Pancake Day on Tuesday will involve families across the UK whipping up delicious breakfasts or afternoon snacks topped with fruit, chocolate, and cream.
But while people tuck in to their pancakes, some family members may be feeling a little left out: our furry friends.
Dog owners may be wondering if their canine companions can join in on the pancake festivities, and the good news is they can — but with some minor (yet important) adjustments.
Although it would be unsafe to offer your dog a piece of your pancake straight from your plate, it’s possible to make them their own version.
Making pancakes with dog-friendly ingredients is an easy and safe way to let your pet indulge in the Shrove Tuesday fun.
Dr Scott Miller, of natural dog food company Barking Heads, has offered his advice for making pancakes for your pets this Pancake Day.
Tips for making dog-friendly pancakes
Batter
“Firstly, when making your pancakes, think about the ingredients you’re putting into your batter or the ingredients in store-bought batter or pancakes,” Dr Miller says.
“Dogs can consume only plain pancakes with no addition to the batter, so if you like to indulge in chocolate pancakes, you’d need to leave the extra ingredient out.”
Sugar
“You should also check to see the sugar content, trying to keep this as close to zero as possible for your dog,” Dr Miller says.
“As canines don’t have the sensitivity of taste that we do, keep calories low whenever possible to keep them healthy and lean.”
Sweetener
“With store-bought pancakes, consider gluten-free, and avoid commercially prepared ones, but if they’re your only option, ensure they don’t use a sweetener alternative, as xylitol is toxic for dogs,” Dr Miller says.
“It causes issues from stomach upset to death in dogs depending on the amount they consume.
Intolerances
“Consider any intolerances your dog may have — like milk or egg intolerance. If they do, it’s best to use a batter that completely avoids these ingredients if you plan on sharing a pancake with your dog,” says Dr Miller.
“If unsure whether your dog has any intolerances, it’s always best to check with your vet.”
Unsafe pancake toppings
“Next, 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,” Dr Miller says.
Safe pancake toppings
Here are some toppings you can share with your dog:
- Peanut butter — small amount, but has to be free of xylitol
- Bananas
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Carrot
- Cucumber
- Dog biscuits
Portions
“Another thing to consider is your dog’s portion size. Unlike humans, dogs’ diets don’t feature many carbohydrates, so you want to keep their portion of pancakes very minimal,” Dr Miller says.
“One small pancake topped with wet dog food or another topping may be plenty for your pup and they’ll treasure the rare treat.”
