Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Ice Cream?

The Short Answer is:

Strawberry ice cream contains dairy products, so dogs should not eat it. The consumption of dairy products can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting in dogs.

In this article you will know the answer to the query “Can Dogs Eat Strawberry Ice Cream?“.

Do you know what January 15 is? It is Strawberry Ice Cream Day!

Its ice cream season again and strawberries are perfect for making ice cream.

YAY!!

According to a poll strawberry ice cream is ranked 3rd among the top ice cream flavors in the U.S.

According to legend Dolley Madison the First Lady of America at the time invented this type of ice cream back in 1813. Since then this ice cream has captivated the hearts of millions of people around the world.

Considering you are here you are probably a strawberry ice cream lover too and you want to know if you can share it with your beloved pet.

Here is what you need to know.

Is strawberry ice cream good for dogs? What Are the Ingredients in Strawberry Flavored Ice Cream?

If you are going to give your dog a scoop of strawberry ice cream you might as well begin by discussing what is inside. Dogs cannot simply be given something without knowing what it is made of can they? There are two well-known brands Breyers and Turkey Hill that everyone can use as a reference.

The ingredients of Breyers Strawberry Ice Cream are milk strawberries sugar whey and vegetable gum. Turkey Hill by contrast includes ingredients such as nonfat milk cream sugar strawberries strawberry puree and natural strawberry flavor. If you know what these ingredients are you can probably make an informed decision about what to feed your pet. As your final decision is up to you now is the time to determine if those ingredients contained in your favorite brands of ice cream can harm your pets.

Will Any of These Ingredients Harm My Dog?

There is a possibility that your dog eats anything that you put into his bowl. Although everything may look fine you should be aware that some ingredients in strawberry-flavored ice cream can harm them especially their digestive system. Neither Breyers nor Turkey Hills use artificial sweeteners. Milk-based products are the main ingredient of both brands. But then we probably wouldnot expect anything else would we?

Is your dog at risk of being poisoned by which of these ingredients and which are just unhealthy?

In the first place milk poses a danger to dogs because it can cause digestive problems like diarrhea and vomiting. You can give them a few tablespoons of cow milk as a one-time treat but giving them the entire bowl can be overindulgent. Note that some dogs cannot tolerate dairy products. 

Secondly the strawberries that seem to be the talk of the town. Your dogs will benefit from strawberrys vitamin and mineral content indeed. But as with anything it may not suit all dogs.

Dogs should be given moderation when it comes to berries. Remember that it contains sugar too which could cause an upset stomach. In addition it could cause allergies. 

In addition most ice creams contain sugar which has also been shown to be harmful to dogs. When taken in large amounts this ingredient can cause harm to your pet in the same way it can to you. There are numerous health problems that can result from it such as obesity diabetes and dental caries. In addition too much sugar can cause metabolic changes in your dog which could affect their energy levels immune system and muscle tone. 

Dogs are highly poisoned by xylitol an artificial sugar commonly found in ice creams. Your pet could be fatally poisoned by this ingredient. This will be discussed at a later time.

Strawberry Ice Cream or Strawberry Yogurt—Which Is Healthier?

Do you know what yogurt is like? Will strawberry yogurt make your dog healthier? Lets take a look at the nutritional facts behind these two products.

Even the poorest of foods contain nutrients the body can use. It contains calcium carbohydrates (sugar) fiber fat and protein just like ice cream and yogurt. 

In the end its all about the balance and the amounts.

Approximately 20g of sugar and 9.3g of fat are found in 100g of strawberry ice cream. The sugar content and fat content of 100g of yogurt are both 12 grams. Thus the latter has a lower sugar content and fat content. The higher calcium content of yogurt makes it a better choice for bone density and growth compared to ice cream.

Strawberry or Vanilla Ice Cream—Which Is Healthier?

Instead of comparing strawberry and vanilla ice cream made by two different companies lets compare strawberry and vanilla ice cream made by the same company.

Breyers offers the same percentages of nutrients in both its vanilla and chocolate ice cream flavors. In order to arrive at the best conclusion for the answer you must consider the nutrition facts presented. It is better to eat strawberry ice cream over vanilla ice cream when it comes to dietary purposes. However if you are looking for something high in protein vanilla ice cream might be the right choice since it contains a higher portion of it.

Are Fresh Strawberries a Good Snack for a Dog?

Is strawberry ice cream bad for dogs? So while strawberry ice cream and strawberry yogurt are safe to feed your dog they are very very unhealthy in general. Can fresh strawberries be safely fed to dogs?

Well you do not have to be a genius to realize that the children will be much healthier. You or your dog may benefit from them but what other drawbacks might they bring? Obviously fresh strawberries are going to be more expensive than yogurt or ice cream (although they will be cheaper in early summer when they are in season.) And secondly they can not be stored as easily as ice cream or yogurt.

After a few days strawberries in the fridge will start to go bad.

You can store yogurt in the fridge for much longer and ice cream in the freezer? Well that can be forgotten about for weeks or even months!

Strawberry fresh fruit is mostly water and what isnot water is simply sugar. 

The result is a very low level of fat sodium and protein. Does that mean your dog can eat as many strawberries as he wants?

The answer is no.

Its important to view strawberries as a snack-even though they are very healthy. There is a simple 10% rule for dog treats as well. It is recommended that you do not feed your dog more than 10% of their total daily calorie intake in snacks. This might be an obscene amount to give your dog strawberry-wise! 

Moreover fresh strawberries are another good news. According to reports they contain an enzyme that helps your dogs teeth whiten.

How could anyone have known?

What Ice Cream Flavours Are Toxic for Dogs?

Strawberry ice cream to fresh strawberries. Have we covered a lot of ground here then?

However in this section I will discuss the dark side of ice cream.

In addition to the calories contained in every spoonful some flavors of ice cream might actually kill a dog. I’m specifically referring to the dreaded chocolate flavor. Theobromine and caffeine are major components of chocolate. These can be dangerous to pets such as dogs.

Animals are also incapable of metabolizing grass because they do not have digestive systems.  Ingestion issues are the most noticeable symptom of chocolate poisoning if you give them chocolate-flavored ice cream.

Aside from chocolate sugar-free ice cream that uses xylitol as the sweetener must be taken off the puppys food list as well.  As xylitol causes drops in blood sugar seizures liver problems and even death in dogs it is extremely toxic. 

Do you not want your pet to suffer from any of these conditions?

Can Dogs Have Strawberry Ice Cream?

In summation based on our initial question of ‘Can a dog eat strawberry flavored ice cream’ there are several points worth mentioning.

Its a no-no for dog owners to give their dogs strawberry ice cream. Why? The same goes for milk.

80 percent of the substance is made up of regular or nonfat and is not suitable for pets. You can cause some digestive issues by giving them ice cream on a daily basis like diarrhea and vomiting. In addition the strawberry puree in the product can have adverse effects on your dog 

In order to maintain a healthy digestive system it can double the number of gut bacteria that should be present in moderation.

It is relatively safe to give them fresh strawberries according to numerous online references. Nevertheless you have to keep in mind that it should not account for more than 10% of the dogs daily calorie intake. If not it may result in dental decay and improper digestion caused by excessive sugar consumption.

Ultimately find out if the item you wish to give your dog is safe before you do so.

Can French bulldogs eat strawberries?

Yes the French bulldog can eat strawberries because strawberries are rich in fiber and vitamins. While they are not toxic to dogs eating too many can cause diarrhea.

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.