My 10 kg dog ate a tablespoon of store-bought basil pesto sauce — is the basil or the other

Short answer

The basil is safe; the other ingredients are the problem. Pesto contains garlic, which is toxic to dogs, along with pine nuts, cheese, and a lot of oil. A tablespoon for a 10 kg dog is enough to cause gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhoea. The garlic risk is low from that amount, but watch for signs like lethargy or pale gums over the next day. Skip the next meal, offer plain water, and call your vet if you see vomiting or any unusual behaviour.

Basil — Food safety facts

Safe to share · Dogs · full breakdown on the linked food page

A few fresh basil leaves are safe for dogs and cats. Not toxic in normal amounts.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Safe to share), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Basil is not toxic to dogs. The real limit is calories, fat and salt, so treat it as a small extra alongside the normal ration rather than a meal in itself.

There is no poisoning risk here, and the usual problem is simply eating too much at once: a heavy fat or salt load can bring on loose stools or a single vomit. Offer water, keep an eye on the pet for 24 hours, and do not induce vomiting.

Basil can stay on the rotation, but only as an extra mouthful: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the next walk and the stool that comes with it.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Basil food facts page.

Open the full food page: Basil food facts →

My 10 kg dog ate a tablespoon of store-bought basil pesto sauce — is the basil or the other ingredients the main risk?

Basil — Food safety facts

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