Carrot cake and pet-friendly carrot cake alternatives are popular snacks for dogs, but only safe if you feed your dog carrot cake that is made especially for them.
So, can dogs eat carrot cake? Carrot cake contains too much sugar in both the cake mix and cream cheese frosting to give to dogs. Additionally, carrot cake has toxic ingredients like raisins and various nuts that can cause serious health problems if eaten by a dog.
If you are wondering can dogs eat carrot cake, then this guide is for you. Human carrot cake is far too sweet for dogs and can contain many toxic ingredients, some of which may seem surprising. Even though carrot cakes are not toxic to dogs when given a small amount, there are still concerns related to dental problems and weight gain that need to be considered.
Carrot cake is not as potentially dangerous as some common human snacks and treats, but there are still some major concerns with this type of cake that you should be aware of. Read on to find out what ingredients in carrot cake are bad for dogs as well as some dog-friendly alternatives to consider.
What ingredients in carrot cake are bad for dogs?
When dogs eat carrot cake, they are being exposed to some ingredients in the cake that do not mesh well with their internal systems. Some carrot cake ingredients are toxic to dogs, while other ingredients can cause unwanted problems. Firstly, the essential ingredient in carrot cake is carrots, and these vegetables are actually safe for dogs to eat.
Carrots are packed with beta-carotene, potassium, and fiber, which is just as good for dogs as the nutrients are for humans. But it’s the other ingredients that pose problems. Let’s take a look at each ingredient that spells bad news when dogs eat carrot cake.
Sugar
Sugar is meant for humans since we have systems that can tolerate large amounts of sugar without cause for concern in the short term. Processed sugar is not okay for dogs because they lack strong levels of insulin control to handle the rushes and spikes in insulin that occur when sugar is immediately consumed.
Additionally, sugar can cause accelerated weight gain in dogs, which will not occur with one piece of cake, but can definitely be a problem if a dog is fed cake every day. Dogs should ideally have no more sugar than the small amounts found in their regular food. Consider purchasing snacks made with peanut butter as an alternative if you wish to feed your dog a somewhat sweet snack.
Raisins
Not all carrot cake recipes call for raisins, which really are an acquired taste, but a classic carrot cake recipe will typically feature raisins as one of the ingredients. Like chocolate and chocolate-based snacks, raisins can cause the same type of toxicity in dogs as seen with chocolate poisoning.
Raisins are essentially dried grapes, and these fruits can potentially lead to renal failure if dogs eat so much as a few of them at one time. The exact reasons why raisins can lead to renal failure in dogs are still unknown, but theories suggest that certain enzymes in the fruit attack the cells within a dog’s kidneys.
If you are content on giving your dog at least a small sampling of carrot cake, be sure that no raisins whatsoever are hidden inside of the sample. In fact, if the cake does contain raisins, do not give your pet any at all since the residue from the fruit has likely spread to the entire cake during the baking process.
Nuts
Nuts are also not designed to provide any health benefits in dogs as they are in humans. In fact, macadamia nuts, in particular, are toxic to dogs and can cause hyperthermia and severe dehydration due to the vomiting from the dog to expel the nuts.
It currently isn’t known to science why macadamia nuts have this effect in dogs, nor is it completely understood if other nut varieties can cause the same reaction. Therefore, it is a good idea to never give your dog any nuts at all.
There are many foods that are harmful to our Cavapoos. If you are unsure which household items are toxic to your dog, then please make sure that you read our blog.
What kind of cake can dogs eat?
Since we already know that cake can cause obesity, tooth decay, and nausea when eaten by curious dogs, the sugar content alone in any type of cake is enough to put this favorite sweet on the do not feed list for dogs. Cakes are meant for humans, but in a small amount, there are some cakes that will not cause any severe harm if given to a dog.
It is easier to discuss the types of cake that are never okay to give to dogs.
Any cake that has any chocolate in it whatsoever is never okay under any circumstances. We have discussed the negatives with carrot cake, but if the carrot cake is sugar-free and no nuts, raisins, or artificial sweeteners are in the recipe, this will likely not cause any severe harm to a dog, but obesity and tooth decay are still factors to consider.
Any cake with nuts, raisins, grapes, xylitol, caffeine, chocolate, or ethanol (alcohol) is completely off-limits.
We would suggest that if you do want to give your Cavapoo cake, that you buy a specific dog friendly cake mix that is made from natural ingredients and is safe to give on a special occasion. We made Rosie some cupcakes for her first birthday from a pre-bought dog mix, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
Can dogs eat cream cheese frosting?
Carrot cake is usually made with a cream cheese frosting, and it may be surprising to hear that cream cheese itself is not necessarily dangerous to feed a dog, granted it is given in very small and seldom amounts. The main problem with cream cheese frosting is definitely the sugar content used to make the cheese taste sweet.
Cream cheese frosting is loaded with processed sugar, and as previously mentioned, high amounts of processed sugar can cause insulin shock in dogs. Additionally, sugar can lead to obesity and problems with teeth when consistently given to dogs.
There is also a slight problem with dogs and cream cheese that is of concern if you plan on giving your dog cream cheese more than once, and that is the fact that dogs are lactose intolerant. Dairy foods are not necessarily toxic, but they are not designed to provide and health benefits to dogs, and could potentially lead to stomach problems if given in excess.
So, the short answer here is that no, cream cheese frosting is not recommended to give to your dog, but regular cream cheese without sugar is okay in small amounts. The sugary sweetness is the main problem with frosting.
FAQs
Can dogs eat carrot cake oreos?
Carrot cake Oreos are a popular snack with people, and it is tempting to want to pass one to your dog who is likely eyeing every cookie you bite into. But this type of snack has too many ingredients that are not good for dogs to eat.
This snack will likely contain many of the same ingredients that you find in regular, baked carrot cake, but there are also other added ingredients that may be present that are not good for dogs. The ingredients list for carrot cake Oreos does contain a few ingredients in the recipe that could be a cause for concern.
The first cause for concern is high fructose corn syrup. We all know how this is bad for human health if consumed constantly, therefore, the same applies to dogs based on the high sugar content within the syrup.
These cookies also have high concentrations of wheat flour, which when consumed regularly, can lead to skin infections, ear infections, and severe stomach problems that can include frequent diarrhea and vomiting.
These cookies also have paprika extract that is used to help in coloring the cookie. The paprika extract can lead to gastritis in dogs in its most severe reaction, and rapid vomiting and abdominal discomfort in its weakest reactions. One cookie likely won’t cause much harm, but anything over one is running the risk of potentially causing your dog to develop gastritis.
Is cake poisonous to dogs?
When feeding your dog cake and wondering if the sweet treat is potentially poisonous to your pet, it is best to memorize or print out a list of human foods that can potentially poison your dog. But when considering cake, here is a list of the most common cake ingredients that could poison your dog if eaten.
These include:
Xylitol (artificial sweetener common in ‘sugar-free’ products)
Alcohol (this damages a dog’s liver much more easily than a human’s)
Caffeine (any cakes with coffee or tea in the recipe can trigger heart problems in dogs)
Grapes and raisins
Dairy (dairy products can cause vomiting that can trigger fatal dehydration)
These are the main culprits in a cake that can potentially poison your dog’s system. All of the other bad things like salt, sugar, fat, and even eggs, are not going to cause your dog to be poisoned, but these things are also not doing your dog any health favors in the long run either.
Summary
So, in summary, when deciding on if it is okay to feed your dog carrot cake, the answer is based on if a few ingredients like raisins, nuts, and/or possibly chocolate are not present at all in the cake’s ingredients. Sugar and salt are also not good for your dog and can lead to dangerous problems if given in high amounts or on a daily basis.
The best thing to do is to avoid giving your dog carrot cake and consider a doggy treat instead when you are eating cake.
