How we decide what is safe.
Every one of our 67+ food safety profiles goes through the same four-stage clinical review process before publication โ and is re-evaluated as soon as new veterinary evidence emerges.
67
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-stage review process
Every food profile โ from a common fruit to a rare herb โ goes through the same four stages before it enters the database. There are no shortcuts and no exceptions for well-known foods.
Primary literature review
Every profile begins with peer-reviewed veterinary toxicology literature, not general web content. Our researchers draw on 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 only accepted when no primary literature exists for a particular species-food combination.
Each source is recorded in our internal reference database with its DOI, year of publication and sample size. Entries that rest solely on expert opinion are flagged accordingly.
Analysis of dose, mechanism and species
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(s), the minimum toxic dose per kilogram of body weight where data exist, the mechanism of action (hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, hemolytic, neurotoxic, etc.) and how that mechanism differs between species.
Grapes, for example, are nephrotoxic in dogs and cats through a mechanism not yet fully understood as of 2026, while they pose no known risk to horses. This level of detail is what separates a clinical reference from a general food list.
Board review and verdict assignment
Once 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-evaluation cycle
Veterinary toxicology is not static. New case reports, species-specific pharmacokinetic studies and re-analyses of older data appear regularly. Every profile on Database.pet is scheduled for re-evaluation at least once a year, and any entry flagged by a new publication is reviewed on an expedited basis regardless of the schedule.
The last review date is shown on every food profile. If you spot a profile that appears outdated or contradicts a current clinical finding, you will find our editorial contact on the review board page.
What our three verdicts mean
Every 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 portion sizes for the species, with no significant toxic compounds identified at normal amounts.
Important nuance: Safe does not mean unlimited. Portion context matters: even non-toxic foods can cause gastrointestinal upset in excessive amounts. Where relevant, the clinical notes include portion guidance.
Caution
Acceptable only under certain conditions โ limited quantity, specific preparation methods, or removal of a dangerous part such as pits, peel or bones.
Important nuance: Caution verdicts always include the specific condition in the profile notes. A food listed as Caution for dogs because of its pit remains Toxic if the pit is eaten โ the verdict applies to the correctly prepared form.
Toxic
Contains one or more compounds proven to cause harm in the species even in small amounts. The food should be excluded entirely from the animal's diet.
Important nuance: Where a minimum toxic dose is known, it is stated in the clinical notes. Toxic does not always mean immediately life-threatening โ it means the risk profile does not justify any benefit for a species that does not need it.
Why dose is always part of the verdict
Toxicity is inherently dose-dependent. A few grapes can trigger acute kidney failure in a 10 kg dog; a single grape eaten by the same dog is unlikely to cause lasting harm, yet we still classify grapes as Toxic because no safe minimum has been established. Conversely, xylitol is so strongly hepatotoxic in dogs that even small amounts in a single piece of sugar-free gum can be fatal. Our clinical notes always state whether a minimum toxic dose is known, so you understand the margin.
Species-specific review considerations
The depth and reliability of veterinary toxicology literature vary considerably by species. Our editorial standards account for this by adjusting confidence ratings and source requirements to what the field actually knows.
Dogs & Cats
The most extensive clinical literature exists for the carnivores kept as companions, which benefits the confidence levels of our dog and cat entries. Many entries are supported by controlled studies or large case series from poison control databases.
Birds & Cage Birds
Avian metabolism differs considerably from mammalian metabolism. Many foods tolerated by mammals are acutely toxic to birds because of differences in liver enzyme activity. Our bird entries rely heavily on avian journals and USDA toxicology data.
Small Mammals (rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, ferrets)
Small herbivores have highly sensitive digestive tracts and hindgut fermentation that carries toxicity risks not present in carnivores. The literature for these species is sparser, and entries with low-reliability evidence are flagged.
Horses
Equine toxicology is a well-established field because of the agricultural and economic importance of horses. Our horse entries draw on published clinical cases, USDA plant toxicology databases and equine veterinary textbooks.
Fish & Aquatic Animals
Water quality, aquarium chemistry and feeding behavior interact with food safety in ways unique to aquatic animals. Our fish entries emphasize compound solubility and ammonia effects alongside direct ingestion risk.
Reptiles
Reptiles are ectothermic animals with markedly lower metabolic rates and different liver processing. Oxalate sensitivity, vitamin A toxicity and goitrogenic compounds are areas of particular clinical importance across reptile species.
Staying current with veterinary science
Veterinary toxicology is an active field. Clinical case series refine estimates of minimum toxic doses; new pharmacokinetic studies uncover previously unknown species differences; and agricultural changes occasionally introduce new residue risks in produce. A database that rests on 2018 data and is never updated is a liability, not a resource.
Database.pet profiles carry a visible last-reviewed date on every food page. When our editorial team receives a credible new source โ whether from a published study or a reader-reported tip 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 a full re-review at least once per calendar year.
Expedited review on new findings
New clinical publications or case reports trigger an unscheduled review within 30 days.
Last-reviewed date on every profile
Readers always know how recently each food's safety assessment was reviewed.
Reader tips are accepted
Anyone can submit a source or report a possible 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 marketing copy from pet food brands.
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.
Every profile is written or reviewed by a board-certified veterinarian on our review panel. The reviewer's credentials and the review date are shown on every profile page. No profile is published without sign-off from a qualified reviewer.
When published studies disagree, the more cautious 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 data quality.
No. Safe means no significant toxic compounds are present at normal portion sizes for that species. Any food can cause harm in extreme amounts. Where quantity guidance is relevant, it is listed 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 expedited basis. The last-reviewed date is shown on every profile.
Yes. Use the contact form linked from the review board page. Submissions are reviewed by our editorial team and, if accepted, taken through the full four-stage review process before publication.
No. Database.pet is an informational reference that helps pet owners make better-informed dietary decisions. If your pet has eaten a toxic food or is showing signs 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 eaten something potentially toxic, do not wait for symptoms. Contact an emergency service immediately.