HOWEVER good a cook you are, your Christmas dinner is likely to damage your dog's health if you share it with him.

The festive message that dogs should not share our food is being endorsed by Cotswolds farmer and TV celebrity Adam Henson.

The BBC Countryfile presenter who farms near Stow has put his name to research carried out by pet food company Forthglade which reveals that almost two thirds of UK dog owners share rich Christmas dinners with their pets with more than half of them knowing it was harmful.

Mr Henson said: “These findings are quite worrying. Pet owners need to be aware of the dangers of sharing human foods with their dogs. I have two dogs at home that I adore but I’m aware of the dangers of humanising and sharing too much with them, especially when it comes to food treats. I hope this health warning provides a wake-up call to dog owners, and will help them see that their misguided kindness to treat their dogs at Christmas with festive foods could actually prove fatal.”

Mr Henson states that a well-balanced dog food is the best way to feed your dog and what we regard as "treats" are not needed.

Foods that can harm your pet include chocolate, onions and raisins and food containing salt, such as gravy, can all be toxic to dogs and can lead to kidney failure. Small bones in chicken and turkey can splinter and get stuck in throats or pierce the stomach.

“Keep your dog away from the Christmas pudding and brandy butter, however much they may appear to love it. Sharing foods from our plates with dogs is not only a hazard to their health, but causes many other problems such as behavioural issues, dominance, hyper-activity and also obesity”," he added..