Content
- Can dogs eat ice cream?
- When can you give dog ice cream?
- Dog can have homemade ice cream
- How to make dog ice cream
Ice cream is one of those sweets so delicious that it can lift any mood and make you feel a little better even when something isn't right. And since you definitely love sharing good times with your favorite furry ones, it's totally normal for many people to wonder if dog can eat ice cream.
However, this irresistible dessert can hide some health risks from your best friends and it is essential to be very careful before giving ice cream to dogs. In this PeritoAnimal article, we'll explain why dogs can't eat any ice cream, especially industrialized products, and we'll teach you how to make homemade and healthy dog ice cream. Don't miss it!
Can dogs eat ice cream?
If you're wondering if you can give ice cream to dogs, the answer is: it depends! You industrialized ice cream not recommended for dogs for various reasons, but mainly because it contains a high content of refined fats and sugars. Although the dog's diet should be rich in fatty acids (better known as good or healthy fats), industrialized ice creams contain so-called saturated fats, which promote rapid weight gain and increase LDL cholesterol levels (also called " bad cholesterol”) in the bloodstream.
In this sense, you should consider that high levels of LDL cholesterol favor the accumulation of insoluble lipid plaques in vessels and arteries, increasing the risk of developing cardiovascular problems. In turn, an excessive consumption of sugars can cause hyperglycemia and increase the risk of developing canine diabetes.
In addition, many ice creams are made with a milk base, that is, they contain milk or dairy products. As we have already explained here in PeritoAnimal, most adult puppies are lactose intolerant, as the body stops producing or radically reduces the production, after weaning, of the lactase enzyme, which is essential to correctly digest the molecules present in milk and in its derivatives. Therefore, foods and recipes based on dairy products can cause serious digestive problems for puppies.
Last - but not least to understand if a dog can eat ice cream - some ice cream flavors can really hurt your furry. The most classic and dangerous example is chocolate ice cream which, although it is one of the favorite sweets of many people, is one of the prohibited foods for dogs, as they can cause digestive disorders, such as diarrhea and vomiting, tachycardia and behavioral changes, such as hyperactivity and nervousness.
When can you give dog ice cream?
As we have seen, processed ice creams contain preservatives, ingredients that are unsuitable for dog nutrition, such as saturated fats, dairy products and sugars, and may also contain potentially toxic foods for dogs, such as chocolate, coffee, lemon, grapes, etc.
Dog can have homemade ice cream
However, if you want to offer dog ice cream you can do it using ingredients that are beneficial to your best friend's health, then the answer becomes yes, yours. dog can have homemade ice cream and suited to your nutritional needs.
Even so, you will need to take certain precautions before offering homemade ice cream to your puppy. For example, it's a great practice. consult your trusted veterinarian before offering any new food to your puppy. In addition to ensuring that your dog can actually eat ice cream, the professional will also help you choose the most nutritious ingredients to prepare delicious recipes for your best friend.
It is also important to emphasize that homemade ice cream should be offered in moderation to dogs, and can be used as a prize or a positive reinforcement in the education of your furry one. Nutritious ice cream can also be a good natural food supplement, especially during the summer to help keep them well hydrated.
How to make dog ice cream
To prepare homemade dog ice cream, you will need to replace the milk with another base liquid. Depending on the flavor of the ice cream and the texture you want to obtain, you can choose between water, vegetable milk (rice, oat or coconut) and unsweetened yogurt (or reduced in lactose). Your dog ice cream will be much creamier and more flavorful using vegetable milk or yogurt. However, to prepare an ice cream light for obese or overweight dogs, we recommend that you make dog ice cream with water.
When choosing the flavor of homemade ice cream, we recommend using fruits and vegetables that are beneficial to dogs, such as apples, strawberries, melon, carrots, cucumbers, spinach, bananas, peaches, etc. But it is also possible to make more sophisticated recipes, such as a nutritious salted chicken, carrot and saffron ice cream made with rice milk. In the kitchen, creativity is always welcome, especially to please your best friends.
The process of making dog ice cream it's super simple. Just blend the liquid base and solid ingredients in a blender that will add flavor to the recipe, until you get a homogeneous mixture. After that, just pour the contents into the mold or container of your choice and take the ice cream to the freezer for approximately 4 hours, or until they take on the proper consistency.
Learn step by step about how to make homemade ice cream for dog on our YouTube video: