We are all well aware that human foods can be harmful to dogs. Some just don’t have any health benefits for canines, while others are highly toxic to them, including many sweet treats. Dogs shouldn’t eat carrot cake, though if they stole a bite or two, it likely won’t hurt them, provided that it doesn’t contain any toxic ingredients.
If you were planning to give your pup a piece of carrot cake as a special treat for their birthday, we do not recommend it. However, we have listed here a few dog-friendly options that you can make instead, in the comfort of your own kitchen. So, even though you can’t share human recipes with your pet, you can make them something just as tasty!
Dog Shouldn’t Eat Carrot Cake
As a general rule, unless you’re eating a plain piece of meat with no additives or a steamed piece of a safe vegetable, dogs shouldn’t have people food. Our bodily systems are quite different from those of our canine friends, even though we are both omnivorous.
Dog foods are explicitly designed to match nutritional profiles that have been formulated to keep our pups happy and healthy. Extras can be special treats, but you should always give any additional items sparingly.
If you have whipped up some delicious carrot cake, you might look over to your dog salivating and pining for a piece. Even though it might seem harmless to throw them a chunk, it’s best to avoid it if you can. Not only is people food like carrot cake really not healthy for dogs, but it also teaches them bad habits. It could encourage food snatching off of plates, jumping up to counters, and swiping food off of tables, and they could get hold of foods that are much worse for them than carrot cake.
Poor manners can lead to a lot of other problems, so it’s best to avoid giving them carrot cake and other sweet, people-food desserts. If your dog has accidentally gotten into your carrot cake and you’re wondering what to do next, we recommend consulting a veterinarian.
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What’s So Bad About Carrot Cake?
Carrot cake doesn’t necessarily contain toxic ingredients, but it can in some cases. Some pet owners aren’t properly informed about the potential dangers for dogs of certain food items that we’re allowed to eat every day.
If your carrot cake contains basic ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, and carrots, it won’t kill your dog to try it. However, when you start getting into more indulgent carrot cakes, they can contain lots of rich and sometimes toxic ingredients.
Here are a few baking ingredients that can negatively impact your dog:
1. High Sugar Content
High sugar is never something you want in your dog’s diet. Not only does it contribute to issues like weight gain, but it also affects other systems in your dog’s body, such as the gastrointestinal system.
Desserts with high volumes of sugar might not be toxic to dogs, but they can definitely cause diarrhea and stomach upset. So, while this isn’t an imminent or life-threatening ingredient, high amounts of sugar should be avoided.
2. Raisins
You might not even think about raisins potentially being toxic for dogs, but they are! Grapes are one of the fruits that are known for being terrible for our canine friends, causing toxicity, especially when consumed in large quantities.
Raisins are a common ingredient in many baked goods, and they must never be given to your dog. Even one raisin could cause kidney damage and failure. We don’t really know the mechanism by which raisins and grapes are so damaging to canines, but they undoubtedly are.
3. Nuts
Nuts can be toxic to several animals. For dogs, they aren’t a huge area of concern, but nuts like macadamia nuts are toxic to canines. Luckily, that’s not a common ingredient found in carrot cake.
That said, some nuts can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in dogs, even if they aren’t inherently toxic. Thankfully, every recipe is different, and not all carrot cake recipes contain nuts.
4. Nutmeg
Nutmeg is unfortunately a spice that isn’t safe for our canine companions. Even though nutmeg smells fantastic and spruces up all sorts of recipes, you have to keep it away from your little pup. Nutmeg is a common ingredient in carrot cake, alongside others like ginger and cinnamon.
However, nutmeg is the only one of those three that seems to be problematic for canines. It contains a substance called myristicin, which can cause stomach upset, disorientation, and seizures.
5. Chocolate
Chocolate is a no-no ingredient, though it is not commonly found in traditional carrot cakes. It has certain components, namely caffeine and theobromine, that can be highly toxic to dogs. The darker the chocolate, the more intense the effects.
Carrot Cake Recipes for Dogs
Now that we’ve gone over human carrot cake and dogs, it’s time to get to the sweet part! Here are a few top-notch recipes that you can whip up for your dog so they can enjoy yummy cake, too!
Kathleen’s Cravings Dog Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- Whole wheat flour
- Baking powder
- Pumpkin puree
- Carrots
- Water
- Applesauce
- Coconut oil
- Egg
Frosting
- Plain yogurt
- Peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 and prepare your cupcake tray.
- Using a large bowl, stir together the wet ingredients.
- Add the dry ingredients and then the shredded carrots.
- Divide the batter between 12 cupcakes, ensuring that each is about 2/3 full.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely. Then mix the frosting ingredients together and spread them on top.
Notes
2. The Bake Dept Carrot Peanut Butter Cake
- Egg
- Peanut butter
- Canola oil
- Honey
- Carrot, shredded
- Whole wheat flour
- Baking soda
This carrot cake recipe from The Bake Dept has a handful of ingredients, all of which are perfectly safe for most dogs. However, if you have a gluten-intolerant dog, it does contain whole wheat flour. You’re welcome to substitute it with gluten-free flour, though.
Ultimately, your dog will love the peanut butter and carrot combination, which makes one yummy snack. Plus, they get serious nutrition here, including a protein boost.
3. Gone to the Snow Dogs Homemade Carrot Cake
- Peanut butter
- Honey
- Maple syrup
- Coconut oil
- Egg
- Vanilla seeds (not vanilla extract, as this contains alcohol, which is toxic to dogs)
- Shredded carrots
- All-purpose flour
- Baking soda
- Whipped cream
This recipe from Gone to the Snow Dogs has extra pizzazz! With the whipped cream and maple syrup, though, it is a high-fat recipe, so absolutely go sparingly. Remember that a little goes a long way, so be sure to minimize the calorie intake. You can avoid these highly calorific ingredients altogether to produce a healthier version if you’d like. However, if it’s your dog’s birthday or another special occasion, there’s no better time to give them a sweet treat that they can delight in!
Conclusion
Now you understand a bit more about why our canine companions cannot enjoy human carrot cake in the same way that we can. However, there are dog-friendly options that are just as yummy and even healthy, in some cases. Did you find any interesting recipes that you’d like to try with your pup?
See also:
- 6 Homemade Dog Cake Recipes: Vet-Reviewed Nutritious Options
- Can Dogs Eat Cornstarch? Vet-Approved Nutrition Guide & FAQ
Featured Image Credit: Wiktory, Shutterstock
