Sugar isn’t the only sweet treat your dog can have.
Cold treats are great for hot summer days, and your dog will love them. However, most dogs don’t enjoy eating regular ice cream. It may also have extra sugar, milk, chocolate, artificial flavours, and other ingredients which can cause stomach upset in dogs.
Fortunately, it’s easy to create dog-friendly ice cream at home. The recipes include natural ingredients and are free of added sugar. They’re simple to make and can be offered as a mini snack.
Do not give your dog any new food until you have checked its ingredients are dog-friendly. Any dog with allergies, diabetes, sensitive stomach or any other medical condition must consult with their veterinarian before eating homemade treats.
1. Banana Dog Ice Cream
Bananas are sweet, rich in fiber and contain vital nutrients. These make a convenient ingredient in making homemade dog treats.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
1/2 cup fresh plain unsweetened yoghurt - 1 tablespoon xylitol-free peanut butter
Instructions
Remove skins from bananas and chop. Place banana chunks, peanut butter and yoghurt in a blender. Blend until smooth.
Pour in small silicone molds or ice cube trays. Freeze until ready to use, typically for 3-4 hours.
Wait a couple of minutes, allow one piece to soften before you feed it to your dog.
Always read peanut butter labels. Must not contain xylitol.
2. Pumpkin Dog Ice Cream
Pumpkin can be beneficial in dog treats as it is rich in fiber. Use plain pumpkin puree, with no added sugar, spices or salt.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
Toss with the fruit and raisins.Combine with fruit and raisins.
- 1 small banana
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a blender and puree. Pour into small molds and freeze for a number of hours.
Offer a tiny bit as an a occasional treat.
Avoid using pumpkin pie filling as the filling may contain sugar and spices that are not good for dogs.
3. Apple with Yogurt Ice Cream.
Apples may be fed to a dog in small quantities as a dog friendly fruit. But, always remove the seeds and core.
Ingredients
- 1 small apple
- 1 cup of milk
- 1/2 banana
Instructions
Thoroughly clean the apple. Core and seed the apple; chop into small pieces.
Puree the apple, banana and yogurt in the food processor. Put into molds and freeze.
Offer a little once it softens a bit.
4. Blueberry Dog Ice Cream
These are small, easy-to-use and naturally sweet. They can create a colorful, frosty snack without the use of sugar.
Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup of plain unsweetened yogurt.
- 1/2 banana
Instructions
Place blueberries, yogurt, and banana in a blender. Blend until creamy.
Fill with small molds and freeze for 3-4 hours.
Use smaller amounts for small dogs. Treats should be limited, but a little more can be given to large dogs.
5. A watermelon dog ice cream.
Dog ice cream with watermelon.
It is noted that Watermelon contains a lot of water and is therefore a refreshing treat during the summer. Do be aware to take rind and seeds out before cooking it.
Ingredients
- 1 cup seedless watermelon
- 1/2 banana
Instructions
Slice watermelon into chunks and then scoop out any seeds. Place watermelon and banana in a blender.
Blend until smooth and pour into molds. Freeze until firm.
Due to the natural sugar content of watermelon, take this in moderation.
6. Strawberry Banana Dog Ice Cream
STRAWBERRY – Can be used as an occasional dog friendly fruit. They make a naturally sweet frozen snack, when combined with bananas.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh strawberries
- 1 banana
1/2 cup of plain unsweetened yogurt
Instructions
Wash the strawberries and remove the green tops. Cut them into pieces.
Place strawberries, banana and yogurt into a blender. Blend until smooth.
Fill in small molds and freeze for several hours.
Test your dog’s new treat for the first time. If your dog starts to vomit, have diarrhea, itches, or reacts in another abnormal way, discontinue giving it.
7. I love peanut butter and jelly!
Peanut butter and jelly, I love them both.
Peanut butter can be a good frozen dog treat, if used correctly.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
*1/2 cup plain unsweetened yogurt - 1 tablespoon natural peanut butter
Instructions
Combine all ingredients and puree. Fill small ice moulds and freeze.
Allow treat to come to room temperature for a few minutes before serving.
Always opt for peanut butter that DOES NOT have the preservative xylitol. Dogs cannot tolerate xylitol, and it can be extremely harmful.
Dogs can eat dog ice cream!
It’s important to remember homemade dog ice cream should be used as a treat and not a primary food.
Give your dog a little at a time, particularly if they haven’t tried the ingredients before. Overindulgence can cause stomach upset and weight gain.
A good guideline is to feed treats no more than 5% of your dog’s daily calorie requirements. Your vet can advise you on the right dosage for your dog depending on their size, age, activity, and health.
Ingredients to Avoid
For dog treats, steer clear of potentially harmful and unhealthy ingredients when creating frozen treats for your pet.
Never add:
- Chocolate or cocoa
- Xylitol
- Grapes or raisins
- Macadamia nuts
- Coffee or caffeine
- Alcohol
The amount of sugar is quite a bit. - Artificial sweeteners
Humans’ ice cream
It’s also important to refrain from adding spices or ingredients unless you’re certain the dog can tolerate them.
Dogs are not allowed to consume the typical ice cream.
Most dogs don’t love regular human ice cream. Some dogs don’t handle a lot of dairy and some ice cream milk has a lot of sugar and fat.
Certain flavors may also contain potentially harmful ingredients. For instance, chocolate ice cream is a treat that can be bad for dogs.
A simple homemade frozen treat is a way to be in control of the ingredients and to steer clear of added sugar and superfluous additives.
Final Thoughts
The following 7 healthy dog ice cream recipes are sugar-free and simple to prepare at home and are a great treat to give your dog this summer. Banana, pumpkin, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, apple, yogurt and xylitol-free peanut butter can all be combined in simple combinations.
Keep in mind that healthy foods are okay but should be consumed in small amounts. Add food gradually, be alert for any strange reactions, and consult your veterinarian if you’re not sure if a recipe is right for your dog.
Safest dog treats at home are plain, consist of ingredients that are safe for dogs, and used sparingly as a treat, not as a meal.
