Dog Craves Mooncakes: How to Safely Celebrate Mid-Autum

Part 1: Can Pets Safely Enjoy Mooncakes?

When asked if pets can indulge in mooncakes, many people's immediate thought is to inspect the filling. This is indeed a sensible approach. For instance, chocolate ice cream mooncakes are a deadly treat for dogs; feeding them such mooncakes could lead to tragic consequences.

Traditional mooncakes, on the other hand, are primarily made of flour, sugar, and fats, which are not only caloriedense but also categorized as "high in three" foods: high in oil, sugar, and fat. They are difficult to digest and can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients, potentially causing indigestion and food stagnation.

Therefore, it's clear that the nutritional content of traditional mooncakes does not align with a dog's dietary needs. For cats, which are more carnivorous, the mismatch is even more pronounced. Additionally, some new flavors of mooncakes may contain nuts and peanuts, which are also hard to digest and can lead to appetite issues.

Part 2: Are SugarFree Mooncakes Safe for Pets?

The answer is a resounding no! While sugarfree mooncakes may be healthier for humans, they are lethal for dogs. This is because sugarfree mooncakes often contain xylitol, a sweetener that has little impact on human blood sugar levels and is thus suitable for the elderly or those with low blood sugar. However, due to physiological differences, dogs can experience abnormal insulin secretion after consuming xylitol, leading to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels. In severe cases, this can cause liver failure.

Part 3: Homemade Pet Mooncakes

It's heartwarming to see your furry friend's moist eyes fixed on the mooncake in your hand. If you're struggling with the temptation to share, why not make your own healthy pet mooncake instead?

Pet mooncake ingredients are primarily natural, including potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, pumpkins, eggs, and chicken. The filling is a mix of chicken and sweet potato puree, satisfying your pet's cravings while maintaining their health.

Ingredients:

Filling: 4 chicken legs, 200g sweet potatoes.

Shell: 150g allpurpose flour, 50g whole wheat flour, 1 egg, a small amount of olive oil.

Steps:

Preheat the oven. If desired, marinate the chicken legs with a little fresh rosemary and garlic for one to two hours before roasting. Let it cool, remove the bones, and chop or tear the meat.

Boil the sweet potatoes until they are soft, let them cool, peel them, and mash them into a puree.

Combine the allpurpose flour, whole wheat flour, egg, and olive oil to form a dough, cover it, and let it rest for half an hour.

Take 25g of the dough, roll it out flat, wrap it around 25g of filling (encase the chicken with sweet potato puree and roll into a ball), and press it into a mooncake mold.

Bake at 160 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, then remove and brush with egg wash before baking for another 15 minutes. Allow to cool completely before serving.

Tip: Regardless of whether it's mooncakes or other foods, if your pet has a sensitive stomach, be sure to control the amount of food they consume.

For more information on what pets should avoid, check out "What Foods Should Dogs Avoid?".