Ice Cream Almost everyone loves ice cream – what’s better than a cold dessert on a hot day? When we eat ice cream in the summer, the dog may be watching, in other words, is it safe for your dog to eat ice cream?
Underlying Health Issues Dogs Eating Ice Cream Dangerously
1. Ice cream is not a healthy treat for dogs, and while the occasional small amount of vanilla ice cream or mango sorbet probably won’t get your dog to the vet, ice cream shouldn’t be your dog’s regular treat.
2. Adult dogs don’t really have stomachs ready to handle lactose. While they can digest milk like puppies (they are mammals after all), they really can’t digest milk like adults. Not being able to handle dairy can lead to bloating, gas, diarrhea and vomiting. In most cases, your dog is probably just a little gassy. But if you give your puppy a lot of ice cream, your dog’s reaction to dairy may be more severe. Also, dogs with diabetes or weight issues should stay away from ice
3. The high sugar content in ice cream is not good for your dog either. Even “sugar-free” ice cream can be dangerous because xylitol is toxic to dogs. In fact, ice cream with any artificial sweeteners may not be feasible for your puppy. Many flavors of ice cream are also potentially dangerous to dogs. Chocolate is dangerous because dogs cannot digest theobromine. Both coffee and green tea ice cream are dangerous due to the caffeine content. Any ice cream that contains grapes or raisins is potentially dangerous and can cause acute kidney failure in even small doses.
Finally, some nuts are dangerous to dogs. Macadamia nuts are dangerous for your dog — although scientists don’t know why. Pecans, walnuts and almonds are not toxic to dogs, but they are too high in fat to be healthy.
How to Safely Serve Your Dog Ice Cream Safely Serve Your Dog Ice Cream
1. If you decide to serve ice cream to your dog, stick to fruit-flavored ice cream or plain vanilla. Be sure to feed a small amount at first to make sure it doesn’t upset your dog’s stomach. If your dog’s stomach disagrees with dairy, you may see symptoms such as bloating, gas, vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhea within two hours.
2. If you want to give your dog a refreshing treat in the summer, consider making homemade ice cream for your puppy. Puree bananas, peanut butter, and a bit of yogurt (lower in lactose than ice cream) for a delicious treat you can freeze at home. You can also add some oats, apples, or other healthy, dog-friendly ingredients.
3. Vegan “gourmet cream” and frozen yogurt may also be better for your dog, as they are generally lower in sugar and lower (or free) in dairy. As with any rich new food, start by feeding your puppy a little. Wait a few hours to see how she reacts to the food before giving her more.
What to do if your puppy eats his own ice cream
1. If your dog eats ice cream without your “allowance”, stay calm first. Figure out what ice cream tastes like and how much your dog eats. If your dog isn’t eating any dangerous ingredients, they’ll probably be fine. However, they may smoke their butts or need a few more potty trips, so you definitely don’t want your dog at home.
2. But if your dog eats ice cream with artificial sweeteners, macadamia nuts, coffee, chocolate, grapes or raisins, you may have a serious condition on hand. Animal poison control can help you decide what to do next. That said, don’t delay going to the vet. Bottom line, as a general rule, ice cream is not a good food for dogs. Peanut butter, banana, and yogurt puree make delicious frozen treats. There are so many potentially dangerous ingredients in ice cream for dogs.
