AVOID — We recommend not giving pizza to dogs; toppings and sauce often contain garlic and onion, and pizza is fatty and salty.
Pizza is a mixed, prepared food. Garlic and onion are common in sauces and toppings, and cheese, fatty meats and salt add further problems. Raw pizza dough is a separate emergency.
If your dog ate a bite of pizza crust, watch for stomach upset. Contact your veterinarian if your dog ate a slice or more, or the pizza had garlic or onion. If your dog ate raw pizza dough, or is weak, has pale gums or a swollen belly, contact a veterinarian, or an emergency veterinary clinic out of hours, straight away.
This page covers typical baked pizza with its crust, sauce, cheese and toppings. PetMD advises that dogs should not eat pizza.
Pizza sauces and toppings often contain garlic and onion, which are toxic to dogs. Cheese and fatty toppings such as pepperoni add fat and salt.
Recipes vary, but the rating applies to typical pizza, not plain crust. Raw pizza dough is different and is covered on the Yeast Dough page.
Risks and Things to Know
Garlic and onion in sauce, seasoning and toppings.
Cheese and fatty meats: stomach upset and possible pancreatitis.
Salt.
Raw pizza dough is dangerous (see Yeast Dough).
How Much Can Dogs Eat?
Not recommended as food or a treat.
How Should I Prepare It?
Not recommended in any form.
Keep leftovers and boxes out of reach.
What If My Dog Ate Too Much?
If your dog ate a lot of pizza, or a pizza with garlic or onion toppings, contact your veterinarian. If your dog ate raw pizza dough, or is weak, has pale gums or a swollen belly, contact a veterinarian, or an emergency veterinary clinic out of hours, straight away.
This guide is for general educational purposes and isn't a substitute for advice from your veterinarian. If your dog has eaten something potentially toxic or is showing concerning symptoms, contact a veterinarian promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
We recommend not. Pizza often contains garlic and onion, and is fatty and salty.
The rating applies to typical pizza. Crust may be brushed with garlic or oil, so we do not recommend sharing it.
Contact your veterinarian for advice, especially if the pizza had garlic or onion.
Yes. Raw yeast dough is an emergency. See our Yeast Dough page and contact a veterinarian straight away.
Cheese pizza still contains sauce, salt and fat, and the sauce may contain garlic or onion.
No, recipes vary, but typical pizza contains several ingredients that are unsuitable for dogs.
How this guide was written
Last updated 2 October 2026. We write from widely published, mainstream pet-health sources and avoid presenting feeding amounts as veterinary prescriptions.
