Lettuce

Lettuce is a yes. The American Kennel Club says lettuce is generally safe for dogs to eat in moderation, and that romaine and iceberg lettuce, arugula, and spinach are all non-toxic to dogs and mostly water and low in calories, making a light and crunchy snack. For a dog on a diet, it is bulk without calories. The caveats are texture and quantity. Because lettuce is very fibrous, it can be hard to digest in big pieces, and AKC advises chopping it rather than handing over a whole leaf, especially for smaller dogs. Too much causes diarrhea, so a plain piece from time to time is the right frequency, not a bowl of it. Wash it. AKC specifically says to wash your lettuce thoroughly and to know where it originates, pointing to recalls of lettuce contaminated by E. coli or listeria as the reason to be extra cautious. That advice applies to bagged and pre-washed greens too, and wilted or slimy leaves belong in the trash rather than the dog bowl. The real risk with lettuce is what it arrives with. AKC notes that salads often include ingredients that are toxic to dogs, such as onions. A Caesar salad brings garlic, anchovy, cheese, and croutons; a chopped salad brings red onion and vinaigrette; a taco salad brings seasoning and sour cream. Onion and garlic damage canine red blood cells, and that anemia can show up days later, so a dog that seems fine right after eating a salad is not necessarily in the clear. If your dog ate salad containing onion or garlic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Do not induce vomiting at home.