Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream? What Every Dog Owner Should Know Before Sharing a Scoop
It’s a hot, muggy day in June, and as you’re taking your pup on her daily walk, you pass the bright, alluring storefront of an ice cream shop.
Your mouth waters. Hers does too. As you order yourself a scoop, you can see your pup looking at you with big, pleading eyes.
Surely it wouldn’t hurt to give her a lick, right? Or get her a cone of her own?
Still, you hesitate. Is ice cream toxic to dogs? You don’t want to offer anything to your furry friend that might hurt her!
At Lapp Valley Farm, we understand the urge to share the delicious treats of this world with your favorite pets. Still, we urge caution—before giving ice cream to your dog, let’s explore the various risks involved, so you can put your pup’s health first, despite her big pleading eyes.
Let’s get started!
TL;DR - Can Dogs Eat Ice Cream?
- Chocolate and xylitol are toxic to dogs, the lactose in milk may give them digestive problems, and sugar is bad for their health.
- To figure out if your dog is lactose intolerant, give her a small amount of dairy, and watch to see if she shows any digestive distress
- A small amount of vanilla ice cream may be fine, but talk to your vet about your pup’s health to figure out how often such a treat is okay.
- For a healthier treat, make or buy your pup a dog-friendly ice cream alternative.
- So… can dogs eat ice cream? Yes, in very small amounts of plain vanilla ice cream — but only if it contains no chocolate, xylitol, or macadamia nuts, and your dog isn’t lactose intolerant.
Ice Cream Ingredients: What’s Fine, and What’s Potentially Harmful?
It’s impossible to give a blanket answer to whether or not it’s safe to give your dog ice cream, as different types of ice cream have different ingredients. Let’s break down what ingredients are toxic, what ones may give your dog discomfort, and what ones are unhealthy for your pup:
Chocolate: toxic to dogs
Never feed your dog ice cream that has chocolate in it, as chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs. Even a small amount can be deadly, especially to small dogs, as you can see using this toxicity meter.
Xylitol: toxic to dogs
Although excessive sugar is not great for dogs (as we’ll go into more detail about later), be extremely careful about giving sugar-free or low-sugar ice cream to your pup. Xylitol, a popular sugar substitute, is highly toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. It’s vital to check ingredient labels carefully!
Macadamia Nuts: toxic to dogs
Although most ice cream does not contain macadamia nuts, some flavors do. Never give your pup macadamia nuts, as they are toxic to dogs.
Milk: may cause digestive issues in lactose-intolerant dogs
Although not as concerning as chocolate or xylitol, especially in small amounts, milk is another ingredient that may cause issues for dogs. Many dogs are lactose intolerant, and ice cream may cause stomach pains. (If you or your pup is lactose intolerant, remember that ice cream often comes in lactose-free options.)
We’ll give more info, further on, about how to know if your pup is lactose intolerant.
Milk: may cause an allergic reaction
Food allergies are rare in dogs, affecting around 0.2-1% of them, but there is a chance that your dog may be allergic to milk. Check for skin issues such as itching, redness, and swelling. Sometimes an allergy may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and gas.
Sugar: may cause obesity and other health issues
In general, it’s best to avoid giving your dog sugar. It’s not toxic to dogs, but it’s not healthy either, and too much sugar can lead to obesity and other health issues.
To sum it up, unless your dog ingests chocolate, xylitol, or macadamia nuts, there’s no need to panic if your pup eats a little ice cream, but you shouldn’t make it a regular habit. If you’re at an ice cream shop and your dog is begging for a treat, a small amount of ice cream should be okay as long as you triple-check that it doesn’t contain xylitol, chocolate, or macadamia nuts.
However, keep an eye on your dog for signs of lactose intolerance or milk allergies!
Signs of Lactose Intolerance or Digestive Issues in Dogs
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and dairy products that many mammals, including humans and dogs, have a difficult time digesting.
If your dog ingests dairy, keep an eye out for:
- Diarrhea (often loose or watery)
- Gas
- Bloating
- Stomach gurgling
- Vomiting
- Abdominal discomfort
- Increased urgency to go outside
If these symptoms occur within a few hours of your dog ingesting dairy, your pup is probably lactose intolerant.
Of course, you don’t want to give your dog discomfort! If you don’t know whether they are lactose intolerant or not, start by feeding them a small amount of dairy and keeping an eye on them. If they seem to be fine, you can give them a little more. If they show signs of distress, stop feeding them dairy.
Also, keep an eye on their skin—if you notice itching, redness, or swelling, your dog may have a milk allergy. Lactose-intolerant dogs may eat lactose-free dairy products, but if they have a milk allergy, even those should be avoided.
How Much Ice Cream is Okay? When to Give a Treat, and When to Avoid it
For most dogs, an occasional bit of ice cream is fine. That’s why many ice cream shops sell “pup cups” with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream in them. Still, before you start giving your dog small amounts of ice cream as an occasional treat, keep the following factors in mind.
1. Your pup’s health
If your dog struggles with health issues such as obesity or diabetes, treats like ice cream are a no-go, even given sparingly. Your vet can give you a good idea of whether your dog is healthy enough for an occasional bite of ice cream.
Also, remember to only give lactose-free treats to dogs who are lactose intolerant!
2. The ice cream quality
If you are going to give your dog an occasional treat, it’s healthier to give them natural, good-quality ice cream. Like humans, dogs do better on a diet of quality food with minimal processing. For example, the ice cream we use at Lapp Valley Farm is made from fresh, local Jersey cow milk (which is easier to digest) and processed with attention to quality.
Please Note: Although we can attest to the quality of our ice cream, we do not recommend feeding it to your dog unless your vet has told you it’s fine!
3. The begging problem
If you start giving your dog a little ice cream when you’re enjoying a scoop, your dog may learn to beg for it. And if that happens, your dog may end up guilting you into giving her more ice cream than is healthy.
That’s why, in the long run, if you want your dog to enjoy a treat when you do, it’s best to find a dog-safe ice cream alternative.
Dog-Safe Alternatives to Ice Cream
Your dog enjoys ice cream for the same reasons you do—when it’s hot outside, there’s nothing as satisfying as a cold treat.
But regular ice cream is full of ingredients like sugar and dairy—ingredients that are probably fine in small amounts but are not particularly healthy and may cause digestive issues. Here are some alternative cold treats that your dog will enjoy just as much without the potentially harmful side effects:
- Blend ripe frozen bananas with plain yogurt or coconut milk (if your dog is lactose intolerant)
- Give your pup frozen fruit
- Buy a pint of dog-friendly ice cream
Get creative! Experiment with fruit, plain yogurt, coconut milk, and peanut butter to make your dog a frozen treat she’ll devour with unbridled joy.
Where to Find Delicious Ice Cream from a Local Family Farm
After you buy or make your dog a delicious dog-safe ice cream alternative, don’t forget to buy yourself a treat as well.
If you happen to be in Lancaster, PA, stop by Lapp Valley Farm Creamery and Cafe in Gordonville for the creamiest, highest-quality, most delicious ice cream you’ve ever tasted.
At our creamery and cafe, you can find:
- Milkshakes, sundaes, and 17 flavors of ice cream in fresh waffle cones
- A clean, family-friendly environment
- Fresh, hot food
- An indoor play area
- Hot and blended lattes, frappes, and teas
- Fresh bottled milk
- Ice cream cakes
- Drive-through service
- Pints and buckets of take-home ice cream
- A selection of Amish-made snacks, cheeses, and canned goods
We can’t wait to see you and serve you a tasty frozen treat you’ll remember forever!