Many dog owners are still unaware of the harmful effects of giving their animals chocolate, according to a new report...

The findings from the Pedigree report 'Paws for Thought' revealed many owners do not realise that feeding their dogs certain human foods can be extremely harmful,

This included chocolate, which is highly toxic to dogs, and even grapes, a food considered healthy to humans but which can cause kidney failure when fed to dogs.

One quarter of the 1,000 owners questioned (26%) stated they didn’t have enough information on what is dangerous for their dogs to eat.

Weight was also a key area where there appeared to be a lack of understanding amongst owners. 86% described their dog’s weight as ‘about right’, whereas UK data shows that 40% of dogs are, in fact, overweight.

Pedigree is urging dog owners to check what is an appropriate weight for their dogs during Wet Nose Week, so they can be better informed about the healthiness of their pet.

The research also found that 12% of owners give their dogs human food because of the ‘puppy dog eyes’ effect. When it comes to clean plates at the dinner table, over a third (36%) of people give their dogs human food because they would rather leftovers went to the dog than in the bin.

Jo Gale, Scientist at the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, said: “It’s not surprising that so many owners give in to their dogs and feed them tidbits from their own plates, but it is really important to remember that a dogs’ dietary needs are different to those of a human’s.

"It is paramount for owners to check which foods maintain the health and well-being of dogs, to prevent long-term health problems - especially obesity. The Pedigree health checker is a great tool to ensure your dog is meeting its wellbeing checklist."

To find out more about Pedigree Wet Nose Week and the health checker visit www.uk.pedigree.com/wetnoseweek