Treat Your Dog to These Dog-Friendly Ice Creams
Although you may be tempted to share some ice cream with Fido this summer, think twice before giving your pup a lick. Even though ice cream is the perfect summer treat for humans, the ingredients in ice cream can be harmful to your pup’s health. Luckily, there are many dog-friendly ice creams available that are safe for your pooch to eat. Below, Sit Means Sit has rounded up the best dog-friendly ice creams on the market.
Why Can’t Dogs Have Human Ice Cream?
Human ice cream contains several ingredients that aren’t healthy for canines, with some ingredients even being toxic. Common ingredients found in ice cream that are harmful for dogs include:
- Dairy: Most adult animals cannot properly digest dairy products. When dogs consume a moderate amount of dairy, they may experience an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Xylitol: This is an artificial sweetener found in many human ice creams that can cause serious negative health outcomes. Xylitol can cause a level of low blood sugar that’s almost deadly to dogs, which may result in lethargy, lack of coordination, weakness, seizures, or loss of consciousness.
- Sugars & Fats: Most ice cream contains high levels of sugar and fat, which can cause stomach issues for canines. When consumed in large doses, this can inflame a dog’s pancreas and cause pancreatitis.
- Toxic Ingredients: Three ingredients found in some human ice creams that are toxic to canines are chocolate, macadamia nuts, and raisins. Dogs shouldn’t consume any amount of these ingredients, which is why all dog ice cream excludes them.
Luckily, there are plenty of dog ice creams on the market with canine-safe ingredients. Here are our top five picks for dog-friendly ice creams.
Ben & Jerry’s Doggie Desserts
Not only does Ben & Jerry’s make delicious ice cream for humans, but they also sell two delicious flavors of pre-frozen ice cream made for dogs. This “Rosie’s Batch” flavor is made with pumpkin and mini cookies, and “Pontch’s Mix” is made with peanut butter and pretzel swirls. Ben & Jerry’s Doggie Desserts contain a minimal amount of milk that’s safe for most pups, in addition to being made with sunflower seed butter, which is good for dog’s stomachs. The one downside of this ice cream is that it’s high in calories, but it’s perfect for an occasional treat.
Dogster’s Ice Cream
Dogster sells another pre-frozen, dog-safe ice cream. These 3.5 ounce cups come in four flavors: Paw-some Pumpkin, Nutly & Cheese, Mintë Kissably Fresh, and Cheesy Bac’n. Dogster’s ice cream is veterinarian-approved thanks to its low quantity of calories and fat. However, this brand of ice cream contains cheese, so if your pup experiences issues with eating dairy you should avoid this ice cream.
Purina’s Frosty Paws for Dogs
In addition to the variety of dog food Purina sells, they also have dog-friendly ice cream. Purina’s Frosty Paws for Dogs are pre-frozen 3.25-ounce ice cream cups. This brand comes in two flavors: vanilla and peanut butter. Frosty Paws has a smooth texture that’s akin to regular ice cream and is easy for dogs to eat. These ice cream cups have no added sugar and are a good source of protein for your pup. Frosty Pups are lactose-free, meaning your pooch won’t have any difficulties digesting them.
Pooch Creamery Ice Cream
Pooch Creamery is another tasty ice cream for Fido to try this summer. This product is sold in a 5.25-ounce cup and arrives as a powder, meaning you’ll have to do a bit of preparation. Once you add water to the mix and freeze it, you’ll have tasty ice cream for Fido to enjoy. This ice cream line has various flavors to choose from, depending on your pup’s preferences. The available flavors include vanilla, peanut butter, maple bacon, watermelon, birthday cake, and carob (a chocolate substitute). Pooch Creamery ice cream contains lactose-free whole milk, so your pup can enjoy it in peace.
Puppy Scoops Ice Cream Mix
Similarly to Pooch Creamery, Puppy Scoops ice cream is sold as a powder mix that can be stored until you’re ready. Once you’ve added water and frozen it for at least five hours, this ice cream is ready for your pup to consume once it thaws on the counter for 15 minutes. Puppy Scoops is sold in five flavors: vanilla, birthday cake, peanut butter, carob, and maple bacon. All of Puppy Scoop’s flavors are fan favorites, with each flavor being taste-tested and approved by humans. Additionally, this ice cream is lactose and grain-free, making it safe for pups with sensitive stomachs.
Homemade Doggie Ice Cream Recipes
Still wary about getting a store-bought ice cream for your pup? Don’t worry; there are many homemade recipes you can make for your pooch. If your furry friend has specific allergies, you can customize these recipes to their needs. Below are some simple homemade canine ice cream recipes to get you started.
- Frozen Kongs: A simple, yet foolproof way to cool off your dog this summer is by putting peanut butter in a Kong toy and placing it in the freezer. You can mix this up by adding wet dog food, canned pumpkin, fresh veggies, or any other of Fido’s favorite snacks into a frozen Kong.
- Fruit Popsicles: Blending fresh fruit with water and freezing it in popsicle molds is another quick way to make homemade ice cream for your pup. Many fruits are dog-safe, including bananas, berries, apples, and melons. Blended frozen bananas are another great option since they have a texture similar to ice cream- without any added ingredients.
- Doggie Ice Cubes: With an ice cube tray and just a few ingredients, doggie ice cube trays are an easy treat to prepare and customize. While some dogs are content eating plain ice cubes, this treat can be easily spiced up by freezing low-sodium chicken broth for your pup to nibble on.
Now that you’ve checked out these dog-friendly ice cream brands, you’re all set to keep Fido cool and healthy this summer.
Check out these related blogs for more tips on keeping Fido cool!
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