Can dogs eat barbecue sauce? You may be asking this because you want to give your pup a bite of tasty ribs at the Fourth of July picnic, or maybe your dog already found their way into a bottle of barbecue sauce. Humans can eat barbecue sauce, so is it also safe for dogs to eat?
The short answer is no, barbecue sauce is not safe for dogs to eat. It contains ingredients that can cause stomach upset in our canine friends.
If your dog has eaten barbecue sauce, you should contact your veterinarian for guidance. Here’s why barbecue sauce is bad for dogs.
Why Is Barbecue Sauce Bad For Dogs?
The ingredients that make barbecue sauce tasty for humans, like onion power and garlic powder, are toxic to dogs. While a little bit of these ingredients should not kill your dog, you should avoid allowing your pup to consume these seasonings.
Most barbecue sauces also contain refined sugar, which is not good for your doggo.
The strong smell of barbecue sauce is a result of the high amount of vinegar in the condiment. Surprisingly, white distilled vinegar and apple cider vinegar are completely nontoxic to dogs. Too much vinegar can cause stomach upset, but it will not harm your dog beyond that.
While vinegar may not be harmful to your pup, the other ingredients in barbecue sauce are a definite no.
What Should I Do If My Dog Ate Barbecue Sauce?
If your dog has eaten a small amount of barbecue sauce, they will most likely be fine. Still, you should contact your vet to be safe.
If they have consumed an entire bottle of barbecue sauce and are visibly ill, you might need to take them to an emergency vet. Use your best judgment, but always contact your vet first.
If you’re wondering if you can give your pup other condiments, like ketchup and mustard, the answer is no. Most all condiments contain onion powder, garlic powder, or other ingredients that aren’t good for dogs.
Your pup can enjoy a nice meal, but you should leave the sauces out of it.
Has your dog ever accidentally eaten barbecue sauce? If so, did it require a visit to the vet? Let us know in the comments below.
