Dogs love sweet and cold treats; however, they are not good for them. Can my dog eat vanilla ice cream so he can satisfy his cravings? Sometimes it is very difficult for dog owners to control themselves as they want to share every good thing with their dogs.
However, ice creams are not good for the health of dogs. Can I be totally honest with you and talk about the effects of vanilla ice cream? Let us start!
Can My Dog Eat Vanilla Ice Cream Or Is It Not Good For Dogs?
So here we go to learn about the side effects of vanilla ice cream that will show you how dangerous is vanilla ice cream for dogs. So you think I am exaggerating? Read on
Toxic Sweeteners
Most ice creams contain a sweetener known as xylitol. It is very toxic and harmful to dogs’ health, but it is widely used as a substitute for sugar.
It reduces the dog’s blood sugar level and leads to a condition known as hypoglycemia because the pancreas cannot differentiate between sugar and xylitol.
Thus there is more insulin production and removal of sugars from the blood leading to their deficiency in the blood. Moreover, this toxic sweetener is also a reason for liver failure, and it is more serious.
So, can dogs have vanilla ice cream, the answer is “No. If you wish good for your dog and do not want him to suffer these deadly side effects, stop serving him vanilla ice cream. Most people say moderation is key; however, still, be careful.
Because a small amount of vanilla ice cream is enough to disturb your dog’s digestive and other systems.
Cab dogs eat vanilla ice cream? – Beware of the High Sugar Content
The sugar content in vanilla ice cream is very high, which has made it tasty, but it is not that good for dogs. Ice cream is not good for humans; however, it has more adverse effects on the dogs’ health.
Their intake can lead to obesity, weight problems, diabetes, and tooth decay. Moreover, sugar works in dogs as it does in humans.
So you must have experienced a sugar crash after initial high sugar. Similarly, dogs face lethargy, irritation, moodiness, and sleepiness.
Be warned because once the crash hits, the dog’s cravings for the sugar will increase, and it will not be easy for you to tolerate your dog from ice cream again and again.
It has been observed in most cases that owners cannot say no to the pleading face of their dogs and finally serve them vanilla ice cream.
Lactose Intolerance
Some dogs are lactose intolerant, which increases the side effects of eating ice cream. This condition leads to bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, and vomiting, as some dogs’ stomachs do not have any ability to deal with dairy products.
Lactose intolerance means that your dog feels difficulty digesting milk. However, it does not mean that dog is intolerant to all dairy products. Most dogs cannot digest milk but can easily digest milk products such as cheese and yogurt.
However, some dogs are completely intolerant to milk and its all products, and most develop allergies that lead to life-long infections.
Your dog may not face any issues in early life when you serve him ice cream daily; however, later in life, he may develop life-threatening diseases.
These are a word of caution for you: if your dog is already suffering from bloating, obesity, diarrhea, lactose intolerance, and allergies, treating him with ice cream will further worsen the situation and can lead your dog to an untreatable health issue.
Calorie Content and Ingredients
Are you still cannot refrain from feeding your dog vanilla ice cream? Let’s have a look at the contents of the vanilla ice cream:
- Pasteurized Milk
- Pasteurized Cream
- Cane Sugar
- Nonfat Dry Milk,
- Vanilla Extract
- Stabilizer Blend (Locust Bean Gum, Guar Gum, Cane Sugar)
- Organic Annatto Extract (Color).
It boils down to this ice cream has many toxic ingredients that no dog owner should feed his dog. Think about all these artificial ingredients.
Moreover, ice creams contain a large number of calories, and they make up a large percentage of daily calorie intake. However, daily calorie intake varies from dog to dog, but the vets recommend that 25 calories for every pound that weighs your dog are the best combo.
What Kind of Ice Cream Can My Dog Eat?
Many of the dog owners ask what ice cream can dogs eat, if not vanilla ice cream?Certainly, you can feed your dog every flavor of ice cream but only once in a while. Before serving, please make sure that it is not toxic for the dog.
Can my Dog Eat McDonald’s Ice Cream?
People think McDonald’s ice cream is safe for dogs; however, it has the same adverse effects as other ice creams. You can even say the McDonald’s ice cream is more toxic as it consists of toppings of chocolate. So please stay on the safe side and avoid McDonald’s ice creams.
Can Dogs Eat Cherry Ice Cream?
The dogs can deal with things that are not good for them. But the minimal answer is that cherry ice cream is not good for dogs as it contains toxic ingredients.
Can Dogs Eat Mango Ice cream?
No mango ice creams are not good for dogs. However, they are not lethal but are never recommended to dogs due to their inability to digest lactose.
Dog-Friendly Ice Creams
Do dogs like ice creams?
Following are the best dog treats you can give to your dogs.
Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
The taste of ice cream is amazing, and there is no need to add hard-to-pronounce ingredients. Moreover, you can prepare the whole mixture in just 5 minutes.
Cantaloupe Ice Cream
This ice cream is very healthy for dogs, and you need just 2 ingredients: cantaloupe and yogurt. You can prepare the ice cream in just 4-5 hours.
How Much Ice Cream Can A Dog Eat Safely?
If, after reading all cons of vanilla ice cream, you still want to give your dog an ice cream treat, give him one spoonful of ice cream, and monitor your dog for 24 hours to feel his reaction to ice cream.
If your dog has not shown any adverse effect, you can feed him one spoonful odd and then. As it is never recommended to serve dog ice cream daily, one serving per week is still bearable.
What If My Dog Ate Too Much Ice Cream?
I will certainly be worried if my dog ate too much ice cream. But it depends on the ice cream flavor the dog has consumed. If your dog has eaten a large amount of vanilla ice cream, his stomach will be disturbed, and he will face gnarly diarrhea.
However, if the dog is vomiting, has hunched back, feels uncomfortable bloating, and has listlessness, go for a checkup as it can be the symptoms of pancreatitis which can lead to a fatal condition.
Accidently if your dog has eaten a toxic ingredient, immediately call animal poison control on the phone while you go to the emergency vet.
What To Do If Vanilla Ice Cream Makes Your Dog Sick?
Your dog has eaten vanilla ice creams, and his stomach is upset; you are lucky as sometimes dogs get ill seriously. Follow the steps given below if the dog is being sick after eating vanilla ice cream
First, make the dog fast for the whole day as the stomach will get empty, and there will be reduced toxicity. However, do not stop serving him fresh and clean water.
His next meal should be rice with boiled chicken, and their serving should be very small. You must try this method as it is tried and tested and works best for an upset stomach.
After a few days, start feeding him the routine food. However, immediately rush to a certified vet if signs are very hard, the dog is suffering from bloating, lethargy or you have observed blood in his feces.
Are There Healthy Alternatives To Vanilla Ice Cream For Dogs?
Yes, many ice creams are designed especially for dogs, and they are made of lactose-free milk and contain dog-friendly ingredients, for example, peanut butter.
However, they are healthy for dogs but do not serve these ice creams daily as they will harm him.
But many dogs eat vanilla ice cream. However, there are many alternatives to vanilla ice cream for dogs. Moreover, it would help if you tried making frozen confections at home.
The simplest method you can use is to buy unsweetened yogurt and freeze it. You can use it in different ways including vanilla ice cream for dogs recipes.
Once frozen, serve your dog; he will enjoy it for hours and lick the frozen curd.
The other method is to take 2-4 bananas, blend them in the juicer, and freeze the resulting concoction. You can mix it with peanut butter and yogurt to make it taste better.
Once frozen, serve your dog as a treat. He will enjoy it very much, especially in the summers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Do Dogs Like Ice Cream?
Dogs love ice cream because it is cold, reduces their body temperature at once, and prevents overheating.
Why Can’t Dogs Have Sugar?
Too much sugar is very bad for the health of dogs as high sugar content disturbs the stomach’s microorganisms, resulting in diarrhea and vomiting.
Thus, never feed your dog high sugar daily as it will cause long-term health effects. Moreover, dogs gain a large amount of weight and become obese.
Obesity causes them to be lethargic, pain, have trouble breathing, and have heart diseases. In addition, too much sugar content also causes cavities and diabetes.
Diabetes, if not controlled, leads to cataract urinary tract infections, seizures, and deadly conditions, including kidney diseases and ketoacidosis.
At What Age Can Puppies Eat Ice Cream?
Puppies grow and start changing into dogs between the age of 10 months to 2 years, varying from breed to breed. Thus, if you love to give your dog treats or ice creams, ensure your puppy has completely weaned off of mother’s milk and has started taking solid food.
Can Dogs Eat Haagen Dazs Vanilla Ice Cream?
The answer is “No”.
Artificial sweetener xylitol is added to haagen dazs vanilla ice cream and also in many sugar-free food products. If haagen dazs vanilla ice cream is given to dogs, xylitol causes a surge of insulin to be released, leading to a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels, which can cause weakness, vomiting, and seizures in your furry friend.
Can Dogs Eat Vanilla Ice Cream From Chick-Fil-A Or Is Ice Cream Safe For Dogs?
No, it is not recommeded for your dog to eat vanilla ice cream from chick-fil-a. This is due to the artificial sweetener xylitol, which can lead to surge of insulin to be released. Therefore, it may be not as good and healthy as home-made vanilla ice cream recipes for your dog.
Can Vanilla Ice Cream Kill A Dog?
No, vanilla ice cream won’t kill your dog.
Your dog has eaten vanilla ice cream and is your dog sick after eating ice cream and showing side effects? In this instance, you need to get its check-up immediately. If you delay its treatment, he may die of bad health.
To Sum up
So, can my dog eat vanilla ice cream? Well, in essence, vanilla ice cream is not good for dogs and is not recommended. It may show mild stomach issues in some dogs.
However, its reaction is very severe in some dogs and leads to lethal diseases if not controlled on time. Dogs love to eat ice creams because of their cold texture and crave them.
But never give them a treat of ice cream daily. You can feed them home-made ice creams as they do not contain artificial sweeteners and other harmful ingredients.
Thank you for your visit!