Can Yorkies eat mustard?
No. Mustard seeds can irritate a dog's stomach and cause vomiting, and prepared mustards are salty and seasoned — there's no reason to feed it to a Yorkie.
Mustard isn't a food to share with a 4-7 lb dog. The mustard seeds it's made from can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting or diarrhoea, and prepared mustards pile on salt, vinegar, and spices on top of that. Some varieties — like honey mustard or those with garlic and onion — bring extra hazards. A tiny lick off a plate is unlikely to cause serious harm, but there's nothing in mustard a Yorkie needs, and the stomach upset simply isn't worth it. Keep it as a condiment for your own sandwich.
What Yorkie owners need to know
- Mustard seeds can irritate a dog's stomach and trigger vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Prepared mustards are also salty and seasoned, which doesn't suit a tiny dog.
- Some kinds add garlic, onion, or lots of sugar — extra reasons to keep it away.
How preparation changes the answer
| Preparation | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Any prepared mustard | Best avoided | Seeds irritate the stomach and it's salty and seasoned — not for a tiny dog. |
| Honey or garlic mustard | Best avoided | Adds sugar or toxic garlic/onion — keep it away entirely. |
Safe preparation
- There's no good way to make this suitable for a tiny dog — keep it off their plate.
- If you're sharing a plain meat or veg, leave the mustard off before it reaches your dog.
Possible benefits
- None worth the risk for a tiny dog.
Risks & things to watch
- Mustard seeds can irritate the gut and cause vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Salt and vinegar add nothing good for a small dog.
- Flavoured versions may contain toxic garlic or onion, or lots of sugar.
If your Yorkie ate too much
A small lick may just cause a bout of vomiting or loose stools. Offer water and watch your dog; if the vomiting or diarrhoea is repeated or they seem unwell, call your vet.
Frequently asked questions
Will a little mustard hurt my Yorkie?
A tiny lick may just cause an upset stomach, but mustard seeds can trigger vomiting. There's no benefit to it, so it's best kept away from your dog entirely.
Are mustard greens the same as mustard?
No — the leafy greens are different from the condiment. This page is about prepared mustard, which is made from irritating seeds and isn't suitable for a tiny dog.
Sources
We cite authoritative veterinary, regulatory, and nutrition sources so you can check the evidence yourself.
- Poison controlASPCA Animal Poison Control CenterToxic and Non-Toxic Plants / People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
Supports: Classification of foods that are toxic or dangerous to dogs. · Accessed 2026-07-01
- Veterinary manualMerck Veterinary ManualSalt Toxicosis in Animals
Supports: Sodium toxicosis from salt-containing materials; correcting serum sodium too quickly risks cerebral oedema, so rehydration must be veterinary-supervised. · Accessed 2026-07-09
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 2026-07-12 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
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Related foods
Salt & Salty Snacks
Not on purpose. A stray crisp will not poison a Yorkie, but salty snacks are a poor idea for a five-pound dog, and concentrated salt — rock salt, salt dough, seawater — can cause genuine sodium poisoning.
Onions & Garlic
No. Onions, garlic, leeks, and chives (the allium family) damage a dog's red blood cells and can cause anaemia. Powders and cooked forms count too.
Pickles
Avoid. A plain cucumber is fine, but a pickle is a cucumber soaked in very salty brine and usually flavoured with garlic, dill, and onion. That brine is the problem for a five-pound Yorkie, and pickles offer nothing your dog needs.
Cinnamon
Use caution. A tiny trace of cinnamon is not considered toxic to dogs, but in any real quantity it irritates the mouth and airways, offers a Yorkie no benefit, and should not be confused with nutmeg, which is a bigger concern.
Cloves
Use caution. Cloves contain a compound called eugenol that can irritate a dog's mouth and stomach and, in concentrated form or large amounts, may harm the liver — and whole cloves are a choking hazard. There's no benefit for a Yorkie.
Garlic Powder
No. Garlic powder is toxic to dogs, and because it's so concentrated it's even more dangerous than fresh garlic. For a Yorkie, an alarmingly small pinch can be enough to matter.