Can Yorkies eat liver?
Yes, in small amounts — plain cooked liver is a nutritious, protein-rich treat dogs love, but it's very high in vitamin A, so keep it occasional and tiny for a Yorkie.
Cooked liver (chicken or beef) is rich in protein, iron, and B vitamins, and its strong flavour makes it a high-value treat and training reward. The catch is vitamin A: liver is so concentrated that feeding a lot, often, can lead to vitamin A excess over time, which harms bones and joints. For a 4-7 lb dog, a small piece now and then is plenty. Cook it plain — no onion, garlic, salt, or oil — and treat it as an occasional treat, not a daily food.
What Yorkie owners need to know
- Liver is very high in vitamin A — small and occasional is the rule, because too much over time can cause vitamin A toxicity.
- Cook it plain: no onion, garlic, salt, butter, or seasoning.
- It's rich, so start with a tiny amount and watch for loose stools.
How preparation changes the answer
| Preparation | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Plain cooked, small occasional piece | Safe if prepared right | Nutritious high-value treat when kept small and infrequent. |
| Frequent or large servings | Only small amounts | Vitamin A can build up over time — keep it occasional. |
| Cooked with onion/garlic/salt | Best avoided | Added seasonings are unsafe for a tiny dog. |
Safe preparation
- Cook chicken or beef liver plain — boil or pan-cook with no oil, salt, or seasoning.
- Cool it and cut into small, pea-sized pieces.
- Offer a little occasionally as a treat and count it in the treat budget.
Portion for a Yorkie
A small piece — roughly the size of a fingernail — once or twice a week at most for a 4-7 lb Yorkie; keep liver and all treats within about 10% of daily calories.
Nutrition at a glance
Calories
~119 kcal
per 100 g, cooked chicken liver (USDA FoodData Central)
Protein
~24 g
per 100 g, cooked chicken liver (USDA FoodData Central)
Vitamin A
very high
per 100 g, cooked liver (USDA FoodData Central)
Possible benefits
- Rich in protein, iron, and B vitamins.
- Strong flavour makes it a high-value training reward.
- Soft cooked texture suits picky eaters and seniors.
Risks & things to watch
- Very high in vitamin A — frequent or large amounts can cause vitamin A toxicity affecting bones and joints.
- Rich, so too much can cause loose stools.
- Added onion, garlic, or salt would be harmful.
If your Yorkie ate too much
A little extra plain liver may just cause soft stools. A large amount, or liver cooked with onion or garlic, warrants a call to your vet — and remember that regular over-feeding of liver, not a single treat, is what risks vitamin A building up over time.
Frequently asked questions
How often can my Yorkie have liver?
Keep it occasional — a small piece once or twice a week at most. Liver is very high in vitamin A, and feeding a lot regularly can lead to vitamin A excess over time, so it's a treat, not a daily food.
Can Yorkies eat raw liver?
It's safer to cook it. Raw liver carries the same bacterial risks as other raw meat; plain cooked liver gives the same nutrition without those risks.
Sources
We cite authoritative veterinary, regulatory, and nutrition sources so you can check the evidence yourself.
- Nutrition dataUSDA FoodData CentralUSDA FoodData Central nutrient database
Supports: Human-food nutrient composition (calories, macronutrients, fibre, sugars). · Accessed 2026-07-01
- Professional bodyWSAVA Global Nutrition CommitteeGlobal Nutrition Guidelines & Toolkit
Supports: Energy requirement calculation, body condition scoring, treat guidance. · Accessed 2026-07-01
The Yorkiefood Editorial Team
We research Yorkshire Terrier feeding from regulatory bodies, veterinary manuals, poison-control centres, and peer-reviewed nutrition literature, then explain it plainly. We are careful researchers, not veterinarians — our pages cite their sources so you can check the evidence yourself, and we always defer to your own vet for your dog.
First published 2026-07-15 · Last reviewed 2026-07-15
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Related foods
Cooked Chicken
Yes, when cooked plain, boneless, and skinless — plain cooked chicken is one of the most reliable, gentle treats for a Yorkie.
Beef
Yes — lean, plain, fully cooked beef with the fat drained is a protein-rich treat for Yorkies, served in small amounts.
Eggs
Yes — plain, fully cooked eggs with no salt, butter, or oil are a safe, protein-rich treat for Yorkies in small amounts.
Baby Food
Use caution, and read the label every time. Plain single-ingredient meat baby food is sometimes used to tempt a sick or picky Yorkie to eat, but many baby foods contain onion or garlic powder — which are toxic to dogs — so the ingredient list is the whole story.
Bacon
Avoid. Bacon is very high in salt and fat and is loaded with grease — for a 5-pound Yorkie that fat and salt combination is a real trigger for stomach upset, pancreatitis, and salt-related illness.
Beef Jerky
No. Human beef jerky is heavily salted and seasoned, and many brands contain onion or garlic powder — which are toxic to dogs — so keep it away from your Yorkie.
Make serving it easier
A few small things that help at mealtime
Getting the portion right matters most on a tiny dog. These simple bits of kit help you weigh, serve, and store — tap a category to see current options on Amazon.
Wet food for toy breeds
Softer texture for picky or senior Yorkies — check calories per can.
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Scrapes every bit of wet food or topper from the can with no waste.
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Seal a half-used can so the second half is still fresh tomorrow.
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A spoonful can tempt a fussy eater or settle a delicate tummy.
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