BBQ For Dogs: Summer Barbecue Safety Tips

BBQ For Dogs: Summer Barbecue Safety Tips

Ahhh, the summer season. Summer’s warm weather is perfect for long days outdoors and of course, summer barbecues!

These barbecue safety tips will help you enjoy hosting BBQs, while keeping your furbaby safe!

Keep Anything Flamin’ Out of Reach

Along with summer barbecues comes flamin’ hot equipment. Make sure to keep anything hot out of your furbaby’s reach. If your furbaby gets in direct contact with any hot equipment, hot food, charcoals, lighter fluid, etc., it can result in serious burns and medical emergencies.

Keep Your Dogs Safe

With the rush of tasks and guests, it only takes an open gate to give your dog the chance to escape. To keep your dog safe, consider placing them inside a crate or on a leash. For any confined or leashed dog, keeping them as comfortable as possible is best. Provide them with Gnawtlers^® to keep them occupied and use Pawtect^® Blankets to keep them feeling extra cozy.

Additionally, summertime can be extra warm, and heat stroke may be a worry. Make sure you keep your dog cool and provide them with clean, drinkable water. It is best not to keep your dog outside while you have a barbecue. If your dog is outside with you, keep them away from the grill. You should also make sure they have a shaded area with plenty of fresh water.

There are also Forager^® Mats and Bowls that can help mentally and physically stimulate your dog to keep them away from boredom for a fun and interactive eating experience.

Minimize Dangers to Your Pet When Cleaning the BBQ Grill

After cooking, when you are cleaning your BBQ grill, always look for stray grill brush wires. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a warning on utilizing brushes when cleaning the grill and grill grates. When preparing food on the BBQ grill, the detached grill brush bristles can easily attach to the food and can result in being lodged in the throat, leading to serious issues in the stomach.

To minimize the dangers and promote grill safety, do the following:

Food Safety: Avoid Harmful BBQ Foods

Summer barbecues may be filled with a lot of delicious human food but be careful as not all are safe for dogs. Some of the common backyard BBQ foods harmful to dogs include the following:

Seasonings, marinades, BBQ sauce. Certain seasonings, marinades, and backyard BBQ sauces are bad for dogs. Seasonings, marinades, BBQ sauce containing garlic, onion, cayenne, black pepper, and chili pepper are dangerous for your furbaby to consume. Consuming so would bring about gastrointestinal upset and medical emergencies, and may even cause long-term health problems.

Corn on the cob. Do not give your dog corn on the cob if they are unsupervised and never give them this as a chew treat. This can easily get lodged in your furbaby’s throat and cause choking. Give them Gnawtlers^® instead. These are premium deer and elk antler chews that are healthy and do not easily break or splinter.

Alcohol. Keep the alcoholic liquors out of your furbaby’s reach. Alcohol does not only result in intoxication but has also been proven to be toxic to dogs. If your dog has alcohol, alcohol poisoning can set form immediately. Research has shown that alcohol consumption in dogs can force changes to the structure of a dog’s brain and lead to cardiovascular concern or death.

Bones. Summer barbecues staple foods like chicken, steak, and ribs all have bones. No matter how adorable your dog is with those puppy eyes, please do not give in to their begging. Bones should not be given to dogs for playing and eating. Contrary to popular belief, bones are not safe for dogs to chew on. They easily break and splinter and can harm your dog. These bones may get lodged in their esophagus and cause damage to the intestinal tract. Proper bone disposal during summer barbecue events is a must. If you want to provide your furbaby with something they can chew on or enjoy, Gnawtlers^® is the best way to go. 

Sweets containing Xylitol. Never give your dog sweets that contain the artificial sweetener Xylitol. Xylitol is often found in gums, sugar-free candies, and some peanut butter brands and is highly toxic to dogs. Always check the ingredients in what you give your furbaby.

Toxic fruits and vegetables. Not all fruits and vegetables are good for dogs. Some like grapes, lemons, peppers, and chives present in summer barbecues are harmful to your furbaby. A thorough list of what fruits and vegetables dogs can eat can be read here.

Table scraps. Never give your dog table scraps. Table scraps and leftovers can be greasy, can make your dog sick, and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea. In more serious circumstances, table scraps can cause pancreatitis in the long run.

Summertime can be one of the best times of the year for both pet parents and pets alike. However, it is crucial to always prioritize pet barbecue safety during summer barbecues to prevent any hazards from arising—from extreme heat to food mishaps and grill dangers.