Foods to approach with caution

Use caution. Almonds are not considered toxic to dogs, but for a Yorkie they are a real choking and obstruction risk, they are high in fat that can upset the stomach or contribute to pancreatitis, and they are frequently salted.

Use caution. Avocado flesh is not a common cause of serious poisoning in dogs, but the pit is a real choking and obstruction hazard and the flesh is very fatty — so it's not a good fit for a Yorkie.

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.

Use caution. Butter isn't toxic, but it is essentially pure fat with lactose, so even a small amount can upset a Yorkie's stomach or, in a susceptible dog, help trigger pancreatitis. It has no benefit, so it's best kept off the menu.

Use caution. Cashews are not toxic to dogs, but they are very high in fat and are usually sold salted or roasted, and they pose a choking risk — so at most a Yorkie should have a couple of plain unsalted ones, and even that is not necessary.

Only a few pieces of a plain, low-sugar cereal, dry — and only if it has no chocolate, raisins, or xylitol. Most cereals are too sugary for a tiny dog.

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.

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.

Use caution. Coconut flesh and oil are not toxic to dogs, but they are very high in fat and MCTs that can cause stomach upset in a small dog, sweetened coconut adds sugar, and coconut water is high in potassium — so this is a food to limit, not a staple.

Use caution. A tiny amount of plain cream cheese isn't toxic, but it's high in fat and lactose, and flavoured tubs often contain onion, garlic, or chives. At most, a small smear of the plain kind — and check the label first.

Only a rare, tiny scrap of low-sodium plain deli meat — most cold cuts are far too salty and full of preservatives, and some contain garlic, making them a poor choice for Yorkies.

Only maybe — and only after checking every ingredient. Granola is often packed with raisins, chocolate, nuts, and sugar, so most of it isn't safe for a Yorkie.

Best avoided — hazelnuts aren't toxic to dogs, but they're exactly the wrong size to choke a tiny Yorkie and they're fatty, so they're not a treat worth the risk.

Use caution. Plain ice cream brings lactose and a lot of sugar that a Yorkie does not need, but the critical issue is the label — some ice creams contain xylitol or chocolate, which are toxic to dogs, so always check before sharing.

Best avoided. Plain ketchup isn't usually toxic, but it's salty, sugary, and often contains onion and garlic powder — so a stray lick is fine, but don't serve it.

Use caution — and check the packet first. A plain sugar marshmallow isn't toxic, but it's pure sugar with a sticky, round shape that can choke a small dog. Critically, a sugar-free marshmallow may contain xylitol, which is a poisoning emergency.

Not a good idea. Mayonnaise isn't toxic, but it's almost entirely oil and fat — far too rich for a tiny Yorkie, so at most a rare tiny lick.

In tiny amounts, occasionally — a lick of plain milk won't poison a Yorkie, but many dogs are lactose-intolerant, so milk often causes gas, loose stools, or an upset tummy. It's not something a dog needs.

Use caution. Plain store-bought button mushrooms are low-risk but offer a Yorkie nothing worth the trouble, while wild mushrooms can be deadly and are very hard to identify — that is the danger that matters.

Use caution. A trace of nutmeg baked into food is low-risk, but larger amounts contain a compound called myristicin that can cause disorientation and a racing heart in dogs — and there's no reason a Yorkie needs it.

Use caution. A single plain, pitted olive is not toxic, but most olives are packed in very salty brine, and the pit is a choking hazard for a tiny mouth. There's no real reason to offer them, so it's easiest to skip.

Use caution — and read the label first. Sugary peppermint sweets are empty calories and a choking risk, but the critical danger is that many sugar-free mints contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs even in tiny amounts.

Not a good idea — pistachios aren't classically toxic, but they're high in fat and salt, the shells are a real choking and blockage risk, and they can carry mold, so they're not worth offering a Yorkie.

Use caution — and read every label. Protein and energy bars are a mixed bag of ingredients that can be dangerous to dogs: many contain xylitol, chocolate, raisins, macadamia nuts, caffeine, or a lot of fat. Several of those are toxic to a Yorkie.

Only a tiny scrap of the plain inner white meat, skin off and no bones — the salty, seasoned skin and the garlic and onion powder in the rub make most of a rotisserie chicken unsafe for Yorkies.

Use caution. A little ripe red tomato flesh is generally fine for most dogs, but green or unripe tomatoes and the plant's stems and leaves contain solanine and tomatine, and tomato-based sauces usually carry onion, garlic, and salt.

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.

No. Barbecue sauce is loaded with sugar and salt and usually made with onion and garlic powder — all bad news for a tiny Yorkie.

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.

Avoid. Chips — potato crisps — are high in salt and fat and are frequently flavoured with onion or garlic powder. They're a poor snack for a Yorkie, and flavoured varieties carry a real toxicity concern.

No. Cooked bones splinter, and in a dog the size of a Yorkie a splinter that a Labrador might pass can obstruct or perforate the gut. This is a physical injury risk, not a poisoning.

Best avoided — a plain cracker crumb won't poison a Yorkie, but crackers are salty, refined, and often seasoned, offering nothing good for a tiny dog.

Best avoided. A dropped fry won't poison a Yorkie, but chips are deep-fried, heavily salted, and often seasoned with garlic or onion — a poor fit for a five-pound dog even though they aren't toxic.

No — fried chicken's greasy batter, salt, and seasonings plus the cooked bones make it a pancreatitis and choking risk for a tiny Yorkie.

No. Gravy is very salty and fatty and is usually made with onion — a poor and risky choice for a tiny Yorkie.

Avoid. Ham is very high in salt and fat and is a cured, processed meat — for a 5-pound Yorkie that combination raises the risk of salt-related illness and pancreatitis, so it is not a treat to offer.

Avoid. Hot dogs are very high in salt and fat, usually carry nitrates and onion or garlic seasoning, and their round shape is a classic choking hazard for a small dog. They are a poor choice for a Yorkie.

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.

No — peanut shells are tough, indigestible fiber that can choke a Yorkie or block their gut, and they offer nothing nutritionally.

Avoid. Pecans are high in fat, a choking risk, and — like walnuts — moldy pecans can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause tremors and seizures; they also contain juglone.

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.

Best avoided. A plain crust crumb will not poison a Yorkie, but real pizza combines several things that are bad for a five-pound dog — onion and garlic in the sauce, a lot of salt and fat in the cheese and toppings, and a rich, heavy dough.

Avoid. Pretzels are coated in salt and are empty carbohydrate with no benefit for a dog, and hard pretzels add a tooth-fracture and choking risk for a tiny mouth. They're a poor snack for a Yorkie.

No. Ranch dressing is made with garlic and onion powder plus a lot of fat and salt — a genuinely bad combination for a tiny Yorkie.

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.

Avoid. Sausage is high in salt and fat and is very often seasoned with onion and garlic — for a 5-pound Yorkie that means both a pancreatitis and salt risk and a real chance of allium toxicity.

Best avoided. Soy sauce is extremely high in salt, and for a dog as small as a Yorkie even a small amount is a genuine sodium concern — this is one to keep well out of reach.

No — classic holiday stuffing is made with onion, garlic, butter, and salt, all of which are genuinely harmful to a tiny dog. Skip it entirely.

Best avoided — treat it as dangerous. Trail mix is a combination hazard: it typically contains raisins, chocolate, and macadamia nuts, several of which are toxic to dogs, plus salt and fat. For a Yorkie, assume the worst.

No. Turkey bacon may sound like a lighter choice, but it's cured, very salty, and greasy — none of which belongs in a tiny Yorkie's diet.

Avoid. Walnuts are high in fat, a choking and obstruction risk, and — most importantly — moldy walnuts can carry tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause tremors and seizures, with black walnuts being especially concerning.