Unlike human food, ice cream is not generally considered a good treat for dogs. It is packed with sugar and dairy, two things that are not healthy for canines. Plus, it is a high-fat product that can cause obesity and other problems. Even though dogs can tolerate small amounts of ice cream, they are not recommended to eat large portions.
Dogs can become lactose intolerant, which can lead to digestive problems. Some of the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and bloating. If you suspect your dog is lactose intolerant, you should consult a veterinarian. He or she may recommend a type of ice cream that is safe for your dog. If you don’t have a veterinarian, you can call animal poison control for help.
If your dog has never eaten ice cream, you should try to give him or her a little bit of it at first. The problem with this is that you might not notice any digestive issues for a couple of days. If you notice any indigestion, nausea, or other signs of gastrointestinal distress, call your vet.
In addition to milk, ice cream can contain other ingredients that can be dangerous for your dog. The main offender is chocolate. Other things to watch out for include raisins, grapes, and macadamia nuts. The caffeine in coffee-flavour ice cream can be very dangerous to dogs. You should also watch out for artificial sweeteners in low-sugar ice cream.
If you decide to feed your dog a small amount of ice cream, you should make sure it isn’t chocolate or raisin flavored. These products are highly toxic to dogs. They can have a sluggish effect on your pet, and they can also lead to hyperthermia.
To avoid this issue, you should only allow your dog to have plain vanilla ice cream. Whether or not your dog is lactose intolerant, he or she should be given no more than 10 percent of their daily caloric intake in the form of ice cream. If your dog is diabetic, it is best to avoid ice cream that has too much sugar. The amount of sugar in ice cream can also cause dental disease in dogs. You can get a low-fat, zero-sugar ice cream substitute in the market. You should also research these options to make sure they are safe for your dog.
Some commercial ice cream brands have added a lot of toxic ingredients to their products. For example, xylitol is a common artificial sweetener. This ingredient can be very dangerous for your dog. It can lead to vomiting and seizures. You should never give your pet xylitol.
If you want to give your dog ice cream, you should choose a sugar-free version that doesn’t contain xylitol. You can find these in many grocery stores. You can also try to give your dog boiled chicken, rice, or oatmeal instead of ice cream. Alternatively, you could try a frozen smoothie. But if your dog is unable to handle any of these alternatives, you should call animal poison control immediately.
