As the May Bank Holiday weekend approaches, many of us just can’t wait to bring out the BBQ. Though we love getting ready to invite family and friends around, plan our meals and gather all the ingredients for some magical marinades, a national vet charity is warning pet owners of the hidden hazards that may harm our furry friends.

From heatstroke and burns to bin raids and choking hazards, there are a lot of potential dangers for pet owners to think about when firing up the grill. See below for PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing’s five simple tips to make sure your barbecue is fun for everyone – including your four-legged friends!

Create a safe space

“Having a houseful of strangers can be an unsettling time for pets, so try to give them a retreat where they feel safe to relax in peace. Set up a quiet area in a room or corner of the garden, so they can ‘take time out’ if they feel stressed, making sure they have access to their own food and water with a couple of favorite toys around too.

Avoid tempting treats

“Though it can be tempting to share the tasty BBQ treats you’ve cooked with your furry friends, undercooked and fatty foods can really upset your pet’s stomach and cause sickness or diarrhoea. Bones can be a nasty choking hazard for dogs, they can also cause dangerous blockages to their insides, so instead offer them a healthy chew or a toy to play with to keep them occupied while you eat.

Dispose of dangers!

“A big problem at barbecues is pets getting hold of things they shouldn’t – eating things like kebab skewers or the core from corn-on-the-cob can cause serious and potentially life-threatening injuries. Make sure any leftovers and rubbish are thrown away in a bin that your pet can’t raid – food smells are incredibly tempting for pets so the bin needs to be very secure.

Beat the heat

“Always keep pets a safe distance from the barbecue. Hot food, oils, coals and ashes can cause severe burns if they come into contact with their skin, so ensure that the barbecue is cooled down immediately when you’ve finished cooking – being careful not to leave pets alone while there are still hot items in the area.

Keep them cool

“Pets can quickly overheat in the sun, so it’s important to make sure they are able to head indoors or find some shade when they need to cool down. They also need to have access to fresh, clean water at all times, especially on warmer days. If you’re planning to host your barbecue on a particularly hot day, try to schedule this for the evening to avoid having your pet outside for the hottest part of the day and provide a pet paddling pool so they can hop in for a cool down when they fancy it.”

PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity providing a vital service for pets across the UK whose owners struggle to afford treatment costs for their sick and injured pets. For many vulnerable pets, PDSA is there to help when there is nowhere else for their owners to turn. Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital advice and information. www.pdsa.org.uk