In the hot summer months, it is important to keep your dog (and yourself) hydrated. But you may be wondering if it is OK to give your dog ice on hot days. After all, ice cubes are just water. However, there seems to be a lot of discussion about whether or not dogs can eat ice. Some people say it can cause severe bloat because they get too much water, and others say that it can be a choking hazard. So, is ice bad for dogs? Let’s find out if ice is good or bad for dogs and puppies!
Contents
Can Dogs Eat Ice Cubes?
If you’ve heard the bloat rumor, you may be second guessing whether it really is a good idea to give ice to your dog. Think about this – do you live in an area where there is snow in the winter? If so, how many times have you seen your dog eat snow? How many times have you given him other frozen treats, such as ice cream? Has he ever ended up bloated because of it? If your dog eats snow in the winter, there is absolutely no problem with him having some ice in the summer, or any other time of year.
Now, just because it is safe for dogs to eat ice, it doesn’t mean that you should just go ahead and give him a great big chunk of it. A whole ice cube can definitely be a choking hazard, especially for small dogs. If you are going to give ice cubes to your dog, make sure that you break it up into smaller pieces first.
Ice and Your Dog’s Teeth
Not only can ice be a choking hazard, it can also be damaging to a dog’s teeth. If you give a dog a whole ice cube, chances are he is going to chew on it, which can damage his teeth over time, including broken teeth. This is another good reason to make sure that you break the ice up into tiny pieces. You can give your dog ice as it is, or put small pieces in his water to keep it cool and refreshing.
How Much Ice Can My Dog Have?
Just like anything you would feed to your dog, ice should be given to him in moderation. For one thing, if you start giving him too much ice, he will expect it regularly, and if you don’t give him this treat, you could even experience behavioral problems. If he eats too much ice too quickly, he could vomit. It is best to limit ice treats to those hot summer days when your dog really needs to cool off.
Yes, Dogs Can Eat Ice in Moderation
If you want to give your dog a tasty, cool treat in the summer, skip the ice cream and just give him some ice. It has no fat or calories, and it isn’t likely to cause any negative reactions. Just make sure that you don’t give him ice every day, and that you break it up into small pieces so he doesn’t choke or break his teeth on his cool treat.
