12 Jun Can dogs eat ice cream?

The best time to eat ice cream is always. Ice cream is always good, and no one hates it. Dogs also love this excellent food. Every time you eat ice cream, it’s very likely that your dog will pant for a lick. But the question is, can dogs eat ice cream? Is ice cream harmful to dogs or not? This question doesn’t have a definite answer because the ingredients of ice cream are very diverse. The main components of ice cream, milk, cream and sugar, aren’t toxic to dogs, although they aren’t perfect. But some other ingredients added to ice cream can be hazardous for them. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about feeding your dog ice cream. So stay tuned until the end.

Flavours and toxins in ice cream for dogs

First, let’s see which ice cream flavours are toxic and dangerous to dogs.

Chocolate

Chocolate is very toxic to dogs because it contains two substances: theobromine and caffeine. Chocolate poisoning is one of the most common diseases in dogs. The amount of toxins in different types of chocolate is additional. Still, it can be said that the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the higher the concentration of toxins. It’s strictly forbidden for dogs to eat ice cream with chocolate (of any kind and in any form). Chocolate poisoning of dogs can cause these side effects:

• Vomit
• Dog diarrhoea
• Increase in heart rate
• Muscle tremors
• Rising body temperature
• ADHD
• Restlessness
• Cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
• Hypertension
• Heart failure
• Death

Coffee or espresso

Coffee beans are also high in caffeine and can cause symptoms similar to chocolate poisoning. Licking coffee-flavoured ice cream a few times may not have enough caffeine to poison a dog, but ice cream with coffee beans (or worse, chocolate-coated coffee beans) can endanger the dog’s life. Overeating caffeine can cause seizures, anaesthesia and even death.

Macadamia

Macadamia is a type of nut that is grown in Australia. If the ice cream your dog eats has macadamia, it may cause disorders in his nervous system and muscles. Poisoning with these nuts is usually mild or moderate in your dog, but the following side effects may be seen in him:

• Lethargy
• Dog vomiting
• Muscle tremors
• Weakness of hind legs

Macadamia also has a lot of fat, which can cause both obesity in dogs and pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is the organ that produces digestive enzymes.

Xylitol

Xylitol is one of the artificial sweeteners that factories add to many diet foods, including ice cream, instead of sugar. If a dog eats this substance, a lot of insulin is released into his body. As a result, his blood sugar is too low. It can also cause weakness, seizures and vomiting in the dog. In addition to eating xylitol, this substance can cause dog liver failure, too.

Is ice cream harmful to dogs?

Even if it doesn’t have high toxic substances, ice creams have milk sugar or lactose. Puppies can digest their mother’s milk, but after they’re weaned, the amount of an enzyme that breaks down milk (lactase) drops very low in their bodies. Therefore, most adult dogs have lactose intolerance (some are more severe and some are milder), meaning they can’t correctly digest milk foods. If they eat such foods, they will experience mild or even severe indigestion (Eg indigestion, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain or bloating in dogs). High-fat dairy products can also cause pancreatitis.

On the other hand, ice cream has a lot of sugar, which isn’t suitable for dogs and can make them obese. Obesity causes a thousand other problems. The energy of a few pieces of ice cream may be as much as the total daily energy needs of a small dog.

A few important tips

If you can’t stand the begging looks of your dog and want to give him ice cream, be aware of these points:

• Don’t give chocolate ice cream to dogs at all. Plain or vanilla ice cream can be a safe and secure option.
• Don’t give ice cream without sugar and diet because it may contain xylitol.
• Make sure the ice cream doesn’t have coffee beans or macadamia nuts.
• Don’t give your dog too much ice cream. There’s no problem if he licks one or two, but if he eats a bowl of ice cream, it isn’t good for him.

You can also buy special dog ice creams, which you can find in some pet shops.

Ice cream substitutes

Ice foods are pleasant for the dog and us when the weather is hot. But we don’t have to give our dog ice cream. There are other things that dogs enjoy as much as ice creams. Here are some exciting ideas. Put one of these ingredients in ice cube trays and put it in the freezer to ice:

• Salt-free chicken soup or juice
• Pumpkin mashed and cooked
• Peanut butter and mashed bananas (be sure to use peanut butter that doesn’t contain xylitol)
• Crushed fruits mixed with plain low-fat or preferably non-fat yoghurt

As you know, dog ice creams don’t have to be sweet.

Making ice creams for dogs

So far, we have told you about the dangers of ice creams for dogs, and you may still insist on giving your dog ice cream. Here are some simple ways to make dog ice creams with non-harmful ingredients. Dogs also usually like them.

Ice creams with banana and peanut butter

ingredients

• 4 cups of low-fat or fat-free yoghurt
• A large ripe banana
• Four tablespoons of peanut butter without salt and xylitol
• Coconut oil or olive oil to lubricate the moulds

Preparation method

• Put yoghurt, banana and peanut butter in a blender and mix well.
• Take small moulds or cups and put them in a tray. Grease the inside of the moulds with oil.
• Pour the mixture you have prepared into the middle of the moulds, and then dip one of the foods you give your dog as a reward, like an ice cream stick, in this mixture.
• Put the tray in the freezer and wait at least three or four hours to freeze, but it is better to stay in the freezer overnight.
• Now take one of the moulds and take the ice cream out. Hold the “stick” of ice cream in your hand and hold it in front of the dog. After eating the frozen part, let it eat the rest.

important points

Dogs love peanut butter, and the vitamin biotin in this food is also very good for their skin and hair. But note that it’s high in calories and sometimes allergenic. Yoghurt is fermented, so its lactose is less than milk, and the dog’s body can digest it more easily. Of course, be careful because some dogs also have trouble digesting yoghurt and may have digestive problems, red hives, and itchy skin. If your dog can’t eat yoghurt, mash two empty bananas in a blender and put them in the freezer. Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C and fibre and are suitable for animals, but they also have sugar and shouldn’t be consumed in excess. Instead of bananas, you can use other fruits, such as strawberries, which may suit your dog’s taste. You can also use non-dairy products such as coconut milk. Don’t freeze whole or sliced ​​bananas for your dog; it may cause suffocation. Be sure to mash these foods and then put them in the freezer.

Ice creams with oats and cinnamon

Cinnamon is perfect for dogs, especially for dogs with arthritis and joint problems. Many dogs also like oatmeal.

ingredients

• A small whole ripe banana
• Three-quarters cup (180 grams) of cooked oatmeal
• A teaspoon of cinnamon
• One cup (280 grams) of low-fat or fat-free yoghurt
• Oils for lubricating moulds

Preparation method

• Mash the bananas thoroughly.
• Mix oatmeal and cinnamon. Oatmeal must be cooked so that the dog can digest it.
• Add yoghurt and stir until all ingredients are well mixed.
• · Put the ingredients in the mould and put it in the freezer.
• You can keep these ice creams in the freezer for up to 8 weeks.

Empty ice cubes

If your dog is overweight, giving him empty ice is better. You may find it ridiculous, but many dogs also love ice. You can put ice in a dog’s water bowl on hot days.

To wrap up

Eating ice-creams isn’t suitable for dogs, and some of its flavours may even cause poisoning and death. So the best option is to do it yourself and make ice cream for your dog. The instructions we have given here are straightforward and don’t take more than a few minutes. You can easily create a great summer food that your dog loves and prevents him from getting hot. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments for the next session.