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| Frozen Dog Treats - Recommendations from Vets |
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Just like you, dogs also like to be praised and rewarded. It is good to give occasional treats or rewards to dogs. It helps in strengthening your bond with your beloved canine friend. Owners usually provide rewards for their dogs to develop good habits in them. It is essential to know that treats and rewards must only account for 10% of the dog’s daily calories. Too many treats can also lead to complications, so you must be careful while giving treats to your dogs. There are different kinds of treats that owners love to offer their canine friends. Here, we will briefly introduce frozen dog treats under the light of dog experts’ recommendations. [5]
What are Frozen Dog Treats? There are varieties of frozen treats available for dogs. For instance:
It is good to reward frozen treats to dogs on hot summer days to make them fresh and calm. It is noteworthy that frozen dairy treats such as ice creams and frozen yogurt can lead to gas, diarrhea, and flatulence because some dogs are lactose intolerant. Lactose is a sugar that is naturally found in milk. Some dogs are not capable of digesting this sugar into simple monomers since they lack sufficient lactase enzyme, which breaks lactose into simple sugars.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Although frozen dairy items such as ice-cream, frozen yogurt can be offered in small portions. Dog owners must refrain from giving these treats to their dogs so frequently. While providing such treats to your dog, the owner should be highly concerned about the ingredients of the products and the health status of his dog. Since dogs show allergies to many compounds/ingredients and feed them to your dogs, they can provoke a severe allergic reaction. So, it is better to have sufficient knowledge of all components present in that specific item [3]. Ice creams also contain many other substances, which can be detrimental for your dog’s health, such as xylitol and other alcohols. Additionally, chocolate ice creams contain methylxanthines, for instance, theobromine that leads to toxicity in dogs. This chemical is not quickly metabolized by the dogs and leads to the build-up of high toxic levels in their bodies. Dogs may experience gastrointestinal, central nervous, and cardiac troubles, even if ingested a large amount of chocolate ice cream. This is why it is better not to give chocolate ice creams to dogs, or you can merely vanilla or other plain flavors (with exceptions). [2]
ARE POPSICLES GOOD FOR DOGS? Popsicles can also be a tasty treat for your dog. Remember, some popsicles are made up of artificial flavors, stabilizers, and sweeteners. These things can cause obesity, diabetes, and other health complications in your dog. The owner has to be careful while offering popsicles to his dog, as Popsicle sticks can choke in the dog’s throat and lead to a life-threatening situation. [1] It is good to make nutritious and healthy popsicles for your dog’s such as peanut butter and banana popsicles. Additionally, it is highly recommended that dog parents be careful about the ingredients of popsicles, whether those ingredients are dog-friendly or not. That is why; it is advisable to make homemade popsicles. For instance, you can make dairy-free popsicles containing watermelon and pineapples. Many popsicles can be made with strawberries and blueberries and other nutritious ingredients. This is usually considered attractive to mold them into various fun shapes such as paws, bones, or any different desirable way. This would attract your canine friends, and he will enjoy more this frozen treat on a hot summer day. NOTE: This is important to consult your veterinarian before offering any frozen treat to your dog. Always try to follow the vet’s advice and make vet-approved frozen treats.
Recipe Tips
Here, we will like to suggest a quick and straightforward recipe that you can make in no time and offer your dog on summer days. Layer the bottom of paper cups, ice cube tray, or ice pop molds with peanut butter. Then top it with a layer of yogurt (it is recommended to use low fat or plain yogurt, If it contains essential bacteria (probiotics), it can impart significant health benefits). Before serving your dog, take it out from ice cube trays or any mold you have used. Simply give your dog’s frozen banana treats. Make slices of banana and freeze them. After that, offer these frozen slices to your dogs. They will really enjoy it. Be cautious as bananas contain high sugar and calorie levels. Remember, moderation is the key to success.
Why are the essential health concerns associated with Frozen Treats in Dogs? As it is clear, now frozen treats can be occasionally given to dogs by taking care and understanding all the precautions. Still, many health concerns are associated with frozen dog treats in dogs. Let’s summarize them one by one.
OBESITY This is a very ridiculous condition that is always discouraged by dog owners. Ice creams and other frozen treats with high sugar content can cause this unfavorable condition in your dog. As you know, weight management is very crucial in 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.
GASTROINTESTINAL TROUBLES
Another health concern that can arise from frozen treats, especially dairy items, is gastrointestinal issues such as gas, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. [4] These situations can get worse and put your dog’s life in danger. Especially ice creams containing theobromine and xylitol. Remember, Xylitol is associated with liver damage as well as severe hypoglycemia (low glucose level in blood). However, a few licks of ice cream and low doses of these ingredients don’t harm the dog. It is mandatory to always monitor any allergic response and sensitivity with these ingredients in your dogs.
DIABETES This is another serious condition that can occur in your dogs. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, and the high sugar content of frozen treats can predispose your dog to this filthy medical condition. This is advisable to balance the sugar intake in your dogs to limit the happening of such medical concerns. NOTE: Monitor glycemic index of frozen treats before offering them to dogs. Glycemic index- This is basically a value given to food to know how fast or slowly these foods cause an increase in the body's blood glucose level.
FOOD ALLERGIES
Frozen treats made up of dairy items can cause allergies and reactions in dogs. According to a research survey, dairy food allergies are the biggest problem in dogs and are the second most common type of allergy. It can cause itching, ear infections, and other medical complications in dogs.
CONCLUSION In short, it is conditionally good to serve your dogs with frozen treats. But it is recommended that dog owners have a sufficient idea about the nutritional profile of the offered item, the health status of their dogs, and different other factors. Veterinary consultancy plays a vital role in deciding best-frozen treats for your dog and preventing them from severe, life-threatening medical conditions.
About the Author Vicki S. is a professional expert in taking care of pets. She writes informational and helpful articles that help pet owners live in harmony with their pets. Vicki specializes in writing materials at dog health, puppy care, dog nutrition, and training.
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