When the hot weather soars high, humans usually crave for a refreshing and cooling snack. Typically, ice cream will solve the problem and give us a delightful treat under the heat. However, why should we humans have all this delicious snack to ourselves? Our beloved dogs need some refreshments too, and both of us, humans and dogs, require some cooling experience from ice cream.
Nonetheless, despite the invigorating contribution of ice cream at this hot summer season, ice creams have a lot of ingredients, especially sugar, that is not good for your dogs’ health.
In case you did not know, there are available doggy ice creams in the market today that are made exclusively for your dogs, of course, with standard guidelines followed to ensure the safety of your beloved pets. However, this delightful treat cost is really expensive.
To solve the issue, a homemade doggy ice cream is the answer to all. In this way, you could address some sensitive ingredients away from your doggies’ food, given that all of the dogs in this world are created unique and have personal sensitivity to particular food ingredients.
In this article, we will not only give some recipes of the top ten most delicious doggy ice cream there is but also this article will provide you some useful tips on what are the ingredients that usually cause problems to your dogs’ health. By the end of this article, you will have complete knowledge of what and what not to avoid to make a delicious and cooling treat for your little best friend.
Can I Feed My Dog Ice Cream?
The answer to that is NO. Store-bought ice creams are not really intended for dog consumption. They often contain milk and sugar that can be hard for a dog to digest thoroughly and could lead to stomach problems such as bloating and diarrhea.
Too much sugar on the dogs’ body is the root cause of obesity, which triggers a lot of health problems. Commercial ice cream even has artificial sweeteners that are far more dangerous than ordinary sugar.
Overall, ice creams are not recommended for dog consumption. However, it is a great problem solver, especially if your beloved dogs are in the great heat of the weather. Hence, making a homemade ice cream will do its job to guarantee your little ones are safe from these harmful ingredients.
Ingredients to Avoid
We do not want our dogs to eat food ingredients that will cause them problems in the long run. Hence, fulfilling these guidelines should ensure the lives of your best friend.
Chocolates
There are chocolate flavored ice creams in the market that taste good for humans but very bad for dogs. Chocolates have a component called theobromine, which is very dangerous when eaten by dogs. This component is unable to process by them and leads to serious health issues like overwhelming thirst, seizure attacks, heart rate irregularity, and even death.
Corn Syrup
You may not know, corn syrups are alternative for sugar, and they are sweeter than your typical cane sugar. Little did we know, this ingredient is mostly present in our dogs’ food for the purpose of enhancing flavors.
Similar to sugar, corn syrup will not only contribute to the obesity of your dogs, but it could also even escalate their level of blood. Also, the more your dog gets used to it as part of its diet; it could lead to addiction and increase the likelihood of your dog’s preference for more sugary food taste.
Artificial Food Coloring
It is physically pleasing in the eyes to see colors, particularly on our food. It makes the food more attractive to eat; however, what we do not know is that artificial food colorings can cause hyperactivity of the dogs. Also, it could be responsible for other biochemical reactions in their body. Food colorings are very useful and unnecessary for dogs since they are only used for human food to make it more visually pleasing. Hence, removing it from your dogs’ diet should not make food less appetizing.
Rather, we should embrace the natural colors of the food. It may not be attractive for us to visualize, but sacrificing this ingredient from their diet should improve and significantly enhance not only their overall health, but it will also reflect it to their skin and coating.
Vegetable Oil
Although our pets require nutritious vegetables and some fat, vegetable oil combined is not what they need. Regardless of the omega six compositions of most vegetable oils in the market, they are not needed in your dog’s plate. It could trigger joint problems and lead to experiencing arthritis and other health concerns.
Grapes
Grapes are healthy, delicious snacks for humans. However, it could be lethal for dogs’ consumption. Just one small bite from this fruit can already cause a great amount of impact on your pets’ health. It is the cause of kidney failures or the manifestation of depressive symptoms on them. Typically, the first indications of grape poisoning among dogs start with apparent hyperactive behavior and vomiting.
Gluten
Humans typically avoid this ingredient to keep their weight on track. However, for dogs avoiding gluten could be much more deep reason. It could lead them to more serious issues on digestion and allergic reactions. To identify the early signs of gluten poisoning, a manifestation of itchiness and occurrence of infected ears should be your warning.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate
Preserved foods or ingredients usually composed of Sodium Tripolyphosphate. This may not be a familiar component for food, and Sodium Tripolyphosphate is the main ingredient of detergent soap and powders. It could even serve as an active compound for insecticide and the likes. We do not want that near to our beloved dogs’ food provided by its main usage in other products.
Corn
Corns may have health benefits in humans’ bodies; however, if consumed by dogs, it could lead to disaster. Corns are usually ingredients that are difficult to digest among these types of animals. In most of your dog’s food, corns are added to give high protein available due to its high level of protein composition. Still, it remains to serve digestive problems to your dogs and should be avoided entirely.
Avocado
Avocadoes are delicious fruit for human consumption, but for dogs, they are tremendously the worst: Persin, a composition of avocado that can cause stomach malfunctioning and interfere with its digestive system. Take note; leaves also have persin, so keep those away from your doggy.
Artificial Flavoring
Artificial flavors are mostly present in humans’ food. They could be in juices or snacks. However, the presence of artificial flavoring does not only limit in the human world but also includes animals. Avoid adding this to your dogs’ diet could trigger a tremendous number of health problems, including potential allergic reaction.
Always remember, whatever you feed your dogs, always consider the particular allergies they have. In this way, you can have a strong basis on what and what not to provide them when making your homemade ice cream.
Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
1. Peanut Butter and Banana Ice Cream
On the top of the list is the ever famous doggy ice cream, the combination of peanut butter and banana. All you need to prepare is three pieces of banana, a cup of unsweetened and unsalted peanut butter, and a tablespoon of coconut oil. You may add four cups of plain greek yogurt as desired or of your dog is not lactose intolerant. Once the ingredients are prepared, mixed them all together and blend them. Freeze it overnight and serve it cold to your lovely dogs.
Benefits
This kind of ice cream offers not only fine refreshing experience to your doggy but also is packed with vitamin B, E, Potassium, Fibre, Biotin, and probiotics that help improve the functions of the cell and blood vessel. It also enhances metabolism and digestion while promoting vitality on the skin and boost coat shine.
2. Goat’s Milk and Blueberries Ice Cream
This charming blend of goat’s milk and Blueberries is appetizing for dogs. To make this all you need to gather is a cup of goat’s milk, preferably raw, twenty to thirty pieces of blueberries. Mixed them together and wait for a day in the freezer before serving to your best friend.
Benefits
The rich and milky ice cream has wealthy components of antioxidants that helps in the improvement of your dog’s immune system and help in the functioning of their mental health. It also contains vitamins C, calcium, magnesium, and fiber. This is also low in calories, perfect for overweight dogs.
3. Coconut Butter and Strawberry Ice Cream
Making this ice cream is very easy. Just simply gather the main ingredients like coconut butter and strawberries, both an equal amount of one cup. Mixed this with four cups of plain yogurt, or you may skip it by adding coconut milk instead. Place the blended mixture and place it in the freezer overnight or until it is ready for serving.
Benefits
The key ingredients of this ice cream can help in the prevention of illnesses from infecting your dogs. It also allows the dogs to easily recover from any infection and wound injuries. It will help fight against allergic reactions and aid in digestion.
4. Pumpkin Ice Cream
To make this healthy and delicious snack for your dogs this summer, just mixed and blend four cups of plain yogurt or coconut milk for dogs sensitive on lactose, two tablespoons of peanut butter which is unsweetened and unsalted, a half cup of pumpkin in puree form, and lastly for natural sweet taste, add a mixture of honey in two tablespoons. Do not freeze it. Typically, within two hours, the ice cream is ready for your dogs to eat.
Benefits
The mixture does not only beat the summer heat but also beats diarrhea problems and constipation due to the high amount of fiber and Beta-carotene composition.
5. Cucumber and Strawberry Ice Cream
This is a very healthy option to offer your doggies combined with some fresh powers of naturally sweet fruits and refreshing veggies. All you need are seven pieces of strawberries and a small piece of cucumber cut. If your dog is not too sensitive to yogurts, you may add three tablespoons of it. Blend the ingredients together and place in the freezer to harden within twenty-four hours.
Benefits
The vitamin c it contains can enhance the immunity of your dogs. It can likewise help in improving the bonus with its manganese composition. It may also be responsible for promoting the healthy circulation of the blood and could make their teeth strong and white.
6. Cinnamon and Oatmeal Ice Cream
This ice cream thrill is a refreshing and cool way to let your dogs win against the heat of the sun. With one piece of banana, a cup of plain yogurt or coconut milk, a small amount of cinnamon, and a cup of oatmeal. Make sure the oatmeal is cooked. Combined the ingredients together and blend them thoroughly. Before transferring into the freezer, it should be placed in an airtight container. Within four hours, the waiting should be over, and your dogs can have a taste.
Benefits
This combination of ingredients, the ice cream, is loaded with a high concentration of protein, antioxidants, zinc, iron, fiber, and vitamin B. It also responsible for the regulation of their blood sugar levels and avoids the development of yeast infection. It can also be a good dessert for dogs with minor wounds to prevent bacterial growth within the affected area.
7. Watermelon Ice Cream
This yummy treat only needs frozen watermelon in five cups, mixed with either a one-fourth cup of plain yogurt or for lactose intolerant dogs; you may substitute coconut milk in a similar quantity. Blend the ingredients together and freeze until the mixture is ready for serving. It will last for a lengthy time, hence refreeze it as desired.
Benefits
This ice cream is packed with delicious taste and rich in vitamins A, C, B6, and potassium that promotes vital growth and enhanced vision of your dog.
8. Chicken Ice Cream
It sounds strange, but chicken can make a good ice cream flavor by mixing chicken stock of about a cup with one or two cups of cooked chicken. Blend them together and pour the mixture in an airtight container. Afterward, blend the mixture again until the right consistency is achieved.
Benefits
The chicken helps in the improvement of bones and an increase in the vitality of the skin and its coat.
9. Tropical Ice Cream
The tropical delight will serve not only a powerful refreshment but also a very healthy snack for your little buddy. To make this ice cream, all you need is to cut pineapple and mango into small pieces and freeze it. After freezing, blend them with a half a cup of coconut milk. You can add more coconut milk if needed to achieve your desired consistency. Freeze it and serve when ready.
Benefits
The fruit mixture of this ice cream has a lot of high vitamin contents like vitamins C, A, and B6. It has a lot of mineral compounds, and it has anti-inflammation components that assist in the reduction of infections and allergies.
10. Mixed Berries Ice Cream
By the name itself, this ice cream has a combination of different types of berries like strawberry and blackberries. You may include blueberries in your list. Make a cup of all the fruits mentioned and mixed it with a half cup of water. Within ten minutes, you can already achieve this delightful dessert.
Benefits
Berries are great for dogs as it contains fibers and rich in vitamins that help in preventing cardiovascular illness and could even fight cancer.
Takeaway
Nothing beats the hot weather but a refreshing treat for your dogs. All of us cope with this very uncomfortable heat, and ice cream is the best solution. With the healthy recipes mentioned above, along with its benefits for your little one, you are assured you are not only giving them a dessert but also a healthy diet.
