Research carried out by pet supplement brand YuMove during National Picnic Week has revealed that sharing human snacks with our four-legged friends may actually be doing more harm than good.
More than half (58%) of owners give their pets extra treats during social occasions across the summer months, with BBQ and picnic scraps making up more than half a small dog's calorie intake.
Digestive problems from summer snacks
Seven in ten (73%) of UK dogs were found to experience digestive problems from picnic foods, while they also added hundreds of calories to a dog's diet.
A 60g pork sausage was found to make up almost 36% of a small dog's daily intake, a mini pork pie 59%, and a sausage roll 70%. Cheddar cheese and ham slices were also on the list of foods to be avoided.
"Beyond the calorie impact, feeding human food may lead to digestive upset, something we often see reflected in the rise of digestive issues during the summer months, especially after warm spells or bank holiday weekend BBQs." explained Courtney Miller, Chief Veterinarian at YuMove.
"It’s worth reminding owners that certain everyday foods can be toxic to dogs and should not be shared, regardless of quantity, including chocolate, grapes, raisins and onions."