BARBECUES are not a just a danger to human health but also our pets, a leading animal charity has warned.

While revellers nurse a bout of food poisoning after eating undercooked meat, our cats and dogs may also be suffering after having swallowing kebab skewers and other items discarded during the back garden parties.

Elaine Pendlebury, PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, is asking revellers to be extra vigilant this summer.

She said: "A curious dog or cat will quickly sniff out discarded food from a barbecue and will waste no time in munching through leftovers. It is a natural instinct for cats and dogs to hunt out food, and the mouth-watering smell of meat cooking on a barbecue can sometimes be too much for a pet to resist."

Recently PDSA vets removed a 12cm wooden kebab meat skewer from twoand- a-half-year-old West Highland terrier called Tango.

Tango had been off his food for a few days and was very tender around his abdomen so worried owner Lynne Richardson took him to her nearest PDSA PetAid hospital.

After an operation to remove the skewer Tango made a full recovery.

The PDSA also warns that corn on the cob can cause serious intestinal obstruction for pets if swallowed.

People should also be wary about pets jumping up onto barbecues to reach food which can result in serious burns.

And toxic barbecue lighter fuel and other chemicals should be kept in a safe place away from curious paws.

Elaine added: "It can be very difficult to monitor pets all the time. So if your pet's behaviour changes in any way, and you suspect it may have eaten something it shouldn't, contact a vet for advice."