Be Sure to Not Let Your Dog Eat These Popular Summer Barbecue Staples

Summer is the perfect time to fire up that grill, crack up an ice cold beer, and sit back and relax. Though a barbecue is a great idea during these warmer months, it’s also important to keep in mind that you may want to stop certain members of your family from getting too close to any food: your dogs.

While dogs can be absolute machines if you put almost anything edible in front of them, you may want to think twice about a few dishes that are particularly popular during the summer months, especially with 4th of July right around the corner.

You might be tempted to share your chicken wings, ribs, corn on the cob, and foods with your pup, but according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, all of these delicious dishes are gigantic choking hazards for dogs that may leave them unable to breathe properly. You’ll also want to keep any salty snacks, like chips and pretzels, as well as classic summer fare like hot dogs away from them. These foods all contain sodium levels that are far too high for your pets to tolerate. Lastly, keep that fruit salad and those burger toppings away from your dog. Grapes can actually cause kidney damage or kidney failure in pups, and additions like onions are often responsible for anemia and blood cell damage. And while it might seem obvious, it needs to be said: You shouldn’t give any animal a sip of alcohol at a barbecue, so be sure your drinks are at a high enough level that pets can’t reach.

While you may not love looking into those sad puppy dog eyes when you deny your pet food, just know that you’re making sure that they’re around to celebrate the summer for many more years to come. Give ’em their usual dog food with pride!