Nice Ice Baby?
Most dogs love ice cubes. And as a special treat, a way to encourage fluid intake or something to soothe teething pain, ice cubes are great for dogs!
A fun treat on a warm day – Add some ice cubes to your dog’s water for a cooling treat on a hot day.
Playful encouragement to drink – If your furry friend is off their food, it’s still important to encourage fluid intake. Ice cubes are ideal for this, combining fluid therapy with a playful treat. Freezing salt-free chicken broth, peanut butter or pureed safe fruit and vegetables into cubes can also help tempt with a little extra nutrition.
Treating simple tummy upsets – If your dog has an upset tummy, drinking large amounts or gulping may make them sick. Ice cubes are an easy way to both encourage them to drink and control how quickly they drink.
Teething – Ice cubes and chilled toys can help soothe the pain of teething in puppies.
Chilling ‘tails’?
When to be cautious about dogs eating ice?
Some years ago, a rumour circulated online that eating ice cubes causes bloating in dogs. Bloat is a condition where your dog’s stomach fills up with gas. This makes breathing difficult and shuts down their circulation. It’s a life-threatening condition. We don’t know exactly what causes bloat. But it’s more likely in large breeds with deep chests, like Great Danes, St. Bernards, German Shepherds and Labradors. There is no evidence to link eating ice cubes to bloat in dogs.
Eating ice outside: Icy puddles, slush and frozen streams may appeal to your pooch as much as ice cubes out of your freezer. But they may also contain harmful chemicals or pollutants that cause upset stomachs or worse. Try to avoid letting your dog snack on anything outside – frozen or otherwise!
Heat stroke: Ice cubes are a great way to help your dog cool on a warm summer day. But they are not a cure for heatstroke. Heatstroke in dogs is a very serious condition. Bring your dog out of the heat and seek urgent veterinary advice if you think they may have heatstroke.
Gulping lots of ice: After strenuous exercise or some seriously wild play, most dogs will head for the water bowl. And it’s important that they do drink if they’re thirsty. But everything in moderation. Don’t let your dog gulp large amounts of water to reduce the risk of regurgitation.
Puppies and small dogs: Ice cubes are fun to crunch and great to soothe teething pain. But crunching on an ice cube risks breaking teeth in small dogs and puppies. Because of how quickly they melt, ice cubes are unlikely to cause choking in dogs. But however unlikely, it’s still wise to supervise small dogs with ice cubes.
Talk to a vet if you have any questions about ice cubes, teething or how to treat simple tummy upsets in dogs. Your Joii vets are available online 24/7.
