In a world where most people are crazy about having pets, they also pay a lot of attention to their pets’ food. They should know what food is healthy for their pets and what harms their bodies. Pet pampering is not an easy task for pet owners, but once you have all the knowledge about their care, you get used to it.
Can dogs eat cake? Yes, they can. A cake is not harmful to our canine companions if they are free from toxic components. This blog will guide dog owners about the risks that may occur if they feed their dog cake filled with unhealthy ingredients. We will also let you know the right way to feed cake to your dogs.
What Kind of Cake Can Dogs Eat?
What cake can dogs eat? Dogs can have a low-calorie cake made with safe ingredients occasionally. Pet owners are wondering what kind of cake can dogs eat safely. Here, we have a list of dog-safe cakes pointing to the importance of portion control.
1.Rice Cake
Can dogs eat rice cakes? Rice is a low-calorie food that is safe for dogs. You can feed plain, unseasoned puffed rice cakes in moderate amounts to your pet companions. When picking a commercial rice cake, check its label for toxic ingredients like preservatives or artificial flavors.
2.Pumpkin Cake
Pumpkin cakes are usually prepared with dog-safe ingredients. It is filled with pumpkin puree, unsalted peanut butter, and whole-grain flour as a neutral binder. Can dogs eat pumpkin cake? Yes, it is a perfect birthday cake for dogs. Be careful with the serving portions.
3.Fish Cakes
Fish is a great source of white protein for your growing puppy. Can dogs eat fish cakes? Smashed fish meat with boiled potatoes can be transformed into a cupcake without flavors. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for our canines’ metabolism and overall well-being.
4.Crab Cakes
Can dogs eat crab cakes? Cooked unseasoned crab cuisine is somehow healthy for dogs, unlike crab cakes. Vets do not recommend crab cakes to add to a pet’s eating regimen. It is made with harmful ingredients which can lead to life-threatening conditions in dogs.
5.Cheese Cakes
Cheese is a dairy product that has probiotics and prebiotics. Can dogs eat cheese cake? However, cheesecakes or cupcakes are generally safe for dogs when given in moderate quantities. High intake of cheesecakes prompts several health risks. Thus, it is best to avoid this treat for your pets.
6.Caramel Cakes
Caramel itself is not harmful to our furry friends. Can dogs eat caramel rice cakes? When it is infused with rice, its calorie content increases up to a hazardous limit. Thus, vets generally prohibit the intake of caramel rice cakes for dogs to prevent unwanted health issues.
7.Tres Leches Cake
Can dogs eat tres leches cake safely? It is safe for dogs in tiny amounts as it is rich in sugars and condensed milk. These components can increase the risk of diseases when consumed in high amounts. Thus, always prefer homemade dog cupcakes or pupcakes to prevent such health problems.
8.Strawberry Cake
Fresh strawberries are generally safe for dogs to consume separately. It is not recommended to serve strawberry cakes as they are rich in preservatives, colorants, and artificial flavors. Always prefer plain and unsweetened cakes for dogs or prepare them at home with dog-safe ingredients under a vet’s consultation.
Can dogs have cake? You can give your dog a little bit of cake occasionally. However, it is prohibited to add them to a regular pet’s eating routine. Human cakes are not safe for our canine consumption due to various reasons discussed above. Ask your vet about the best alternatives that suit your pet’s health requirements.
Read more: Can Dogs Eat Deer Bones?
Harmful Ingredients of Cake That May Lead to Health Risks in Dogs
Giving cake to dogs as a treat on any occasion can cause a lot of health problems in dogs. The ingredients that are used to make a cake, like vanilla, chocolate, nuts, and sugar, lead to metabolic damage to the dog’s body.
1.High Quantity of Chocolate
As we all know, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which can be toxic if we feed it to our dogs. Our canines can not easily digest it in their bodies. It takes so much time to metabolize. Due to this, it causes diarrhea, heart problems, and vomiting, ultimately upsetting the GIT tract of pets.
2.High Amount of Sugar
Cake has a lot of sugar, which is harmful to dogs. Our pet dog should eat low amounts of sugar to avoid diseases like obesity and diabetes. It can destroy dog’s liver. Moreover, various cake brands use artificial sweeteners, i.e. xylitol, which is extremely toxic for our furry friends.
Can my dog eat cake? If you want to treat your dog on any occasion, like birthdays and holiday celebrations, you prefer sugar-free cakes.
3.Rich in Calories
Any kind of dessert or cake has a high amount of calories that produce a toxic effect on our pets. It is prohibited to give high amounts of calories in your dog’s regular meal. This causes them to gain extra weight, which leads to several health-related problems. You may notice instant laziness in your pet’s behavior whenever he is treated with such sweet meals.
4.Sugar Substitute Xylitol
Xylitol is also considered one of the most harmful substitutes of simple sugar for your pet’s body. People used xylitol as a substitute for sugar but they didn’t know how harmful it is to our pets. It can cause rapid release of insulin in dogs in such a way that it decreases the sugar level which may cause life-threatening diseases. It somehow gives symptoms like seizures and vomiting.
5.Nuts and Raisins
Cakes and desserts have many unhealthy ingredients, including nutmeg, macadamia nuts, or raisins. These components are dangerous for dogs’ health. Nutmeg is rich in Myristicin, a toxic compound that leads to major GI distress in canines. Similarly, raisins and nuts are responsible for tremors, seizures, coma, and other abdominal issues in your pet’s body.
What Happens If My Dog Eats Cake?
Can dogs eat cake? As we have discussed, when we give our dog cake in their meal it causes a lot of health problems that are most of the time unable to be treated. Our pets’ immune system is not as strong as humans. Thus, a little diet ignorance can cause a life-threatening problem in your pets. Following are the potential impacts of feeding cakes to dogs.
1.Diabetes
Excessive sweetness of cakes can increase the sugar level in their body which means it brings hyperglycemia to dogs. It directly affects the liver and insulin-releasing hormone. The liver is a detoxifying organ of the body. A dog with an uncertain liver is at a higher risk of accepting multiple diseases as a result of weakened immunity.
High sugar intake directly triggers obesity and diabetes in our canine partners. If these issues are left untreated, it may lead to organ damage like the kidneys, pancreas, and GI tract. In the long run, diabetes affects brain functions and may cause tremors.
2.Increased Heart Rate
Cake is responsible for increasing the heart rate of pets. In chocolate cake theobromine and caffeine are present. These two ingredients play a major role in increasing the heart rate and pulse. Increased heart rate in dogs can trigger high BP and, ultimately, angina and heart attack.
3.Respiratory Issues
Adding cake to your pet’s diet can bring respiratory issues to them. It causes difficulty in breathing. Can dogs eat fruit cake? Cakes with healthy ingredients like simple, low-sugar fruits can be safe for our dogs in moderate amounts. Thus, portion control is critical when selecting such human-based treats for your furry friends.
4.Diarrhea
When your dog shows diarrhea without vomiting, it is most probably due to the toxicity caused by cake. It upsets the GIT system of dogs in various ways. Never leave your pet untreated in such conditions. Contact a reliable vet near your hometown.
5.Allergies
Most pets are allergic to cake because of its main ingredient, xylitol. It is extremely toxic to canines and can lead to serious allergic reactions. A dog’s immune system recognizes them as foreign substances and generates antibodies against them. These antibodies sometimes behave fruitfully but sometimes affect the body’s cells leading to autoimmune diseases.
6.Lethargy
Cakes are rich in sweets which causes laziness due to the suppression of brain exciting cells. Your puppy may not be involved in regular playtimes and seems sleepy all day. This indicates the sickness which is mainly due to the intake of a high-calorie diet like cakes. Other lethargic symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, cough, or uneven breathing pattern.
7.Extreme Thirst
High-fat treats like cakes bring excessive thirst. The same happens in dogs. They need a lot of water to prevent dehydration. Always pay attention to your pets’ water intake when feeding them any sweet treats like cakes. Dehydration can prompt several health issues in dogs in the long run.
Also read: Health Risks of Feeding Your Dog Pizza
Then, How to Feed Cakes to Dogs?
Firstly, you need to address the cakes that dogs can eat safely. It is surely the one free from the harmful ingredients mentioned above. So, let’s prepare a dog-friendly cake in a few simple steps.
1.Select a Healthy Cake Binder
A safe cake binder is crucial if you are going to prepare the cake for your pet. Whole-grain flour is the best source of healthy dietary fiber. Add a measured amount of flour in a bowl and add safe binding components like peanut butter, a tablespoon of cooking oil, unsweetened applesauce, and an optional egg. Combine all the ingredients well to make a smooth mixture.
2.Add Dog-Friendly Fruits for Flavor
Can dogs eat strawberry cake? Strawberries are safe for dogs. You can add some amount of dog-friendly fruits and vegetables which bring a distinct flavor to the cake. It is the best alternative to preservatives and artificial flavors that cause harm to dogs in various ways. You may add carrots, peas, apples, or strawberries and mix them in a mixer properly.
3.Put it in An Oven
Grease the baking tray or pan and place the parchment paper smoothly. Pour the cake mixer gradually and remove all the air bubbles by moving a toothpick all around it. Preheat the oven to the desired temperature and place the tray inside for around 20 minutes.
Check the cake by inserting a knife. If it comes out clean without sticking a cake mixer, your cake is ready to take out.
4.Serve in Portions
Cut the cake into small pieces and serve them to the dogs moderately. Portion control is critical in feeding homemade dog-safe cakes also. It will prevent your pet from unwanted health problems and unnecessary vet visits.
Final Thoughts
Can dogs eat cake? How many cakes can we feed to dogs? Pet owners are filled with such questions due to their high curiosity about the impacts of feeding human food to dogs. Dogs can have cakes in a very minimal quantity as it is a sugary diet, high in fats and calories.
It is best to pick healthy, fresh fruits and vegetables instead of such cakes to add to your pet’s eating regimen. Always consult your vet before making any changes in your pet’s eating pattern.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Can dogs eat red velvet cake?
A. Red velvet cakes are not good for a dog’s consumption at all. It is filled with toxic components like methylxanthines, i.e. caffeine and theobromine. These compounds can lead to your pet’s death if given in high amounts.
Q2. Can dogs eat vanilla cake?
A. Most dogs can intake a small amount of vanilla cakes but it is also not good for their health. Each sugar-rich treat is not recommended for regular consumption. High sugar intake can lead to obesity and diabetes in dogs, which are the root causes of several diseases, including kidney damage.
Q3. Can dogs eat cake frosting?
A. Sugar icing and frosting are purely made for human consumption. These are harmful to our furry friends. Mostly, cake frostings are made with artificial sugar, i.e. xylitol, which is poisonous for dogs.
