Can dogs eat meat covered in barbecue sauce?

Summer is here and that means barbecues, gatherings and picnics galore. And it also means dogs trying to snag a piece of meat covered in delicious barbecue sauce.

But can our dogs actually eat meats that have been smothered in barbecue sauce? Is this actually something that they can safely enjoy this summer?

The last thing we want to have happen is that after a fun day with family and friends, we end up with a sick dog because they ate something that they shouldn’t have. After all, there is nothing fun or relaxing about our pups not feeling well. So we did some digging and we have some answers about how safe this staple of summer really is for our dogs.

Can dogs eat barbecue sauce?

Basically, barbecue sauce is not safe for our dogs to eat for a lot of reasons. And that also means that any meats that have been covered in barbecue sauce are also not dog-friendly options as well.

According to the Be Chewy blog, a lot of the reasons why this particular sauce is not safe for dogs comes from the seasonings used to make it taste so good. Plus, in many cases barbecue sauce has too much sugar for our dogs, and we already know that any sauce that uses artificial sugar or sugar alternatives is also out of the question.

Among the reasons that barbecue sauce is not safe for dogs we have the onion, garlic, spicy ingredients (such as jalapenos, chilis, and other peppers), and even the acidic elements. All of these things combined are simply not safe for our dogs.

From gastrointestinal upset to anemia, there are any number of issues that can pop up if our dog consumes barbecue sauce. And that is why this summer (and really all year long), we are making sure that our dogs are avoiding the sauce covered foods and meats.

Are you surprised by the news that barbecue sauce is not dog safe? Had you considered the mix of seasonings as being the primary reason why this sauce is unsafe?