Ice cream is delicious! There is nothing better on a hot summer day than ice cream. But what happens when you eat it too fast? Brain freeze! A headache caused by eating cold foods too quickly. But can dogs get brain freeze?
I am guilty of giving my dog ice cream. I know I shouldn’t. But sometimes I just can’t resist those puppy eyes. And I know I am not the only one!
In this article I want to talk about brain freeze and if dogs can get it. I’ll also touch on why ice cream is not good for dogs. You know, to remind me, and others like me, to not give ice cream to dogs!
Can dogs eat ice cream?
To know if dogs can get brain freeze, let’s first see can dogs have ice cream. Ice cream is delicious. I can’t imagine summer without it. Just imagine going to the pool and not enjoying a nice ice.
But what about dogs? How safe is it really for dogs?
Can dogs have ice cream – the truth
The truth is, ice cream isn’t toxic for dogs, but it’s not safe either. Your dog might like ice cream, but they shouldn’t eat it. And there are many reasons for that.
Firstly, ice cream has a lot of sugar. If your dog eats too much sugar it can lead to many health issues. For example, diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay.
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But that’s not everything. Too much sugar can cause inflammation which can then cause serious conditions in your dog like arthritis, dermatitis, and pancreatitis.
As you can see, sugar is very bad for your dog. Even small amounts can harm them.
Secondly, many dogs are lactose intolerant. This means they can’t digest milk and dairy products. And what is ice cream made of? Dairy products!
If your dog is lactose intolerant it might experience diarrhea and vomiting.
Thirdly, ice cream can contain toxic ingredients. For example, chocolate ice cream is extremely toxic for dogs. You know that chocolate is dangerous for canines. It’s because it contains xylitol. A sweetener that can kill your dog!
You can read more about why chocolate is dangerous for dogs:
As you can see it’s not a good idea to give dogs ice cream. It is a treat for us, but dangerous for dogs. I don’t want to scare you. Some ingredients in ice cream can even kill your dog. I told you that I sometimes give my dog ice cream. But after reading all of this, I won’t ever do that again.
Can dogs get brain freeze?
We know that ice cream is bad for dogs. But there are other cold foods dogs can eat. For example frozen banana. You can even freeze blueberries as a snack.
So, do dogs get brain freeze when dogs eat cold foods? Let’s see!
There is no actual proof that dogs get brain freeze. But, experts believe they do!
Maybe not a real brain freeze. But, a tingling of his nerves or sharp pains in the head area. Your dog can also go limp.
It seems logical. Humans and dogs are mammals. So, it’s possible they have the same experience when eating cold foods.
The difference is that we know what is happening. Your dog probably doesn’t. They don’t see the connection between cold food and that tingling feeling they get.
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You can avoid brain freeze by feeding your dog cold food slowly. Don’t give them big amounts at once.
What to do?
What can you do if your dog has brain freeze? Of course, you don’t want them to suffer. How can you help your dog?
Brain freeze is a weird feeling. But it can be solved. You just have to follow my tips!
Firstly, if you notice brain freeze stop feeding the cold food. Don’t give your dog any more of it.
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Secondly, give your dog warm water.
Thirdly, if your dog isn’t better, call your vet. Brain freeze shouldn’t happen often in dogs. It also shouldn’t be severe. So if your dog is acting unusual, let your vet know.
When you call your vet explain everything. Let them know in detail what happened. The more your vet knows, the better for your dog.
Conclusion
When you see your dog’s puppy eyes it’s easy to give in and let them have ice cream. But it’s such a bad idea. Ice cream can do a lot of harm to your dog. Firstly because of the sugar. Secondly, because of the other toxic ingredients. For example chocolate or xylitol.
I know you love your dog. I love my dog too! But we know what’s best for them. Dogs don’t understand that some foods are bad for them. They just know it’s delicious.
Another reason why your dog shouldn’t have ice cream is brain freeze. Your dog will go crazy about ice cream. And they will eat a lot of it very fast. This will lead to brain freeze.
I am sure you don’t want to see your dog suffer. Even be in pain. So don’t let them eat ice cream.
A cold treat for your dog can be frozen bananas. But still, don’t give them too much too quickly. Let them eat piece by piece.