AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
Most people love ice cream. But is ice cream really a harmless treat for dogs, or will it cause a major bellyache? While you may want to share a cone with your pet, it’s best to avoid giving ice cream to dogs.
Why Is Ice Cream Bad for Dogs?
The first problem with ice cream is that dogs’ bodies aren’t designed to digest milk after they’re weaned as puppies. According to Dr. Jerry Klein, DVM, Chief Veterinarian for the AKC, puppies have the enzyme they need to break down their mother’s milk. After they’re weaned, however, their bodies produce less lactase.
“Many adult dogs are lactose intolerant to varying degrees, which prevents them from properly digesting milk products,” says Dr. Klein. “If you feed these dogs milk products, they can experience anything from severe to mild gastrointestinal discomfort—loose stools, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or gas. Dairy products with high fat content can also cause pancreatitis in dogs.”
Dogs can suffer from a variety of food allergies, including experiencing allergic reactions to milk and dairy products like ice cream. These allergies are a reaction to the proteins found in milk products and can manifest as vomiting and diarrhea or result in red, itchy skin rashes.
Another problem with ice cream is that it’s loaded with sugar, and feeding your dog sugary foods can lead to weight gain and obesity, which can cause other health problems. Even if the ice cream container says it’s sugar-free, you need to be careful to read the label to make sure that it contains no xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs.
The final problem with ice cream is that some flavors may actually be dangerous for dogs. Chocolate, for example, is toxic for dogs.
Alternatives to Ice Cream
High-quality dog foods contain enough calcium and other nutrients to help promote strong, healthy bones for your dog, so adding calcium to the diet of an adult dog with milk or ice cream isn’t at all necessary. While some dogs can tolerate a small amount of plain vanilla ice cream as a treat, there are other options you can give them that are less likely to cause digestive problems.
If you want to give your dog a cold treat, freezing some fat-free plain yogurt might be a better choice. Because yogurt is fermented, it contains less lactose, so it’s easier for dogs to digest. Don’t feed your dog a commercial frozen yogurt, since it will be loaded with sugar. Use caution because although yogurt is easier for dogs to digest, some will not tolerate it.
Another good treat for dogs is “nice cream.” All you need are two ripe bananas and a food processor or blender. Blend the bananas until creamy, and freeze them. This fruit-based dessert is safe for dogs to eat,and provides some nutritional value. Bananas are high in potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and fiber. They do contain sugar, so feed your dog bananas in moderation.
You can also consider purchasing a dog-safe ice cream product or making your own frozen treats at home using a vet-approved recipe.