Can Dogs Eat Cake? No! Here is Why
Cakes are mouthwatering treats that crown all events where there is a reason for celebration. Since dogs are our best companions and an integral part of our family, shouldn’t they join the celebration and have some cake?
But, hold on! Can dogs eat cake? This simple answer is NO! It’s highly unhealthy for your furry friend to eat vanilla, chocolate, sponge, or coffee cake. Most cakes are made with ingredients that are harmful to your pup and can lead to long-lasting health problems.
Feeding your dog the crumbs from the remaining cake might not be bad, but letting him eat the entire slice is dangerous.
Why Can’t My Dog Eat Cakes?
Cakes contain ingredients that make them unfit for your pooch’s health. Besides, cakes don’t add any nutritional value to your pet’s meal. Although fruity extras may independently be good for your 4-legged buddy, those aren’t sufficient to refute all the side effects.
High Sugar Content
Cakes contain high sugar content. This should be a good reason to avoid serving them to your furry buddy. Dogs’ body systems can’t digest and utilize sugar optimally.
So, the quantity of sugar in a slice of cake will quickly burden your pet’s digestive system and make him feel nauseous and sick. He may exhibit signs of intolerance by having diarrhea or vomiting.
This can be more prominent if your dog constantly eats sugary treats like cakes. Possible health issues may include obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. Also, it may lead to deteriorated dental health.
Lots of Calories
Cakes are high-calorie desserts, which makes them toxic. It is unhealthy to give your dog too much calorie-dense food. Consistent quantities of these treats will lead to rapid weight gain and other health complications.
Excessive Fats
The dog’s digestive system can’t digest large quantities of fat effectively. So, treats high in saturated fats will cause stomach upset, bloating, and other digestive issues. Long-term health complications include heart illnesses and swelling of the pancreas or pancreatitis.
Gluten
Cakes are made with wheat flour as the filling, offering its fluffiness. Wheat contains a high amount of gluten that is unhealthy for pets, including cats and dogs. Ingesting too much gluten will have painful and lasting effects on your dog’s digestive system.
Related: My Dog Wants Cheesecake! Can Dogs Eat Cheesecake?
Possible Toxic Ingredients
Apart from flour and sugar, its other extras can make cake harmful to your dog. Chocolate is toxic to your pet, and if ingested in large amounts, can kill it. While you might be a chocolate cake lover, don’t share it if you genuinely love your furry friend. Other ingredients that make cakes a toxic treat for your dog include:
- Raisins
- Coffee
- Grapes
- Nutmeg
- Candy
- Vanilla extracts
- Macadamia nuts
While you might want to pamper your unhappy pup, remember that you are protecting him by refusing to share a slice of cake.
Some cakes are made with sugar-free and gluten-free ingredients. While these have been approved to be safe for people, your dog should not eat them since they contain Xylitol, a common sugar substitute. This natural sugar alternative has low-calorie content and is loved by many people trying to watch their weight. Nevertheless, it’s incredibly toxic for your pup and can make him experience weakness, seizures, and coma.
My Dog Ingested a Cake. What Should I Do?
If your canine buddy eats a small quantity of cake made from eggs and vanilla, you shouldn’t panic. Make sure you closely monitor it to detect any potential health problems.
But if your Fido ate a slice of forbidden cake treats, like those made with macadamia nuts, grapes or chocolate, then trouble is bound to erupt. Act fast and take him to a vet. Explain to the professional all the ingredients of the cake.
Your fur friend might be discharged on the same day or stay with the vet for some time. This will depend on things like:
- The amount of the cake eaten
- The degree of harmfulness available in the ingredients
- The speed of diagnosis and treatment
- The presence or absence of underlying health issues.
How Can I Prepare a Safe Cake for My Dog?
Maybe a birthday celebration is a custom that runs in your family. This means you must get a cake for your Fido. If that’s the case, there is a safe cake recipe for your 4-legged pal.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup apple sauce
Procedure
- Mix the wheat flour with mashed banana or applesauce in a dish
- Add a little sweetener or use honey
- Add the eggs and oil
- Mix until the combination until it is consistent and smooth
- Put in a baking pan
- Toss it in the oven.
- Once ready, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool before giving it to your dog.
Closing Remark
It’s good to avoid feeding your dog any cake. If the cake contains ingredients like sweeteners, coffee, and chocolate, make sure your dog can’t reach it and get a bite. However, if you want to give him a special treat, use the above recipe to make a cake that doesn’t contain harmful ingredients.
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