Can Yorkies eat barbecue sauce?

Barbecue sauce is a problem food for a 4-7 lb dog on several fronts. Most recipes are built on onion and garlic powder, which are toxic to dogs, and they're also very high in sugar and salt. On top of that, it's often smeared on foods that are risky in their own right, like fatty ribs or bones. A stray lick isn't likely to be a crisis, but because the onion and garlic are concentrated, it's worth taking seriously. There's nothing a Yorkie gains from it. Keep the sauce on your own plate and offer plain, unseasoned cooked meat if you want to share.

What Yorkie owners need to know

• BBQ sauce is usually made with onion and garlic powder, which are toxic to dogs.
• It's very high in sugar and salt — a poor mix for a tiny dog.
• It's often on foods with other hazards, like fatty meat and bones.

How preparation changes the answer

Safe preparation

• There's no good way to make this suitable for a tiny dog — keep it off their plate.
• If you're grilling and want to share, set aside a little plain, unsauced, cooked meat before adding sauce.

Possible benefits

• None worth the risk for a tiny dog.

Risks & things to watch

• Onion and garlic powder can damage a dog's red blood cells, sometimes with delayed signs.
• High sugar and salt offer nothing good and can upset a small stomach.
• Often paired with fatty, bone-in meats that add their own risks.

If your Yorkie ate too much

If your Yorkie licked up some barbecue sauce, note how much and check whether it came with any bones or fatty meat. Don't wait for symptoms before seeking advice.

Frequently asked questions