Pancake day is now less than a week away, meaning many will be heading out to pick up ingredients. It's a great celebration as the little ones can get in on the fun and help you make your pancakes.
But you might be wondering if another family member can get involved this year - your beloved dog. There are some foods like chocolate that could make a dog feel unwell, and many owners can be hesitant about adding new things into a pooch's diet because of that.
However, Dr Scott Miller, of natural dog food company Barking Heads, has cleared up what a dog can and can't eat come Shrove Tuesday. For the most part, according to the expert, pancakes themselves will be fine.
While it will depend from breed to breed and on a dog's individual intolerances, pancake batter should be safe in most cases. Dr Miller said: "In short, yes, you can enjoy pancake day with your dog, but there are a few things every pet parent should be aware of."
When making your pancakes the doctor said that you should think about the ingredients you’re putting into batter or the ingredients in store-bought batter.
"Dogs can only consume plain pancakes with no addition to the batter," he said. "So if you like to indulge in chocolate pancakes, you’d need to leave the extra ingredient out. You should also check to see the sugar content, trying to keep this as close to zero as possible for your dog. As canines don’t have the sensitivity of taste that we do, keep calories low whenever possible to keep them healthy and lean."
If you're going for store-bought pancakes the animal expert recommends gluten-free, and avoiding commercially prepared pancakes where possible. If they’re your only option, ensure they don’t use a sweetener alternative, as xylitol is toxic for dogs.
Dr Miller added: "Although we may love a topping on our pancakes, you must be careful with what you give your furry friend. Avoid using syrups, butter, nuts, raisins, and grapes – these are all toxic toppings, as some are too rich for your dog and others are lethal."
Here are some toppings you can share with your dog:
- Bananas
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Dog biscuits
Another thing to consider is your dog's portion size, according to Dr Miller. He explained: "Unlike humans, dogs' diets don’t feature many carbohydrates, so you want to keep their portion of pancakes very minimal. One small pancake topped with wet dog food or another topping may be plenty for your pup, and they’ll treasure the rare treat."
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