Ever think about whether dogs can eat whipped cream or Cool Whip? If you enjoy having whipped cream on top of fruit, ice cream and other desserts, you may have been tempted to share this sweet treat with your pet. Whipped cream is neither bad nor good for dogs in small amounts, so we would strongly recommend you only give your puppy a taste once in awhile.
While most animal health experts agree that it is OK and safe for dogs to have whipped cream, Cool Whip or a Starbucks Puppuccino on occasion, it’s fair to say that this dairy product is full of saturated fat and sugar and therefore unhealthy for canines. And if your dog is lactose intolerant, giving her whipped cream can be very bad for her health. In general, we’d say whipped cream for dogs is not a good idea. Let’s take a look at why whipped cream is bad for dogs and how much you should give your puppy as a treat.
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Why Whipped Cream Is Bad For Dogs
In addition to lactose, whipped cream may be bad for dogs because it is very high in fat and sugar. This makes it an unhealthy treat for dogs. Generally, it’s never a good idea to give your dogs commercially-prepared whipped cream, such as Cool Whip and the canned products found in grocery aisles, because they tend to be very high in sugar.
Obviously, excessive sugar consumption can increase your dog’s risk of developing diabetes. Also, whipped cream and other dairy products are oftentimes high in fat, which can lead to obesity and other, more serious health issues, including heart problems, arthritis, and pancreatitis.
Homemade Whipped Cream
Luckily, you can lower both whipped cream’s fat and sugar content if you want to try and make it yourself. This is actually pretty easy to do, and whipping up a batch of whipped cream only takes about 5 minutes.
All you have to do is make sure that the heavy cream you’re using in your recipe has little to no sugar, and very low fat content. This might taste bland to you, but your dogs won’t notice the difference.
Is A Puppuccino Good For Your Dog?
While a Starbucks Puppuccino is safe for dogs to eat, it isn’t necessarily good for your dog. Like the whipped cream you buy at the grocery, your puppy can enjoy and have a Puppuccino sometimes without it negatively affecting his health, but Puppuccinos are in no way “good” for your dog’s health.
Like humans, excessive sugar and fat consumption is bad for their long-term fitness and can lead to an upset stomach, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and other dangerous health issues.
How Much Whipped Cream Can I Give My Dog?
As long as your dog is not overly lactose intolerant, it should not be a problem to give her an occasional dollop of low-fat, unsweetened whipped cream. You can even put a little bit of the whipped cream on top of their normal dog food as an added condiment that they’ll enjoy.
However, you should limit portion sizes to no more than approximately one-quarter cup for larger breeds and one spoonful for smaller breeds. Whipped cream should only be given in severe moderation, so save it for special occasions, such as sharing in holiday dinners or birthdays.
You should also be wary of any whipped cream that has added flavorings, especially chocolate, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Make sure that it’s plain, or possibly mixed in with some healthy fruits and berries that dogs enjoy.
Yes, Dogs Can Eat Whipped Cream in High Moderation
If you’re planning on giving your dog a bit of whipped cream as an occasional treat, make sure that it’s the real thing, and be sure to avoid any processed toppings. These products are loaded with chemicals, artificial sweeteners, and other unhealthy additives that can be harmful to dogs, and in some cases, toxic. You can be sure that real whipped cream, especially the stuff you make yourself, is not going to contain any of these ingredients.