Can Dogs Eat Popsicles? (2024)

Dogs

What Can Dogs Eat?

Healthy Frozen Treats For Your Dog

By

Tabitha Kucera

Tabitha Kucera

Tabitha Kucera, RVT, CCBC, KPA-CTP, is a veterinary technician and writer with over a decade of experience working in veterinary medicine for small animal veterinary hospitals, farm sanctuaries, and various cat and dog rescues. She is also Fear Free Certified and a Certified Cat Behavior Consultant.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets'Editorial Process

Updated on 06/19/22

Reviewed by

Bartley Harrison

Reviewed byBartley Harrison

Dr. Bartley Harrison is a veterinarian with more than 15 years of professional veterinary experience treating dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, birds, and small mammals, with a specific focus on Emergency Medicine. Dr. Harrison is part of The Spruce Pets’ veterinary review board.

Learn more about The Spruce Pets'Veterinary Review Board

Can Dogs Eat Popsicles? (3)

We have all heard the common phrase the dog days of summer, and, sometimes, to beat the heat, popsicles are a great option to keep cool. But is it ok to share with your canine friends?

Is it Safe to Give your Dog Popsicles?

The short answer is yes, but not all popsicles and frozen treats are ok for your dogs. When feeding your dog any food, it is important to be aware of all the ingredients and your dog’sintolerancesand allergies. As with any new food, it is always wise to introduce it to your dog slowly, so you can easily determine if your dog has an untoward reaction or any trouble digesting the food.

Instead of sharing your popsicle with your canine friend, it is recommended to make nutritious and healthy popsicles for your dog’s using fruits that are good for them such as apples or bananas.

As with everything, moderation is key. Too many treats, on top of a healthy diet, can lead tocanine obesity and this can wreak havoc on your dog's body, especially if your dog is prone to joint issues likehip dysplasia.

Potential Popsicle Health Concerns

Many manufactured popsicles include frozen dairy items such as ice-cream or frozen yogurt. Although, in some cases, these can be offered in small portions, they can also cause gastrointestinal upset including gas, diarrhea, bloating, abdominal discomfort, and vomiting. Many dogs are lactose intolerant meaning that they have difficulty digesting milk and other dairy products.

Popsicles designed for humans can also include toxic substances suchas the artificial sweetener xylitol,macadamia nuts,and raisins. Xylitol and raisins are toxic to dogs even in small amounts, so they should be always avoided.

Additionally, some popsicles contain chocolate, and the theobromine in this can lead to toxicity in dogs. If the chocolate in the popsicle or ice cream is dark with a high cocoa content, only a small amount needs to be ingested to cause problems. Dogs may experience gastrointestinal, central nervous, and cardiac troubles

Even if the sugar, artificial flavors, or sweeteners that are common in popsicles are not toxic, they can contribute to obesity and can be a particular problem for dogs with diabetes.

Benefits of Dog-Friendly Popsicles For Your Pooch

Healthy frozen treats can be helpful to keep your dogcoolon hot days, as a special treat to reward your dog, and for enrichment.

Providing your dog with enrichment is a crucial part of their care. It helps to prevent boredom and obesity, decreases anxiety and stress, gives the dog some control of their environment, and can help to prevent behavior problems.

Food puzzles are a great option to provide your dogs with enrichment and with many of them, they can be frozen to increase the challenge and provide a long-lasting dog treat.

Healthy Frozen Treat Ideas For Your Dog

Below are some safe and healthy options for healthy frozen treats and homemade popsicles.

Frozen Kongs, Toppl Toys or Similar

A Classic Kong and the West Paw Toppl are both great dog toys that, when filled appropriately, can occupy just about any dog. They are both non-toxic, dishwasher-safe, rubbery toys with a hollow center. There are many other food puzzles options on the market you can try as well. When stuffed with food, they provide a healthy outlet for your dog to chew and lick.

After filling, you can freeze to make them more challenging for your dog and to provide a cool treat. There are various safe and healthy fillings you can stuff into these toys for your dog to enjoy. A few ideas include:

  • MashedBanana
  • Canned pumpkin (no more than about a tablespoon per serving as more can cause diarrhea)
  • Canned dog food and kibble
  • Peanut butter (make sure it doesn't contain xylitol)
  • Peas, carrots, and/or diced apple
  • Yogurt (plain)
  • Dog treats

Mix the desired ingredients together, fill the treat toy, seal the top with peanut butter, squeeze cheese, or Kong paste and then freeze for at least two hours or, ideally, overnight before serving.

An awesome bonus to freezing them is you can keep some in the freezer for whenever you need them. An example might be when you are having work done in your home, you can give your dog a frozen Kong in their safe place prior to the person entering. This can help minimize stress and keep them occupied.

Frozen Dog-Safe Vegetables and Fruit

Frozen green beans, banana chunks, strawberries, blueberries, and peach chunks are just a few examples of safe fruits and veggies that can be frozen and given as a quick treat for your dog. If you’re purchasing packaged frozen items from the grocery store, be sure to read the labels to ensure there is no added xylitol. They can also be blended into a smoothie that can be frozen and made into homemade popsicles.

There are lots of other options for making cool frozen treats for your dogs too. Just make sure whatever you introduce is healthy and appropriate for dogs, fed in moderation, and introduced gradually. Alterations to your dog's usual diet should make up no more than 10% of their daily calorie allowance to prevent issues with nutritional imbalance.

Can Dogs Eat Popsicles? (2024)

FAQs

Can Dogs Eat Popsicles? ›

The short answer is yes, as long as you're confident about the ingredients. Avoid artificially sweetened popsicles, as they could contain the dangerous additive xylitol, a sugar alcohol that's toxic to dogs. Never, ever give your dog a bite of any popsicle labeled “sugar-free,” just to be safe.

What happens if a dog eats a popsicle? ›

Xylitol and raisins are toxic to dogs even in small amounts, so they should be always avoided. Even if the sugar, artificial flavors, or sweeteners that are common in popsicles are not toxic, they can contribute to obesity and can be a particular problem for dogs with diabetes.

Are frozen treats safe for dogs? ›

So, you must always be careful while giving such treats to your dog. Make sure treats must not have high sugar and harmful fat levels. Another health concern that can arise from frozen treats, especially dairy items, is gastrointestinal issues such as gas, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.

Can my dog eat outshine popsicles? ›

Typically, commercial popsicles at the grocery store like Bomp Pop, Jolly Rancher, Kool-Aid, and Outshine popsicles contain non-dog-friendly ingredients (see below). Also, these popsicles contain a lot of sugar to be a healthy treat for your dog.

What if my dog ate a grape popsicle? ›

Clinical signs usually begin several hours after ingestion. Vomiting and lethargy are preceded by signs of acute renal failure within 24 hours. This can show up as very little to no urine production. There have been cases of gastrointestinal signs continuing for several weeks post ingestion.

What ice pops can dogs have? ›

Paw Pops Ice Pops for Dogs & Cats, the Perfect Summer Cooling Treat. Paw Pops are healthy, herbal refreshing treats for your four-legged friend.

What flavor popsicles can dogs eat? ›

However, keep in mind that chocolate and macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, so only plain vanilla or fruit flavors should ever be considered.

Can dogs drink cold water? ›

Should Your Dog Drink Cold Water? Forget whatever you've heard before now, there's no evidence that cold water, ice cubes and/or ice water on their own are bad for dogs. In fact, the real issue isn't about temperature at all. It's about speed—how quickly the dog in question drinks the water.

Is peanut butter good for my dog? ›

' The good news is that regular peanut butter is safe to give your dog as a treat. Just make sure to avoid peanut butter with Xylitol, a sugar substitute found in lower or sugar-free products. Xylitol is the only ingredient in peanut butter that's bad for dogs.

Can a dog have ice cream? ›

While it's not toxic or seriously harmful, dogs actually have a hard time digesting dairy as, after they're weaned as puppies, they lose the enzyme needed to digest the lactose in milk. The odd lick is unlikely to prompt a visit to the vet, but it's better to be safe than sorry and avoid ice cream entirely.

Can dogs eat watermelon? ›

Good news: Your pooch can eat watermelon. However, this does come with precautions, according to the American Kennel Club. First, the watermelon must be seedless or you should remove the seeds before giving it to your pet. The seeds could lead to an intestinal blockage, so be sure that you pick a seedless watermelon.

Can dogs eat bananas? ›

Yes, dogs can eat bananas. In moderation, bananas are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They're high in potassium, vitamins, biotin, fiber, and copper. They are low in cholesterol and sodium, but because of their high sugar content, bananas should be given as a treat, not part of your dog's main diet.

Can I let my dog lick a lollipop? ›

Lollipops. Lollipops combine plenty of dangers similar to other candies. They can be a choking hazard, block the intestinal tract, get slippery when wet and block the windpipe, and contain a lot of sugar. There are lots of reasons your dogs should not have them.

Can a dog eat blueberries? ›

Yes, blueberries are a great low-calorie treat for dogs. They also contain antioxidants, fiber and vitamins C and K. These nutrients support the immune system and contribute to overall health. Adding blueberries to your dog's diet is a great way to help keep him happy and healthy.

Will one raisin hurt a dog? ›

Based on known cases of grape toxicity in dogs, even one or a few grapes or raisins can cause acute kidney failure, which can be fatal. Kidney failure is not seen in all dogs that eat raisins, but we don't know why some dogs are affected excessively while others are not.

Can dogs eat strawberries? ›

Yes, dogs can eat strawberries. “Dogs can eat strawberries in moderation,” says Dr. Jennifer Power, D.V.M., senior veterinarian at Small Door Vet, a chain of veterinary facilities in the Northeast. “They are a safe and healthy treat for most dogs due to their low-calorie and high-nutrient content.”

Should I be worried if my dog ate a popsicle stick? ›

Dogs do eat wood, and often pass it without problem. You will need to monitor his feces and his behavior. The stick should pass within 24-48 hours. If he starts vomiting, having diarrhea, stops eating, or becomes very lethargic, then it is likely that the stick is stuck, and he will need to see a vet right away.

Will my dog poop out a popsicle stick? ›

Most likely, the stick will be digested and passed. So you may not see any evidence of the stick in her feces.

Can dogs swallow ice cubes? ›

If your dog is healthy and feeling warm on a hot day, you can give them ice cubes. You can also add ice cubes to their water bowl to keep the water chilled. The ice cubes need to be an appropriate size for your dog, for example a small dog can't be given a large ice cube as they can pose a choking risk.

How long does it take for a dog to pass a stick? ›

When something is ingested by your dog, it usually takes between 10-24 hours to move through the entire digestive tract. Some objects, however, can take much longer – even months! Sometimes, objects are too big to progress through the digestive tract, and when this is the case, they cause an obstruction.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jamar Nader

Last Updated:

Views: 5906

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (55 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jamar Nader

Birthday: 1995-02-28

Address: Apt. 536 6162 Reichel Greens, Port Zackaryside, CT 22682-9804

Phone: +9958384818317

Job: IT Representative

Hobby: Scrapbooking, Hiking, Hunting, Kite flying, Blacksmithing, Video gaming, Foraging

Introduction: My name is Jamar Nader, I am a fine, shiny, colorful, bright, nice, perfect, curious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.