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Yes, it is safe for dogs to eat pancakes. However, ensure that you only feed it to them in moderation. In fact, when cooked correctly, pancakes contain eggs which are packed with protein. That said, avoid overfeeding your dog, as plain pancakes also contain white flour and sugar, which can lead to obesity and other health issues in dogs.

Pancakes
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Safe: This food is generally considered safe by the veterinary community. Dogs can eat this food sometimes or in small amounts but contains little to no nutritional value.

Food Safety Safe to eat in moderation
Nutritional Value Protein from eggs, fiber and potassium from topping like bananas and apples
Potential Risks Obesity, diabetes, stomach issues
Every dog is different. For specific feeding guidelines, including quantities and beneficial foods that are best for your dog, please consult your vet.

How Many Pancakes are Safe for Dogs?

Even though pancakes might not harm your dog, it’s best to avoid overfeeding them. Plain pancakes contain a ton of carbs, thanks to white flour and sugar. Furthermore, pancake topping such as chocolate chips can be toxic for dogs and lead to kidney failure. Not to mention, maple syrup is full of sugars and can lead to obesity in dogs.

What Happens if Your Dog Eats Too Many Pancakes?

If you accidentally feed your dog too many plain pancakes, you won’t see any negative side effects immediately. However, if you continue to give your dog pancakes every day, it might lead to digestive problems, especially if your dog has problems digesting gluten. Furthermore, topping such as maple syrup and chocolate chips can be toxic for your dog.

How to Feed Pancakes to Dogs

You can easily whip up a dog-friendly recipe with little effort if you’re thinking about giving your dog pancakes as an occasional treat. Ultimately, it mainly has toppings such as chocolate chips, maple syrup, and butter, which can be dangerous for your dog.

To make dog-friendly pancakes, ditch white flour and white sugar for gluten-free flour and no added sugar. Furthermore, you can smear a teaspoon of peanut butter to make it more delicious. Peanut butter doesn’t contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol and is safe for dogs.

You can also try adding fruits such as apples and bananas to incorporate more nutrients such as fiber and potassium into your dog’s diet.

Common Pancake Ingredients

  • White flour-All types of pancakes contain white flour, which can lead to obesity and a host of digestive issues in dogs. However, you can easily substitute this with gluten-free flour to make your pancakes more dog friendly.
  • Sugar-Sugar is a highly addictive substance for dogs. Overfeeding on sugar can lead to obesity and other health problems in dogs. So, consider ditching sugar altogether in your pancake recipe.
  • Chocolate chips-Chocolate is extremely toxic for dogs and can cause liver problems. So, it’s best to avoid this ingredient entirely.
  • Salt-Of course, pancake batter only contains a pinch of salt. However, it’s best to eliminate it from the recipe entirely. This is especially the case if you feed your dog pancakes every day.
  • Eggs-Eggs are perfectly safe for dogs. In fact, they contain high amounts of protein.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Plain pancakes are completely safe for dogs. However, adding sugar syrups can lead to obesity and digestive issues in dogs.

  • Yes, it’s perfectly safe for dogs to eat pancakes without syrup. Removing sugary syrups from your pancake recipe removes excess sugar from your dog’s diet.

  • While cooked pancakes are perfectly fine for dogs, feeding them raw pancake batter can lead to stomach problems. This is because raw batter contains raw eggs, which might contain bacteria.

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.