Can Dogs Eat Cake? Is Cake Bad For Dogs?

Delicious cake is used for all kinds of human events, including birthday parties and holiday festivities. Being that cake is a sweet treat that gets mouths watering, your dog is no doubt going to be tempted to snag a slice for their own enjoyment. However, as you’re aware, cake is full of sugar and fats that aren’t really good for you. So if your dog does happen to want some, you might think, “Can dogs eat cake? Is cake bad for dogs, too?”

The short answer is no, dogs should never have cake, especially ones with chocolate in it. There are many varieties of cake. Unless you know what is in the ingredients, you shouldn’t give your dog cake ever, as they could consume something toxic.

Table of Contents

• Is Cake Bad For Dogs?
• What Happens If Dogs Eat Cake?
• No Benefit to Dogs Eating Cake—Here’s Why
• What Kind of Cake Can Dogs Eat?
• Can Dogs Eat Cake and Pastries? A Conclusion
• FAQs

Is Cake Bad For Dogs?

Yes, cake is bad for dogs. While a bite of plain vanilla cake with vanilla icing isn’t going to harm your dog, even giving them that kind of cake isn’t smart. Dogs require a high protein diet. Cakes, however, are predominantly sugars and fats and can cause stomach upset during digestion. Many toxic ingredients are also included in cakes, which could adversely affect a dog and send them to the vet.

What Happens If Dogs Eat Cake?

Dogs can eat a lot of the things people can like edamame or olives, but there are also food items that should never be consumed. Some dangerous foods that show up in cake include:

• Raisins
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Grapes
• Alcohol-based vanilla extract with glycerin
• Nutmeg
• Macadamia nuts
• Candy
• Avocado (for vegan cakes)
• Xylitol

Certain cakes contain ingredients that could cause severe stomach upset or even illness if your dog eats it. For example, if your dog gets a hold of chocolate cake or a vegan cake made out of avocado, you shouldn’t wait to call the vet.

Also, keep a look out for any of the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloody stool
• Constipation
• Lack of appetite

No Benefit to Dogs Eating Cake—Here’s Why

As mentioned earlier, if a dog eats cake, they might love the taste, but there is nothing healthy about the snack. Cake doesn’t contain anything that your dog can use for nutrition. Most cakes have a minimal amount of fruit or vegetables.

Plus, the high amount of sugar and fat could cause a blood glucose spike in your dog’s body, triggering diabetes. Sure, that won’t happen with just a little taste, but if giving your dog cake becomes a habit, they could become obese and ill. Sugar also has an adverse effect on canine dental health.

Additionally, giving your dog cake is purely just too risky. Unless you’ve made the cake yourself and know it’s chock full of vegetables and dog-friendly ingredients, you really don’t know if it contains stuff that could hurt your dog. In short, don’t give your dog cake made for humans. There are better ways to treat your friend to something delicious.

What Kind of Cake Can Dogs Eat?

Can dogs eat cake if it’s sugar-free? No. Simply put, a lot of sugar-free cakes contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. If a dog consumes something with xylitol, they may experience coma, seizures, weakness, or even death.

The only safe cake out there for dogs is one made specially for dogs. For example, there are recipes for doggie birthday cakes that contain only safe and beneficial ingredients. If you want to make a cake for your dog, be sure to use dog-friendly ingredients, such as fresh vegetables, eggs, peanut butter, wheat flour, and pure vanilla extract. Additions with blueberries, bananas, or apples are also fine to give your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Cake and Pastries? A Conclusion

Can dogs eat cake? No, human cakes are generally not safe for dogs to have, even as a once-in-a-while treat. There are too many ingredients that can make your furry friend incredibly ill, so don’t take the chance. Instead, bake up a doggie cake for your companion and watch them wolf it down.

FAQs