Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream? Let’s Find Out

We all enjoy an ice cold treat every once in a while. Perhaps after a long walk with Fido? Nothing like a scoop of creamy goodness for you and… a bowl of water for the poor pup. That doesn’t seem fair, he walked just as far as you did and even chased that squirrel.

Unfortunately, as much as you would like to give your dog some ice cream as a much-deserved treat, it’s probably not a good idea. Can dogs eat ice cream? What ice cream can dogs eat? We’ll unpack this more below.

Can Dogs Have Ice Cream?

We’ve all given our pups table scraps and treats, but something that’s not done as often is giving them a scoop of ice cream to enjoy with you. This debate often goes one of two ways, the first saying it isn’t healthy due to the sugar and other ingredients used to make the delicious dessert. Others are of the opinion that dairy snack is healthy because it’s rich in calcium.

So, which one is it? Is ice cream good for dogs?

The truth is no, unless it is an ice cream made specifically for dogs, you’re better off avoiding it. That being said, the odd lick of ice cream will probably not make your dog sick. But if it is a regular occurrence, your dog may get sick after eating ice cream. And the last thing you want is to be cleaning up the mess of an upset tummy – and your pooch won’t be happy about it either.

Why Isn’t Ice Cream Good For Dogs?

The first thing you need to know is that a dog’s stomach isn’t really made to digest lactose – the sugar found in milk. And the same way in which lactose intolerant individuals react to eating ice cream is how dogs will react to eating the same treat.

Possible side effects of dogs eating ice cream include gas, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea. The severity will depend on the amount of ice cream ingested as well as the size of the dog. Any other existing health conditions will also need to be considered.

The other thing you need to consider is the high levels of sugar in ice cream, which is also not good for your pup. And going for the sugarless ice creams is an even worse option as xylitol is toxic to dogs. It’s a tricky thing to manage and can be hard to do if your dog can’t tell you that they’re feeling ill.

This is not even looking at the different flavors available that can also be bad for dogs. So, if you were about to ask, “Can dogs eat chocolate ice cream?”, the answer is 100%, without a doubt, NO! Your dog cannot digest theobromine.

Other harmful ingredients to avoid include:

• Coffee
• Green tea
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Macadamia nuts

Dog-Friendly Ice Cream Recipe

Well, what ice cream can dogs eat? If you are looking to give your dog some ice cream, try starting with small amounts to see how they react. Research states that your dog will produce symptoms within the first 2 hours if their stomach doesn’t agree with it. These will include the gastrointestinal related issues mentioned above that include nausea, bloating, gas, and vomiting.

Vegan ice creams and frozen yogurt are the safer options when it comes to human frozen treats since they contain no or less dairy. Once again, check the ingredients listed before feeding it to your pup to make sure that it is pet friendly.

For safety reasons, we suggest rather making your dog its own, homemade dog ice cream using ingredients that are safe for them to eat. Here’s a simple dog ice cream recipe that will have your dog eating ice cream the safe way.

3-Ingredient Homemade Pup Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 2 bananas
• 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
• 2 teaspoons of plain yogurt (use non-fat or non-dairy alternative)

Optional Ingredients:

• Oatmeal
• Apples
• Carrots

Method:

1. Puree the bananas in a blender, and then add the peanut butter and yogurt.
2. Blitz until smooth.
3. Pour out into a container and pop into the freezer to set.

The Cold Hard Truth

Ice cream isn’t a good option when it comes to treats for your pup, unless it’s been specially created to be dog friendly. When in doubt, rather avoid feeding anything to your that isn’t specified as dog friendly. It can result in a stressful – an expensive – experience for you and your dog.

Disclaimer: Nature’s Organic is not an expert in this field. Our article has been thoroughly researched based on information available on web and from third-party experts.