Harmful BBQ Foods You Shouldn’t Feed to Your Pet
Summertime means longer days, warm evenings, and plenty of backyard gatherings with friends. While it’s tempting to slip your furry friend a bite from the grill, not all BBQ food is safe for pets. Even some common items can be harmful—or even deadly—to dogs and cats.
The team at The Gentle Vet wants you and your furry family members to have a safe and tasty summer. So here's what to keep off your pup or kitty's plate during your next cookout!
The Top 6 Common BBQ Foods That Are Dangerous for Pets
1. Cooked Bones
Cooked bones from ribs, chicken, or steak may seem like a treat, especially for a loyal pup. But cooked bones can splinter as your pet tries to chew and digest them. These splinters can cause choking, blockages, and even perforations in your pet's digestive tract.
Keep those bones away from your pets and make sure you dispose of them in a place your cat or dog can't find them!
2. Corn on the Cob
While corn kernels aren’t toxic to pets, the cob itself can cause a serious intestinal blockage if swallowed. Many dogs love the taste of corn, and they might try to swallow a piece of the cob down whole. For a fun and healthy snack, slice off some corn kernels for your pet instead.
3. Onions and Garlic
These common BBQ food flavorings are toxic to both dogs and cats. Whether raw, cooked, or powdered, they can cause gastrointestinal upset and even damage your pet's red blood cells. This, in turn, can lead to anemia. Best to keep all the alliums well away from your pawsome pals.
4. Fatty Meats and Trimmings
Greasy meats and BBQ food scraps might seem like the ultimate treat for your pet. But these fatty foods can cause pancreatitis, a painful and potentially serious condition. Other fatty meats, like sausages, hot dogs, and burgers, can contain seasonings and preservatives that aren’t pet-safe.
Stick to pet-appropriate treats instead.
5. Desserts
Everyone generally knows that chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats. But many aren't aware that some desserts contain artificial sweeteners, like xylitol, that can be dangerous for your pet to eat. Xylitol can cause insulin spikes and liver failure, especially in dogs. The fix? Keep the sweets out of your pet's reach.
Even normal sugar isn’t great for your pet, and too much of it can lead to obesity, dental problems, and even diabetes over time.
This might not be such a big problem for a one-off barbecue, but if you have frequent, sweets-laden get-togethers, it’s important to keep your pet’s treats sugar-free.
6. Alcohol and Caffeinated Drinks
Even small amounts of beer, wine, or soda can be dangerous for pets. Their bodies can't metabolize caffeine and alcohol like ours can.
Because of this, our furry friends are a lot more sensitive to caffeine and alcohol than we are. If they ingest these substances, they can get extremely sick with vomiting, tremors, and even death.
Make sure to keep all alcoholic or caffeinated beverages out of your pet's sight—and make sure none of your guests inadvertently put your pets at risk.
Keep Your Pet Safe During BBQ Season
The best way to protect your pet is to avoid feeding them any table scraps at all, no matter how much they beg with those big, beautiful eyes. Instead, bring pet-safe treats so they can enjoy the gathering without being overwhelmed by temptations.
If you're worried your pet may have eaten or drank something she shouldn't, our caring team at The Gentle Vet can help. Give us a call at (330) 665-5915 to schedule an appointment today.