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Can Dogs Eat Cake?

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There is not a clear-cut answer to this question. It all depends on how sensitive your dog’s stomach is and the ingredients contained within the cake. You should never feed your dog chocolate cake as this is toxic. 

Table of Contents

How often can you feed your dog cake?

It is not advised to make cake a regular treat for your dog. The occasional bite is unlikely to cause them too much harm, but it should by no means become a frequent occurrence. No matter how sweetly they stare into your eyes and beg for a little sample, you should not cave. 

What are the health benefits of cake?

There are no real health benefits to feeding your dog cake. At best, they will enjoy the flavors and textures.

There is no nutritional value to be found in a cake. It is much more likely that any cake you feed to your dog will have ingredients that are harmful to their health than any that are beneficial. 

Are there any dangers to feeding your dog cake?

There are many ingredients in human cakes which are potentially harmful to your dog and its delicate stomach.

Sugar, fats, and wheat are all found in high concentrations in cake, and none of these are optimal for your dog’s health. At best, they will be consuming empty calories. At worst, they may suffer from indigestion, nausea, or an allergic reaction. 

A consistent excess intake of sugars and fats will lead to your dog gaining weight and becoming obese. High sugar contents in their diet may also lead to the development of diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis. 

The sugars can also have a hugely detrimental impact on your dog’s oral health. If sugars are allowed to sit on the surface of their teeth then this can cause a buildup of plaque, cavities, bad breath, bacterial infections, and rotting teeth. 

Bacterial infections are particularly dangerous as they can enter the bloodstream through the mouth. This then spreads the infection throughout the body. If vital organs become infected it can very quickly lead to incredibly serious health consequences. 

Sugar-free cake may seem like a safe bet, but this is a common misconception. Xylitol is a commonly used chemical sweetener that is designed to mimic the flavor of sugar. This is a very toxic substance for dogs and can place them in a lot of danger if consumed.

This is because it stimulates the release of insulin in the body.

This then causes your dog’s blood sugar levels to drop rapidly, a condition known as hypoglycemia. This can result in muscular weakness, a lack of coordination, seizures, a coma, and may even be fatal. 

There is also a huge quantity of preservatives found within commercially produced cakes. These are highly processed and will not do anything to help your dog’s health. 

If your dog consumes a large amount of cake we strongly recommend keeping a close eye on them for the next 24 hours. If you notice any unusual symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, bloody stools, constipation, or a decrease in appetite, we advise contacting your veterinarian

Dog-friendly cake recipe

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 eggs
  • ½ cup unsalted, unsweetened peanut butter
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • ⅔ cup milk
  • ⅓ cup apple sauce
  • 2 ½ cups grated carrots
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons baking soda

‘Frosting’

  • 1.2 to 1.4 pounds white potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks 
  • ¾ cup to 1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While it heats up, grease and line the base of 2 8 inch cake tins with removable bases. 
  • Combine the eggs, peanut butter, vegetable oil, milk, and apple sauce in a large bowl.
  • Mix through the carrots and then add in the dry ingredients. Mix until everything is just combined and then split into the 2 cake tins.
  • Smooth the tops and then place the tins in the oven for about 25 minutes to bake. You will know that they are cooked when a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. 
  • Transfer the cakes out of the tins and onto a wire rack to cool.
  • To make the frosting, you will need to steam the potatoes until completely cooked and very soft.
  • Place the potatoes in a large bowl and roughly mash. Add in the yogurt and use an electric beater to whisk them together until the consistency is fairly smooth and fluffy. This should take about 1 ½ to 2 minutes. 
  • If the consistency seems too thick, mix in a little water to thin the frosting out – it should be a spreading consistency. 
  • Sandwich a layer of frosting between the 2 cakes and then use the rest to decorate the exterior as you wish. We advise frosting the cake while the potato is still warm, as it gets much harder to manipulate as it cools. 

If you are concerned about the dairy in this recipe, you can substitute it for water or a non-dairy alternative. Some dogs are more sensitive to dairy than others so you should make your judgment here. This recipe will give 20 slices when cut and portioned. 

Per slice, the cake has 157 calories, 20g carbohydrates (of which 5g are sugars), 4g protein, and 6g of fat (of which 1g are saturated fats). There are 16 mg of cholesterol, 204 mg of sodium, 241 mg of potassium, and 1g of fiber.

Each slice of cake will also give your dog 21% of their recommended daily intake of vitamin A, 5% of their daily vitamin C, 3% of their daily calcium, and 11% of their daily iron requirements. 

As far as cake goes, this is a pretty healthy option to feed to your dog. If you have a small dog then you may wish to further reduce the portion sizes to ensure you do not overwhelm their little body.

This cake should not be fed in place of a meal and instead should be used as a supplementary treat on special occasions.