Well, here you have it: gingerbread is not safe to give your pets. While many say their pup loves the stuff and your Aunt Darla says it’s her cat’s favorite midnight snack, the real truth is that gingerbread isn’t a healthy or safe treat for animals. Even influencers have promoted gingerbread for pets, which if not made specifically for animals, can be toxic. This holiday season, we want to spread awareness about foods that you shouldn’t give your pet, and you can help let your friends and family know that they can pass on the gingerbread dogs this year with these quick responses. Happy holidays!
“I’ve given my dog gingerbread before, he likes it!”
Nope. Some dogs have remarkably strong digestive systems and can process just about anything, which is great in case of an emergency. However, you should still never put anything into your dog’s diet that could be harmful to his or her health.
“But ginger isn’t bad for dogs!”
Technically right, but still no. Ginger is fine in moderation for dogs, but it usually isn’t a crowd favorite. Gingerbread, however, contains nutmeg, which is never something you should see in your dog’s diet. Additionally, gingerbread can give dogs an upset stomach for hours or even days after ingestion.
“Oh please, he’s fine.”
The answer is no. While you may not immediately see negative affects in your pet’s health, gingerbread is high in oil and fats that can slow your pet down. Also, Rover reports that gingerbread can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which sounds like a big ol’ NO from us.
“How do you know?”
The nutmeg found in gingerbread contains a toxin called myristicin, which is psychoactive. So, that’s really all you’ll need to say: A toxin found in gingerbread is also a psychoactive/bioactive agent in plants, are you sure you want to feed that to Fido?
