Skip to content

No, cakes are not safe for dogs to eat. Different types of cakes, such as cakes with raisins and chocolate, are dangerous for dogs. Furthermore, this sugary treat also contains a ton of calories from sugar and fat. So, dogs that eat cake are more likely to experience health problems such as pancreatitis, obesity, weight gain, diarrhea, vomiting, high blood sugar levels, etc.

Cake
caution icon
caution

Caution: This food is generally considered risky by the veterinary community. Dogs should not eat this food and should be monitored for adverse effects.

Food Safety  Exercise caution, avoid feeding
Nutritional Issues  Calories from sugar, fat from butter/oil, theobromine from chocolate
Potential Risks  theobromine poisoning, pancreatitis
Every dog is different. For specific feeding guidelines, including quantities and beneficial foods that are best for your dog, please consult your vet.

How Much Cake is Unsafe for Dogs?

While dogs can safely eat cake made from dog-friendly ingredients, cake with excessive amounts of sugar, butter, and flavoring can be fatal for your canine companion. It should only be an occasional treat and shouldn’t contain any harmful ingredients.

What Makes Cake Unsafe for Dogs?

Cakes come in various flavors and can include ingredients that can be harmful to your dog, including raisins, xylitol, macadamia nuts, chocolate, etc. So, if your dog eats cake containing these ingredients, even in small amounts, it will experience vomiting, diarrhea, pancreatitis, and digestive issues.

Furthermore, cakes are packed with calories from sugars and fats. Hence, feeding a dog large amounts of calorie-filled human foods is harmful. Generally, large amounts of high-calorie foods can cause fast obesity and other long-term health consequences in dogs.

What to do if Your Dog Eats Too Much Cake?

If your dog eats large amounts of plain cake, the symptoms might pass in a couple of hours. However, if it eats cake containing harmful ingredients, the best thing to do is to monitor its health for a couple of hours. If symptoms worsen, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Common Cake Ingredients

  • Sugar-Sugar is dangerous for dogs in large amounts as it can cause diabetes in older dogs.
  • Flour-Flour will be fine for your dog in moderation as long as it’s not gluten intolerant.
  • Butter-Adding buttery foods to your dog’s daily diet can introduce tons of extra. This can lead to pancreatitis, obesity, and weight gain in the long run.
  • Nuts-Some nuts are okay for dogs, such as peanuts. On the other hand, some nuts, like macadamia nuts, aren’t as they are poisonous for dogs.
  • Chocolate-Chocolate is full of the chemical theobromine , which is extremely dangerous for dogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If your dog eats plane cake, nothing will happen. However, if the cake contains chocolate or other harmful ingredients, you must take your dog to the vet immediately.

  • Dogs can safely eat cake that doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients. So, cakes without salt, sugar, chocolates, and nuts should be fine.

  • Generally, human food, such as cake, contains ingredients that are toxic for dogs. For example, chocolate cake is very toxic for dogs as it contains theobromine. On the other hand, plain cakes will be fine in moderation.

About the Writer
Dan Greco , Dog Dad

Having been a dog dad for 5 years, I know how hard it is to make sure your dog gets the right nutrients and stays away from hazardous foods. With the help of a veterinarian who specializes in nutrition, I created this blog to help dog owners quickly access food information they need.

photo of vet holding a pup
About the Contributor
Dr. Hillary Wolfe , Veterinarian & Certified Food Therapist

Dr. Wolfe holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Kansas State University and holds nutrition certifications from the NAVC and CIVT. Her business, Tula Veterinary Nutrition, hosts online courses that teach owners how to cook for their pet for optimal health and longevity. Follow her on Instagram at @doctorwolfe.dvm for dog nutrition tips, recipes and insights.