Who doesn’t like to wake up to a delicious American Breakfast with strawberry or maple syrup laden pancakes, chocolate filled waffles with cream alongside? Not only breakfast snack but also a dessert option, pancakes and waffles have gained quite a popularity worldwide in the recent times. More and more flavors are being added to them making us humans crave more for them. We humans tend to share almost everything with our beloved pet dogs as it a common notion that if it is good for the human tongue or gut then it is probably good for the dog’s tongue and gut too. It may be even true at times but not all the times. The question here is, should you share a few bites of your morning pancake breakfast with your dog or no?
Do Dogs like Pancakes or Waffles?
Dogs have been known to hog on human foods and enjoy them just like humans. Pancakes being an option for dessert as well is usually sweet. And tongues of dogs, just like humans are made to love sweet, high carb foods. There is a reason we see dogs loving sweet foods like cakes and biscuits. So, by that logic, pancakes and waffles is going to be loved by your puppy, no doubt. And it is not just an assumption here, you may have noticed your dog licking the bowl clean when offered a slice. Also read, Can Dogs Eat Junk Food? Is It Safe?
Are Pancakes or Waffles good for Dogs?
Us humans and dogs may have some similar eating preferences but because of our higher intelligence or consciousness towards ourselves we tend to know about our foods if they are healthy or no and how much of it is good for us. Well, that job is left to us for dogs. So it becomes important to check if pancakes are even healthy or no and if no then just for the taste of it, how much quantity is okay? The answer is Yes it is safe for dogs to consume in limited quantity but with cautions. But the nutritional value may be a little disappointment here.
Health Benefits of Pancakes or Waffles For Dogs
Pancakes or Waffles are not nutritional as such for your pups. They contain a bit of calcium and good fats but are high in sodium and carbohydrates. However, there are some benefits that they provide to the pups for sure. These include –
Proteins – It is important for dogs to repair their muscles as well in case of any injury or for gaining strength. Soy Beans contain proteins which can help repairing muscles and other body tissues. In addition to proteins, they are also rich in potassium which can help improve your dog’s nerves and muscles.
Calcium – It helps with your dog’s growth, maintaining healthy bones and teeth, proper muscle building and function, heart health, and maintaining a healthy nervous system.
Potassium – Potassium keeps your dog’s nervous system working properly while also helping to improve muscle function.
Although, pancakes contain such essential nutrients, the quantity of the same if very low. Other benefits of feeding pancakes or waffles however, include –
Picky Dogs – If your little dog is particular with regards to what he eats, adding some tasty pancakes to his dinners can assist him with gulping down his food.
Good treat – Their sweet and soft property makes them an excellent treat for your dog to reward for a good training session or behavior.
Medical Administration – Just like we do for our little human babies, pills can be concealed inside a piece and fed to the dogs
Fiber for digestion – The fiber in pancakes gives your pet roughage that assists with digestion while keeping your pet feeling fuller for longer.
All these nutrients in Pancakes or Waffles make it a good addition to that dog’s diet but does that mean they should be fed lots and lots of Pancakes or Waffles for them to stay healthy? The answer is – No
How much Pancake is good Pancake for your Dog?
Pancakes are not supposed to be a part of your dog’s regular diet. They are just a good treat for them and should be used accordingly. Also, it is important to note that Pancakes or Waffles are very high in fats and dogs are known to have troubles digesting fats. So just a small amount, which is like half a regular sized pancake should be okay once in a while. Not to exceed more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet. Also Read, Can Dogs Eat Dry Fruits ? Is It Safe?
How can you feed Pancakes or Waffles to your Dog?
Pancakes or Waffles are good in small quantities for the dog. But how exactly to add Pancakes or Waffles into the dog’s diet is also important. There are other cautions to note before pouring a handful or Pancakes or Waffles to your dog’s food bowl.
Unsweetened – Most store-bought pancakes are with added sugar and they are bad for diabetic dogs or could cause your dog to put on weight, leading to problems. Check properly before using the ready to cook ones.
No top-ups – We do not eat our pan cakes plain usually. Chocolate, raisins, maple syrup, honey, certain types of nuts, whipped cream, almonds, and grapes are all the possible add-ons to our pancakes. And all of these are to be strictly avoided when feeding to the dog
Unboxed – Avoid the ready to eat mixes as they may contain several preservatives and other chemicals that are not good for dogs
Be ready to enjoy a ton of love in the form of licks after you throw a couple pieces of Pasta straight into your dog’s mouth.
But make sure don’t you fall for the licks and end up feeding it more of it. Stick to the recommended quantities. More Pancakes or Waffles ≠ More Love. More Pancakes or Waffles = Bad complications
What can happen if your dog eats an unusual amount of Pancakes or Waffles?
If your dog ate a lot of Pancakes or Waffles while you were busy making the itinerary for your next trip or packing bags for an already made plan, keep an eye out for the following symptoms of an upset stomach. You should contact your vet right away if you see –
And if your dog is indulged in regular ingestion of these delicacies, it could lead to –
Heart Problems
Weak immune system
Which dogs should not eat Pancakes or Waffles?
There can be some dogs, not specific to any breed which can be more susceptible to stomach harm from Pancakes or Waffles. For them, Pancakes or Waffles should altogether be eliminated and other sources of proteins and vitamins should be looked at. The list includes –
Dogs with Diabetes – If your dog has already been diagnosed with Diabetes or any of its symptoms then it is strictly recommended that you avoid Pasta.
Specific diets – If your vet has recommended a specific diet for your pet for its training or growth purposes or just for basic health purposes then avoid it as it is comparatively high in fats
Dogs with a higher weight – If your dog is susceptible to obesity or has already been gaining more than usual weight then you might want to avoid any form of Pasta as it is high in fats and can trigger obesity
Lactose Intolerant Dogs – Pancakes contain a proportion of milk, which can cause irritation and thus allergies to lactose intolerant dogs
Conclusion
Everyone likes a cheat day once in a while, even the most health conscious people on this planet. And it’s not a bad thing as such. It’s the same for dogs. So go ahead and treat your dogs for good behavior or a good training session with delicious pancakes or waffles. Just remember, the lesser the better. This goes for toppings as well as quantity.
Happy Mood and Health to your Doggo and lots of Love and Licks to you! You must like Can Dogs Eat Seafood?
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