It’s a hot summer day and you’re out for a walk with your furry friend. You stop at your favourite ice cream shop and get your favourite ice cream.
But as you’re about to take your first lick, you wonder.
Can dogs eat ice cream?
It’s best to avoid giving ice cream to dogs. While ice cream is not poisonous to dogs, it’s not the best treat for them either. Dogs are lactose intolerant, which means they can’t digest milk products very well. In addition, ice cream is high in sugar, which isn’t good for dogs.
Dogs are sensitive to milk
While some dogs can stomach milk without any problems, others seem to be incredibly sensitive to it, experiencing vomiting and diarrhea within minutes of drinking it.
Milk sensitivity is thought to be relatively common in dogs, and it may be due to the fact that many dogs are actually lactose intolerant.
Lactose is a sugar found in milk, and dogs lack the ability to properly digest it. This can cause a range of gastrointestinal problems, including bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.
For dog owners, the best way to deal with milk sensitivity is to simply avoid giving them milk based products, and this includes ice cream.
Ice cream has too much sugar
Sugar is one of the worst things you can give your dog. Ice cream, however, is full of sugar.
In fact, in every 100 grammes of ice cream there are 21 grams of sugar, which is more than the recommended daily amount for humans.
For dogs, that amount of sugar can cause weight gain, diabetes, and tooth decay.
It can also lead to digestive problems and an increase in blood sugar levels. So, if you’re looking for a treat to share with your furry friend, ice cream is not the best choice.
Ice cream can contain ingredients that are harmful to dogs
Ice cream can often contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs and which, if fed, could cause a dog serious health problems.
Many ice creams contain artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol which is poisonous for dogs and many ice creams will contain other ingredients that contain Xylitol.
Additionally many ice creams are flavoured and these flavourings can also be harmful.
For example, chocolate contains a compound called theobromine, which can be toxic to dogs, even in small amounts.
Is it okay to give dogs a little ice cream?
You never know how your dog will react to something like ice cream and it’s best to err on the side of caution and not feed any.
Ice cream is not suitable for dogs for a range of reasons and it’s best not to take any risks with your pet’s health.
Are there any types of ice cream that dogs can eat?
Although traditional ice cream is off limits for dogs, there are certain formulations that are made from yoghurt that are suitable.
A number of brands make specially formulated “doggie ice cream” that contains no chocolate or other ingredients that are harmful to dogs and one option is the Frozzy’s range which has been around for a number of years.
Of course, it’s always best to check with your vet before giving your dog any type of ice cream.
Final Words
While you should avoid feeding ice cream to your dog this does not mean that he can’t enjoy a nice cool treat.
Just make sure that you get him some nice, doggy formulated ice cream instead.
Not only will he enjoy the refreshing taste but you’ll also be assured that it is safe for him to eat and that it won’t cause him any problems.
