Dogs and Barbeques - August 2024

Friends of the Riney Canine Health Center,

One of the best parts of having dogs is all the ways we can share our lives with them. I love sharing everything with my dog Mishka, like a trip to the beach, a good hike, relaxing out in the yard, or just a good snuggle on the couch. But sometimes, when it comes to all the food and distraction during party hosting, larger holiday events, or barbeques (BBQs), our dogs may take the whole sharing thing into their own paws without our consent. BBQs are a great experience to share with our pets while we’re all outside together, but there are several potential hazards we need to be aware of to keep them safe and out of trouble.

While sharing some of the BBQ food with our pets may be tempting, it is best to avoid giving them any fatty or seasoned foods. Any foods high in fat can cause diarrhea or vomiting in dogs. While using the grill, be mindful of grease and meat drippings. If grease spills on gravel or loose wood, dogs may lick or eat foreign material, causing an obstruction. If any spills occur, promptly clean them with the garden hose or a bowl of water.

It is best to avoid giving your dog any leftover bones or preventing them from getting to them. Bone ingestion risks splintering, choking, intestinal blockage and mouth or tooth injury and should not be given to dogs.

If you are cooking kabobs, make sure to keep any wooden skewers out of the dogs' reach. Dogs may try to eat skewers with food on them. If ingested, skewers can pierce through the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, causing serious consequences.

One of the most common causes of intestinal blockage in dogs is from ingestion of corn cobs. Whenever you cook with corn, it is crucial that corn cobs are kept out of reach from dogs. One thing you can share with them is a few of the corn kernels that are unseasoned and removed from the cob. They will love that sweet treat!

Lastly, make sure to secure the garbage. Our dogs, with their keen sense of smell, will follow their noses to forage for all the delicious scraps we don’t want them to access. Even empty foil or plastic wrap that may have food on it can still be tempting to dogs. Prevent accidental ingestion by promptly disposing of used foil with food on it. Keep garbage secured with a lid that dogs cannot get into and keep table scraps out of reach.

We hope you find this information helpful for you and your dog. We look forward to catching up with you next month!

Dr. Aly Cohen, D.V.M.

extension veterinarian

Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center