Vet warns dog owners of 'toxic' health threat to pets posed by summer BBQs

A vet has urged dog owners to remain especially vigilant when getting the barbecue out this summer, warning that this could pose a "toxic" health threat to pets.

Throwing a barbecue has to be one of the greatest pleasures of the British summertime, whether you're throwing a bash for friends, or a chilled-out evening for immediate family members.

At-home barbecue chefs need to be able to balance the fun with being careful, however, especially when there are dogs running around underfoot looking for fallen scraps.

Now a vet has urged people to keep their burgers and sausages well away from their pooch, no matter how much they might beg.

Pet owners have been warned to keep their dogs away from sausages and burger (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Working alongside experts at TrustedHousesitters, vet and animal expert Dr Joanna Woodnutt MRCVS, has warned pet owners that "fatty" BBQ food could put dogs at risk of pancreatitis, which could prove fatal.

Pancreatitis is a condition whereby the pancreas - the organ that breaks down food - becomes inflamed. Symptoms include severe lethargy, persistent vomiting, and - in some cases - collapse and shock.

Recalling a close shave she herself witnessed, Dr Joanna said: "A lot of people think they're doing their dog a favour when they let them have barbeque food, but that's not always the case.

"Barbeque food is often very fatty, and one of the worst cases of pancreatitis I've seen was in a dog that had been allowed to finish up some of the scraps from human food at a party. Thankfully, the dog survived, but it was touch-and-go for a while!"

According to Dr Joanna, sausages and burgers can also contain traces of onions, shallots, and garlic, which are toxic to both dogs and cats.

These ingredients come from a group of plants in the Allium family, and, if ingested, pets may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and loss of appetite.

With dogs, allium toxicity can cause damage to red blood cells, and so if eaten regularly can prove just as harmful as eating several onions, even if a tiny amount is ingested.

Dr Joanna has therefore advised pet owners looking to give their pooch a barbecue treat to instead opt for small amounts of grilled meat, fish, or vegetables.

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