The 7 common food items you should never feed your dog - not just chocolate

If you have a dog, you might give them a little nibble of your food here and there but experts say thereare several items you should never give to your pup. Keeping your dog's diet healthy is important and there's some things you might not realise dogs can't have.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has issued a warning, urging owners to be careful with the treats they give their beloved pets. The charity says: "Dogs can be opportunists when it comes to getting their paws on tasty treats, but not all everyday food and drink are safe if they come into contact with them." It says there's a range of food items which you should be wary of - including some items you will likely commonly have in your home.

The dog experts at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home say giving your dog a raw uncooked bone to chew on is great, but you should avoid cooked bones at all cost.

It adds: "These can easily splinter and in large quantities cause constipation or at worst, a perforation of the gut which can be fatal."

But this is not the only food you should be cautious of - grapes and raisins are another food item you need to make sure your dog doesn't get its paws on.

"Raisins are in many of the foods that we love to eat such as cakes, biscuits and cereals so it's not just the fruit form we should be concerned with.

"The active ingredient which causes the toxin is unknown, however both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure," Battersea Dog experts warn.

If your dog does consume even small amounts of these items, it can be fatal so always act immediately and take your dog to the vets.

You might already be aware that dogs should not eat chocolate which is perhaps one of the more common items many dog-owners are aware of.

But, onions, garlic and chives, which you'll also likely have around your home a lot, should also not be eaten by your dog.

Experts say: "The onion family, whether dry, raw or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage.

"Signs of illness are not always immediate and can occur up to a few days later."

To make sure your dog has a healthy diet and you won't need to make any unnecessary trips to the vet, you should make sure to avoid letting your pup get its paws on these items.