Harmful BBQ Foods You Shouldn’t Feed to Your Pet
Summer barbecues are one of the best parts of the season. Juicy, grilled burgers. Ice-cold drinks. Bouts of laughter with family and friends.
But if you’re a pet parent, it’s important to remember that many popular picnic and BBQ foods are dangerous for your furry companions. Along with the excitement of fireworks and rising summer temperatures that can lead to heatstroke, BBQ gatherings also have toxic foods that can cause serious health issues for pets.
Here's what the team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center wants you to know about pet safety during summer BBQs and cookouts.
Common BBQ Foods That Are Unsafe for Pets
1. Bones from Grilled Meats
Bones can seem like a classic dog treat, but cooked bones are actually dangerous for pets to eat. Here's why: they can splinter as your pet chews them, turning into hard shards that can damage your pet’s digestive system.
The splinters can even cause your pet to choke, perforate their intestines, or cause blockages.
Yikes! Keep the cooked bones well away from hungry pets, and offer them safe treats instead.
2. Corn on the Cob
Feed your pup corn if you want to—they'll probably love it—but make sure the cob isn't part of the picture.
Corn itself isn't harmful to pets, but the cobs can easily cause a blockage if they're swallowed. Many dogs will try to eat the cob along with the corn.
Slice off some kernels and feed them to your pup that way instead.
3. Onions and Garlic
It's not hard to find onions and garlic—both toxic to pets—in everything from marinades and sauces to burger toppings and seasonings. Even small amounts of onions and garlic can cause gastrointestinal issues, and damage your pet's red blood cells. It's best to keep these harmful ingredients far, far away from your furry friends.
4. Desserts
Sugar isn't great for pets. But chocolate, especially dark chocolate, is highly toxic to our pawsome pals. Make sure any s'mores material is kept out of reach of your pet's curious nose! And if anything has xylitol, an artificial sweetener, make sure your dog or cat can't get their paws on it. Xylitol is also toxic to pets.
5. Fatty Meats and Scraps
Fatty foods like sausages, hot dogs, and burger trimmings can cause pancreatitis in pets. If they accidentally eat a piece off the ground, they'll probably be OK. But frequent chomping of these fatty items can lead to the painful and potentially serious condition.
If you’re concerned about anything your pet has eaten during a summer cookout, reach out to our friendly veterinary team at East Sacramento Veterinary Center at (916) 737-5670. We’d be happy to help your pet stay safe during the summer fun!