Can dogs or cats eat ice cream?
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Can dogs eat ice cream?
No, your dog shouldn't eat ice cream. Not even a little bit. Sorry.
This probably won't come as news to you, but ice cream contains high sugar and fat levels. This can lead to weight gain and obesity in dogs, especially if they eat it regularly or in large amounts. Obesity can result in a variety of health issues, like diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems.
Plus, some types of ice cream contain ingredients like chocolate or raisins, which are toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of these ingredients can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and even kidney failure in severe cases.
To worsen things, some ice creams have artificial sweeteners and chemicals like xylitol, which is very toxic for dogs. For example, chocolate-flavoured ice creams often have theobromine, which is harmful to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or even seizures in severe cases.
On top of all this, many dogs are lactose intolerant, which means they can't digest dairy products properly. For these, eating ice cream can cause digestive problems.
So no - your dog shouldn't have ice cream.
If your dog requires veterinary treatment due to eating ice cream (or any other unsafe food), dog insurance can help cover the cost of treatment.
Can dogs eat...
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Can cats eat ice cream?
It's unsafe for cats to eat ice cream, and there are a few reasons why.
First off, most types of ice cream contain high amounts of sugar and fat, which can cause obesity in cats. This can lead to various health problems like diabetes, heart disease, and joint issues.
Secondly, many ice cream brands contain ingredients that are toxic to cats. For example, chocolate-flavoured ice creams often contain the chemical theobromine, which is harmful to cats and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, or even seizures in severe cases.
Some ice creams also contain artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which can be extremely dangerous for felines, even in small quantities. Xylitol can cause liver damage and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) in cats within just a few hours of ingestion.
As if that weren't enough, many cats are lactose intolerant, meaning they can't digest dairy products properly. For these, eating ice cream can cause digestive problems like bloating and diarrhoea.
The bottom line: no ice cream for your cat. Sorry.
If your cat requires veterinary treatment due to eating ice cream (or any other unsafe food), cat insurance can help cover the cost of treatment.
Can cats eat...
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Information purposes only
The suggestions offered here are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for pet-specific advice from your veterinarian. Never disregard your vet’s recommendations, or delay in acting on them, based on something you have read on this site. Regardless of how a food is rated here, any food that you give your pet can pose potential health risks, including allergic reactions, choking, or other health conditions such as bloat. Always monitor your pet while they’re eating, and never introduce a new food into your pet’s diet without first consulting your veterinarian.
Pet poison emergency protocol
If your pet is acting sick, call your regular veterinarian immediately. If your regular veterinarian is closed, call a nearby on-call veterinarian, animal urgent care, or veterinary emergency hospital. If your pet is not acting sick but you think they may have been exposed to a poison, call the Animal Poison Line (01202 50 9000).
Food safety statuses
Could be given almost daily without harm
Not toxic, but should not be given regularly
Toxic or simply too risky to give to your pet