Almost two thirds of pet owners could be endangering their dogs by feeding them BBQ leftovers

New research* from GoCompare Pet Insurance has revealed that almost two thirds (62%) of pet owners could be putting their dog’s health at risk by feeding them leftover food from a barbecue.

As the weather hots up and Brits reach for the BBQ, GoCompare’s poll found that 62% either always or sometimes feed their dog the leftover food from the barbecue. And a further 55% of pet owners think that it’s ok to feed a dog barbecue food.

The research, which quizzed more than 750 dog owners, also found that the worst offenders are pet owners aged 25-34, with 30% saying they always feed scraps to their dog.  

As the charcoal is lit and the sausages are thrown on the barbie, GoCompare is warning dog owners that if they’re planning to have a barbecue it is important to be disciplined and not feed a dog any leftover food as it could be potentially hazardous for their health. 

RSPCA dog welfare expert Dr Samantha Gaines said: 

“Lots of human foods can be potentially hazardous for our pets, either because they contain toxic ingredients or because they could be a choke hazard. We would always encourage owners to avoid feeding their pets foods that are meant for human consumption and to stick to pet food and treats that are made especially for their furry friends. 

“Barbecue food, should not be fed to dogs. Cooked bones are incredibly dangerous for dogs as they can splinter and get stuck in their throats or cause an obstruction in their intestines. They can also be marinaded or cooked in sauces that may contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs - such as onion - or have a flavour which may cause them irritation, such as spicy foods. 

“If you want your dog to join in with barbecue fun and summer festivities then why not create them their own special pet-friendly treat to enjoy while you’re all tucking into your burgers, kebabs and sausages?”

Hannah Isitt, GoCompare’s pet insurance expert said: 

“There are a lot of new pet owners in the UK this summer and the worrying statistic in this research is that most dog owners think it’s ok to feed pets scraps from the barbecue. With friends and family now allowed to congregate in gardens again, it’s highly likely that someone could innocently feed a dog from the barbecue and not realise the harm that they could be causing. There’s definitely more awareness needed about the dangers of feeding pets from the barbecue.

“If you think your pet has eaten something harmful, closely observe your pet's condition and contact a vet immediately. The sooner you react the better chance you will give your pet to recover.”

GoCompare has produced a guide on how to keep your pets safe in hot weather, which can be found here: https://www.gocompare.com/pet-insurance/safety-in-hot-weather/.

-Ends-

*On 12th July – 13th July 2021, an online survey of 2,035 randomly selected Great British adults, of which 750 were dog owners, was executed by Maru/Blue. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.1%. The results have been weighted by age, gender, region and social grade to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

For further information please contact:

Lynsey Walden – Lynsey.walden@gocompare.com

Kath Chadwick - kathryn.chadwick@gocompare.com

Or call us on 01633 654055 or 02920 020360.

Keep up-to-date with GoCompare on Twitter; @GoCompare 

Notes to editors

*On 12th July – 13th July 2021, an online survey of 2,035 randomly selected Great British adults was executed by Maru/Blue. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 2.1%. The results have been weighted by age, gender, region and social grade to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Great Britain. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

About GoCompare

GoCompare is a comparison website that enables people to compare the costs and features of a wide variety of insurance policies, financial products and energy tariffs.

It does not charge people to use its services and does not accept advertising or sponsored listings, so all product comparisons are unbiased. GoCompare makes its money through fees paid by the providers of products that appear on its various comparison services when a customer buys through the site.

When it launched in 2006, it was the first comparison site to focus on displaying policy details rather than just listing prices, with the aim of helping people to make better-informed decisions when buying their insurance. It is this approach to comparing products that secured the company an invitation to join the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) in 2008, and it is still the only comparison site to be a member of this organisation.

GoCompare has remained dedicated to helping people choose the most appropriate products rather than just the cheapest and works with Defaqto, the independent financial researcher, to integrate additional policy information into a number of its insurance comparison services. This allows people to compare up to an extra 30 features of cover. 

GoCompare is part of Future Plc and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). 

More information can be found here www.gocompare.com or here https://www.futureplc.com/brands/.