Are you giving your dog ‘toxic’ treats? Pet expert issues warning as owners admit to letting their pets snack on junk food – and even giving them chocolate and booze

A pet expert has issued a warning to dog owners after a new study revealed how a third of them harm their animals with horrendous treats.

Research by British natural pet food manufacturers Burns Pets Nutrition showed that dog lovers may not be doing what is best for their dog.

A third of pet owners surveyed (34 per cent) do not think twice before giving their four-legged friends the same junk food that is fueling Britain’s obesity crisis, according to the survey of more than 2,000 people.

More than half of dogs in the UK are thought to be overweight or obese, according to a 2021 report from Burgess Pet Care.

And with almost half of owners surveyed admitting they feed their dogs chicken nuggets, one expert has warned that the wrong dietary move could be fatal for your furry friend.

Burns nutrition manager Laura Crotch Harvey said: “It’s easy to feel guilty when we see those puppy eyes or when our dogs are begging for some of our food.”

‘Dogs are very intelligent and know how to push our buttons to try to get what they want.

He added: “Giving dogs even a small amount of human food that is toxic to them could prove fatal.”

“Treats are a great reward for dogs, but be careful which ones you choose.”

However, of 2,022 Britons surveyed, a third were unsure about what they fed their pet, admitting they let their dog eat junk food.

Meanwhile, 34 percent told surveyors they fed junk food to their dogs despite being aware of the health risks.

This was even higher among dog lovers over 65, with 44 percent saying they knew junk food was unhealthy but still gave it to their furry friend anyway.

Even though chocolate is especially toxic to dogs, 12 percent of owners ages 25 to 34 said they had given this candy to their pet.

Another 18 percent said they allowed their dog to chew on cooked bones, which can pose a choking hazard, especially if the bone breaks or breaks the dog’s mouth.

Elsewhere, a handful of Gen Z dog owners (four per cent) revealed they let their four-legged friends sip their alcoholic and caffeinated drinks.

And 13 per cent also said they let their four-legged friend drink cow’s milk, even though it contains lactose which dogs cannot digest because they lack the necessary enzyme.

Interestingly, although women confessed to feeding their dogs more junk food than men, they were less likely to have an overweight dog.

Almost three in 10 male owners admitted to having an overweight dog compared to fewer than two in 10 women.