates; new pharmacokinetic studies reveal species differences that were previously unknown; and agricultural changes occasionally introduce new residue risks in produce. A database built on 2018 data and never updated is a liability, not a resource.
Database.pet profiles carry a last-reviewed date visible on every food page. When our editorial team receives a credible new citation โ whether from a published study or a flag submitted by a reader โ the affected entry is queued for review within 30 days regardless of its scheduled review date.
Annual minimum re-review
Every entry is scheduled for full re-review at least once per calendar year.
Accelerated review on new findings
New clinical publications or case reports trigger off-cycle review within 30 days.
Last-reviewed date on every profile
Readers always know how recently each food's safety assessment was examined.
Reader flagging accepted
Anyone can submit a citation or flag a potential error via the Review Board page.
Primary sources and authorities
Our profiles cite established veterinary authorities, peer-reviewed journals, and government databases โ not aggregated web content or pet-food brand literature.
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center
Clinical database
American Veterinary Medical Association
Professional standards
Merck Veterinary Manual
Clinical reference
Journal of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
Peer-reviewed journal
Pet Poison Helpline case database
Clinical database
Journal of Avian Medicine & Surgery
Peer-reviewed journal
Veterinary and Human Toxicology (VHT)
Peer-reviewed journal
USDA Plants Database
Government database
Equine Veterinary Journal
Peer-reviewed journal
British Small Animal Veterinary Association manuals
Clinical reference
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about how Database.pet assesses food safety and maintains its database.
Each profile is authored or reviewed by a board-certified veterinarian on our review panel. The reviewer's credentials and the review date are displayed on every profile page. No profile is published without a credentialed reviewer's sign-off.
When published studies disagree, the more conservative verdict is assigned and the conflict is noted in the clinical notes. The profile also records the confidence level of the evidence so readers understand the quality of the underlying data.
No. Safe means no significant toxic compounds are present at normal serving sizes for that species. Every food can cause harm if fed in extreme quantities. Where quantity guidance is relevant, it is included in the clinical notes on the profile page.
Every entry is scheduled for re-review at least annually. Entries flagged by a new clinical finding or a significant case report are reviewed on an accelerated timeline. The last-reviewed date is displayed on every profile.
Yes. Use the contact form linked from the Review Board page. Submissions are reviewed by our editorial team and, if accepted, are processed through the full four-step review before being published.
No. Database.pet is an informational reference designed to help pet owners make better-informed dietary choices. If your animal has ingested a toxic food or is showing symptoms of poisoning, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or an emergency veterinary clinic immediately.
Database.pet is an informational reference. If your pet has ingested something potentially toxic, do not wait for symptoms to appear. Contact an emergency service immediately.