BVA warns about the dangers of skewers and other hazards.

With just a couple of days to go before the August bank holiday, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) is reminding pet owners to keep their pet away from potential hazards when having a barbecue.

The warning follows a new survey from the BVA, which revealed that last year 39 per cent of companion animal veterinary surgeons had seen pets with barbecue related injuries.

The most common causes were eating innappriopriate food (32 per cent), including corn-on-the-cob and cooked bones. Corn is not toxic to dogs, but they are unable to digest it, which can lead to obstructions requiring surgery. The sharp points of cooked bones can cause injuries when swallowed.

Skewers were also a hazard, with 13 per cent of veterinary surgeons saying they had seen mouth or internal injuries caused by them. It was also revealed that two per cent of veterinary surgeons had pets with burns from barbecues, coals, or hot food.

BVA junior vice-president Anna Judson said: “Pets, and dogs in particular, are always on the lookout for a sneaky treat and won’t hesitate to chew on or gobble something down even if it may cause them harm. It can happen so quickly too.
 
“One of the most dramatic cases I’ve seen was a tiny cut on the tongue of a young lab. Caused by a cheeky lick of a cracked plate, the blood seemed to be spraying out as he leapt around, but the actual wound was very small. The owners did absolutely the right thing bringing him in so we could sedate and treat him.
 
“Have fun this bank holiday but keep an eye on your pet, make sure food and sharp objects are kept out of paws reach and ensure your pet stays away from hot barbecues or grills to help avoid emergency dashes to the vet.

“Always phone your vet if you’re concerned and don’t leave things to chance, it is better to be safe than sorry.”

Image (C) BVA