BBQ season is in full swing, and the UK is treating us to a summer of glorious sunshine.

Whilst this season is all fun and games, it’s important to look out for our pets and keep them safe.

Host a pet-safe BBQ by keeping your pets away from toxic foods like onion, garlic, or fatty meats that will upset their stomach. Keep them away from the hot grill to prevent burns or injury. Consider the weather and keep them cool and shaded.

Create a pet-safe environment

BBQs can often turn into big gatherings, with friends and family coming over to enjoy the sun and good food.

Whilst some pets are social butterflies who love to work the crowd, others can experience social anxiety and may feel overwhelmed by lots of people and loud noises.

You know your pet best, so ensure they have a safe, quiet space to chill if they aren’t too keen on being in the middle of the party.

BBQs and hot weather typically go hand in hand, so keeping your pet safe and cool is essential. Make sure they have a shady spot to lay, plenty of water and cooling accessories such as cool mats if it’s very hot.

Keep pets away from the hot grill

BBQs can get extremely hot with open flames and grills that stay hot even after you’ve finished cooking. You must keep your pets away from the hot grill to avoid burns or injury.

Having them running around under your feet could also cause you to trip or fall whilst carrying hot food or handling open flames, so it’s best to keep them in a separate area whilst cooking.

Avoid feeding your pet BBQ food

It may feel perfectly safe to give your dog food like chicken or steak straight off the barbie, but it’s best avoided!

Whilst plain meats and vegetables are safe for dogs and often incorporated into their diets by their owners, BBQ meats can be heavily seasoned or contain bones.

Seasonings like onion and garlic are highly toxic to dogs, and cooked bones can splinter and be extremely dangerous if ingested.

Barbequed food can also be extremely hot and burn your dog’s mouth if it hasn’t cooled down first.

To stay on the safe side, it’s best completely avoided! If you still want to include them, you can follow our tips for a pet-safe BBQ.

BBQ foods dangerous to pets

BBQs typically involve many foods or ingredients that can be toxic to pets.

Onion and garlic, or any ingredient part of the allium family, are often used to season or accompany popular BBQ dishes but are highly toxic to animals. Cooked bones can also splinter and cause internal damage if consumed by pets.

BBQ food to avoid feeding your pets:

  • Garlic
  • Cooked bones
  • Corn on the cob
  • Avocado
  • Grapes
  • Chocolate
  • Alcohol

Even foods that aren’t toxic but are fatty or heavily seasoned can upset their stomachs, so it’s best avoided.

What BBQ food is safe for dogs?

Pets are part of the family, and we know how tempting it can be to include them in the fun and sneak them a bite to eat off your plate.

If you want to get them involved, cook them their own separate food or have a stash of their treats nearby.

This could include:

  • Plain cooked chicken or fish
  • Cooked sweet potato
  • Carrot sticks
  • Strawberries and blueberries

What to do if your pet eats BBQ food

If your pet consumes any BBQ food, stay calm and take the necessary precautions.

Try to identify exactly what they have eaten and in what quantity. If you know they have consumed toxic foods or they are displaying signs of illness, contact your vet immediately.

Does pet insurance cover ingestion of toxic food?

If your pet ingests toxic food, this will likely require a visit to the vet and potential treatment. Whether your pet insurance policy covers this will depend on the type of policy you have and the level of cover. 

If you’d like to check what your insurance policy with us covers, or enquire about our pet insurance policies, give our friendly team a call on 0800 050 2022, and they’d be more than happy to help.

Take a look at what our policies cover