With Shrove Tuesday coming up next week (17th February), Petplan’s vet expert, Dr Brian Faulkner, is urging pet owners to be cautious. With many popular pancake ingredients and toppings posing serious health risks to dogs, Dr Brian has revealed which pancake ingredients pet owners should avoid feeding dogs – including chocolate, honey, sugar and syrup. Petplan veterinary expert, Dr Brian Faulkner shares the following advice: “Pancake Day is just around the corner, and while it can be tempting to share a stack with your dog, it’s really important to be mindful of its ingredients. Most pancake recipes contain flour, sugar, salt, milk, eggs and butter. While eggs can be safely fed to dogs in moderation, the other ingredients may cause upset tummies. And it’s not just the pancake batter you need to worry about. Popular toppings such as chocolate, nuts, dairy cream, honey, syrup and raisins can be toxic to them. “If you want to involve your dog this pancake day, try a simple recipe using bananas, eggs, a small dash of flour, and splash of water. For toppings, stick to safe bets such as xylitol-free peanut butter, sliced banana, apple pieces, or even their favourite dog biscuits.” Symptoms of food poisoning in dogs include: Vomiting or dry heaving Diarrhoea Uncontrolled drooling Blood in their urine or poo Loss of appetite Agitation or lethargy Unsteadiness on feet Breathing difficulties Seizures or tremors Increased heart rate or temperature Drinking or peeing more than usual Internal bleeding (indicated by pale gums, coughing up blood, weakness or collapsing) If you suspect you dog has eaten something they shouldn’t or are worried about their behaviour, then please seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. For more information on dog insurance, please visit: https://www.petplan.co.uk/dog-insurance.html…