Whipped Cream Safe For Dogs? Everything You Need to Know Before Taking Your Pooch For Puppuccino!
Generally, humans are fond of whipped cream! It’s sweet and creamy and adds a smooth blast of sugar and dairy anywhere it lands. Of course, most of us don’t whip up the cream, adding sugar and other flavorings, but buy it from the grocery store to scoop out of a tub or shoot out of a can.
Because it’s sweet and you like to eat it, there’s a good chance your dog likes to eat it too. But is whipped cream Safe for dogs? What about those store-bought brands like Cool Whip or Reddi-wip? And are non-dairy alternatives like coconut whipped cream any better?
Whipped Cream: What’s In It?
It’s crucial to look at the components before deciding whether whipped cream is a good dog treat. Let’s start by defining whipped cream: it is just cream that has been “whipped” into a delicious, fluffy form. For flavor, flavorings like sugar, vanilla, and others are added. Whipped toppings, such as Reddi-Wip and Cool Whip, contain additives to keep the delicate cream fresher than a trip from the kitchen to the dining room table. But these whipped toppings shouldn’t include anything specifically poisonous for dogs. The same holds for dairy-free substitutes for the dessert topping consisting of whipped coconut, soy, or almond tops.
Is Whipped Cream Harmful To Dogs?
Even though whipped cream is not intrinsically poisonous to dogs, your specific dog may not get along with whipped cream or other dairy products.
According to Renee Schmid, DVM, DABVT, DABT, a veterinary toxicologist who works with Pet Poison Helpline, some dogs may take whipped cream and other dairy products just well. However, some dogs might have gas, bloating, or vomiting.
Yes, dogs can have lactose intolerance just like people do. How can you tell if your dog cannot tolerate lactose? If you give the dog enough whipped cream to make its stomach unhappy. Overdoing it will provide the largest hazards for dogs with whipped cream. Treats of any sort, or a daily dosage of the fluffy stuff, can add too many calories to a nutritious diet and cause your favorite dog to gain unneeded weight.
Therefore, while it shouldn’t be consumed often, a small amount of whipped cream is generally OK as a treat.
How To Give Your Dog Whipped Cream Safely
Give your dog the equivalent of a tablespoon of whipped cream before your next trip to Starbucks to see if they’d want to join in on the fun (and how their tummies react). Allow them to indulge in a modest taste before moving on to healthier options. Fresh fruits and vegetables are among the human foods that are healthy for dogs to consume, according to our doctors (with some caveats).
If you enjoy feeding your dog, remember that they are smaller than humans and require fewer calories, so stick to the healthier options. Whipping cream poses less risk than chocolate, grapes, and raisins, which can be poisonous even in small amounts if your dog consumes a larger quantity of dessert—either by taking food from an open refrigerator or off a kitchen counter or knocking off the dining room table. Avoid sugar-free whipped cream, though, as it may contain the dangerous sugar replacement xylitol.
Call your veterinarian if your dog shows poisoning symptoms and provide details about what the dog ate and how much.
