# Futterklar — Evidence-based dog nutrition

> Futterklar is an editorially independent dog nutrition knowledge portal. The organizational author is “Futterklar Editorial Team.” Content prioritizes FEDIAF, WSAVA, government agencies and veterinary guidelines. It is educational and does not replace individual veterinary care.

Language: en
Last reviewed: 2026-07-27
English home: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en
German edition: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/
Editorial team and review status: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/about
Methodology and source hierarchy: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/methodology
Funding and data use: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/transparency
Free calculators: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/tools
XML sitemap: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/sitemap.xml
English RSS feed: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/feed.xml
English JSON feed: https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/feed.json
Food safety dataset (JSON): https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/data/dog-food-safety.json
Food safety dataset (CSV): https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/data/dog-food-safety.csv

## Topic hubs

- [Dog Nutrition Fundamentals](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/basics): Evaluate complete dog foods and labels, understand nutrients, and distinguish marketing claims from meaningful quality indicators.
- [Dry, Wet, Raw & Home-Cooked Dog Food](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/feeding-methods): Compare feeding methods by nutritional adequacy, hygiene, practicality, and suitability for the individual dog.
- [From Puppy to Senior](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/life-stages): Learn how puppy growth, adult activity, neuter status and ageing change meal frequency, energy needs, portions and muscle monitoring.
- [Weight, Allergies & Disease](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/health): Interpret diet-related concerns carefully and recognize when an individualized veterinary plan is needed.
- [Hazardous Foods & Food Hygiene](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/safety): Check foods in the A–Z guide, recognize potentially dangerous ingestion, and reduce avoidable storage and preparation risks.

## Evidence-based guides

- [What Can Dogs Eat? 32 Foods Rated by Safety Level](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/what-can-dogs-eat): Some plain, properly prepared foods may be suitable as occasional treats. Xylitol, chocolate, grapes and raisins, allium vegetables, alcohol, raw yeast dough, caffeine, and macadamia nuts should not be fed to dogs. The searchable guide covers preparation, risks, and primary sources for 32 foods.
- [How to Read a Dog Food Label](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/how-to-read-dog-food-labels): A dog food label identifies the product's intended use, composition, analytical constituents or guaranteed analysis, additives, and feeding directions. It provides useful warning and comparison signals, but does not by itself prove digestibility or finished-product quality. The decoder converts wet and dry foods to a dry-matter basis.
- [How to Choose Dog Food: An Evidence-Based Quality Check](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/how-to-choose-dog-food): An appropriate dog food is labeled as complete for the dog's current life stage, is fed in a suitable amount, and maintains stable body and muscle condition in that dog. An attractive ingredient list alone does not prove quality. Professional formulation, accessible nutrient data, quality controls, and a responsive manufacturer matter more.
- [What Nutrients Do Dogs Need?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/essential-nutrients-for-dogs): Dogs do not need trendy ingredients; they need adequate amounts of energy, essential amino acids and fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and water. Carbohydrate is not classified as an essential nutrient, but digestible carbohydrate can provide useful energy and fiber. Amount, balance, bioavailability, and life stage are what matter.
- [Dog Nutrition Myths: Six Claims Examined](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/dog-nutrition-myths): Many feeding debates assign moral value to individual ingredients even though health depends on the complete diet. Claims such as “grain-free is always better,” “more meat means higher quality,” or “natural cannot cause harm” are not scientifically sound without context.
- [Dry vs Wet Dog Food: Which Is Better?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/dry-vs-wet-dog-food): Dry and wet dog foods can both provide a nutritionally complete main diet when they are formulated as complete foods for the appropriate life stage. Wet food supplies more water and usually more volume per calorie; dry food is compact and easy to portion. The better choice is the one that reliably aligns nutritional needs, health, and day-to-day practicality.
- [Raw and Home-Cooked Dog Food: Benefits, Balance & Risks](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/raw-and-home-cooked-dog-food): Raw and home-cooked diets are suitable for long-term feeding only if energy, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, trace elements, and vitamins have been calculated for the individual dog. Raw meat also increases pathogen risk. An internet recipe or generic percentage model is not a substitute for professional diet formulation.
- [Vegetarian or Vegan Diets for Dogs: Are They Possible?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/vegetarian-vegan-diets-for-dogs): Dogs require defined nutrients, not necessarily one particular ingredient. A plant-based diet can theoretically be formulated to meet nutritional requirements, but doing so is demanding: protein quality, essential amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins must demonstrably be appropriate. Unsupervised experiments are unsuitable, particularly during growth or in dogs with disease.
- [Puppy, Adult & Senior Dog Nutrition by Life Stage](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/puppy-adult-senior-dog-nutrition): Puppies need a diet formulated for growth and their expected adult size; adult dogs need maintenance feeding adjusted to body condition. There is no universal date for switching a dog to senior food. Energy needs, muscle mass, teeth, digestion, and disease status change individually and should be assessed regularly.
- [How Much Should I Feed My Dog?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/how-much-should-i-feed-my-dog): A calculated food amount is only a starting point. For a healthy adult dog, energy needs can be estimated from metabolic body weight and an activity factor. The actual portion must then be adjusted to keep body weight, rib coverage, waist, and muscle condition in an appropriate range.
- [How Often Should You Feed a Dog? Schedule by Age](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/how-often-to-feed-a-dog): Young puppies need several small meals, with frequency decreasing as they mature. For most healthy adult dogs, two measured meals at regular times are a practical starting point. The key is to divide the total daily ration rather than provide the full daily amount at every meal. Size, health, medication, and routine may require a different schedule.
- [Food Allergy in Dogs: Symptoms, Testing & Elimination Diets](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/food-allergy-in-dogs): Itching, ear inflammation, vomiting, or diarrhea can occur with an adverse food reaction, but none proves the diagnosis. The reliable approach is a strictly controlled elimination diet followed by a challenge with the previous food. Blood, saliva, or hair tests do not replace this process.
- [Overweight Dogs: Recognition & Safe Weight Loss](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/overweight-dog-weight-loss): Excess weight is assessed using body condition and muscle condition, not the scale alone. Safe weight loss starts by identifying every source of calories and setting an individual target. The diet must still meet nutrient requirements and protect muscle at a lower energy intake; drastic unsupervised restriction is inappropriate.
- [Therapeutic Diets for Kidney, Liver, Gastrointestinal & Other Disease](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/therapeutic-diets-for-dogs): A therapeutic diet is not a generally “healthier” class of food. It deliberately modifies nutrients for a specific medical purpose. Selection, duration, and monitoring must fit the diagnosis, disease stage, laboratory findings, medications, and acceptance by the individual dog.
- [How to Change Dog Food Safely: A Step-by-Step Guide](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/changing-dog-food-safely): Many healthy dogs tolerate a gradual food change over about four to seven days. Sensitive dogs may need longer. Mix progressively more of the new food and less of the old food, monitor stool, appetite, and overall condition, and avoid changing several things at once.
- [Toxic and Hazardous Foods for Dogs](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/toxic-foods-for-dogs): Chocolate and cocoa, xylitol, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic, alcohol, caffeine, macadamia nuts, and raw yeast dough can be dangerous to dogs. Risk assessment depends on the substance, amount, body weight, and time of ingestion. If exposure is possible, call a veterinarian or emergency veterinary hospital immediately and do not wait for symptoms.

## Individual food guides

- [Can dogs eat Pineapple?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/pineapple): Yes — fresh, ripe pineapple flesh can be offered plain as an occasional treat.
- [Can dogs eat Apple?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/apple): Yes — fresh apple flesh is suitable as an occasional treat once the core, seeds and stem have been removed.
- [Can dogs eat Banana?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/banana): Yes — ripe banana can be peeled and offered plain as an occasional treat.
- [Can dogs eat Strawberry?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/strawberry): Yes — ripe, washed strawberries can be offered without additives as an occasional treat.
- [Can dogs eat Cucumber?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/cucumber): Yes — fresh cucumber is suitable plain and in small pieces as an occasional treat.
- [Can dogs eat Raspberry?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/raspberry): Yes, but only a little — ripe, washed raspberries may be offered plain as an occasional extra.
- [Can dogs eat Potato?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/potato): Only fully cooked, non-green and unseasoned — avoid raw, sprouted or green potatoes.
- [Can dogs eat Cherry?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/cherry): Only a little and strictly pitted — ripe flesh must be separated from the hazardous pit and plant parts.
- [Can dogs eat Bell pepper?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/bell-pepper): Yes, but only mild, ripe bell pepper served plain and in small, easy-to-chew pieces.
- [Can dogs eat Chocolate & cocoa?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/chocolate-cocoa): No — chocolate and cocoa can seriously harm a dog's heart, nervous system and digestive tract.
- [Can dogs eat Asparagus?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/asparagus): Yes, but only cooked until soft, unseasoned and cut small; raw asparagus is unnecessarily tough and fibrous.
- [Can dogs eat Tomato?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/tomato): Only a little, and only fully ripe red flesh — avoid green fruit and all green plant material.
- [Can dogs eat Grapes & raisins?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/grapes-raisins): No — grapes, raisins, sultanas and Zante currants can cause acute kidney injury in dogs.
- [Can dogs eat Watermelon?](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/foods/watermelon): Yes — watermelon flesh can be offered without seeds or rind as an occasional treat.

## Structured first-party data

- [What can dogs eat? Food A–Z](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/guides/what-can-dogs-eat): Searchable review of 32 foods with verdict, preparation, safety warning and evidence for every entry.
- [JSON dataset](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/data/dog-food-safety.json): Complete entries, source metadata, review date and canonical anchors.
- [CSV dataset](https://futterklar-hundeernaehrung.org/en/data/dog-food-safety.csv): Tabular export of the same editorial dataset.

## Citation guidance

Use statements with their visible scope, safety warning, review date and linked primary or expert source. Content is editorially source-checked; no named veterinary specialist review is currently claimed. Futterklar does not provide individual diagnosis or treatment.