Should Dogs Eat Ice Cream?
The weather is warming up (finally) so many of you will be heading to your local ice cream parlour for some refreshing frozen treats over the coming weeks and months.
If you’re out on a walk with your dog then chances are you won't want to leave them out. But while your dog will no doubt jump at the chance to indulge in some ice cream with you, is it bad for their health?
In this article, we’ll be answering this question, as well as offering some tips and guidance for keeping your dog happy and healthy this summer.
Ice Cream For Dogs – Yes Or No?
The short answer to this question is yes, your dog can enjoy the occasional ice cream treat, although you should keep these to a minimum and tread with caution. Most dogs can safely consume small amounts of plain, vanilla ice cream as a special treat, but there are several factors to consider beforehand.
Firstly, some dogs may be lactose intolerant, making dairy-based treats like ice cream difficult to digest. This can potentially cause gastrointestinal upset, so if your dog has any known intolerance to dairy or any other ingredient in vanilla ice cream then sadly it’ll be off the menu for your pooch.
Additionally, certain ice cream flavours may contain ingredients, some of which can be harmful and potentially even fatal for your dog, such as chocolate and artificial sweeteners like xylitol.
Chocolate contains caffeine and a compound called theobromine, both of which are toxic for dogs. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often used in sweet goods. When dogs eat this compound, it’s immediately absorbed into the bloodstream which can result in a potent release of insulin. In some cases, this can cause death.
Other Considerations
Along with allergies and additional ingredients, you also need to be mindful of excessive sugar and fat, which can be harmful to dogs, especially if you’re trying to help them lose weight.
The extra weight obese dogs carry around can put additional strain on their cardiovascular system. So with huge amounts of sugar present in most ice cream brands, this is something to keep in mind.
Considering all this, it’s easy to see why it’s important to choose plain, unsweetened varieties and monitor your dog for any signs of discomfort or adverse reactions after consumption.
To reiterate, moderation is key, as excessive consumption of any type of ice cream can lead to obesity and other health issues in dogs.
Ice Cream Alternatives
If you want to reward your dog with a refreshing treat while the sun is shining, consider offering frozen treats made from plain yoghurt or pureed fruits like bananas or berries. As well as being lower in sugar, they’ll be packed full of nutrients and antioxidants, which are beneficial for your dog’s health.
Activities such as swimming or playing with a sprinkler can also help your dog stay refreshed and active during warmer months. Or if you’ve got some boisterous kids that need to burn off some energy, a water gun that they can use to spray your dog should be well received by all parties!
Grooming
With summer on the horizon, you’ll also need to start thinking about your ogs grooming needs.
As the weather starts to warm up, some dogs will need extra cuts or they can start to overheat, especially if they have a long coat. A shorter coat also makes it easier to spot and remove any ticks or parasites that are more common in warmer weather.
Paw care is also important in summer as the warmer pavements can cause burns, discomfort in some cases even and injuries to your dog’s delicate paws. This is why regular checks of your dog’s paws for cracks, wounds or signs of distress are essential.
Lastly, your dog’s ears may require more attention during the summer months as well. This is due to the increased humidity and more frequent swimming which can lead to ear infections in dogs.
Frequent trips to the groomer can help you avoid all these issues. So if you’re looking for dog grooming in London then speak to us as we offer a wide range of services.
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