Can Dogs Eat Ice? (Explained)

Many dogs love cold treats and many options are not toxic to pets so they are a good treat option. Dogs often enjoy dog-safe ice cream, but what about ice? Can dogs eat ice?

This article will explore whether dogs can eat ice, potential hazards to look out for when feeding ice, and present some ice recipes that you can make for your dog at home?

Can Dogs Eat Ice?

Yes, dogs can eat ice and many of them really enjoy it. However, there are risks you need to be careful of in order to feed your dog ice safely. You can also make your own frozen dog treats as safer ice alternatives. No matter what you decide, allowing your dog to enjoy ice and similar frozen treats should be done with supervision.

Potential Hazards to Watch for When Feeding Ice

The biggest risk to giving your dog ice is when the ice cubes are too big. Big ice cubes can be a serious choking hazard. They can also cause damage to the teeth of dogs that love to chew and crunch on them.

Instead of ice cubes, try to stick with ice pellets, ice chips, or crushed ice. You can also try using yogurt instead of water so the treat doesn’t solidify into something too hard.

Another risk of encouraging a dog’s love for ice is that they might also develop a love for eating snow. Snow could contain harmful bacteria and chemicals that could be toxic for your dog.

If you allow your dog to eat ice, make sure they only eat the ice you give them and not random ice outside.

Are There Any Benefits to Feeding Your Dog Ice?

Some dogs really love cold and frozen food, so giving them ice can be an exciting reward for good behavior. Eating ice can also help your dog keep cool in the warmer months.

In some cases, it can be a way to keep your dog hydrated, especially when they’re sick and refusing to drink from their bowl.

Frozen Dog Treat Recipes as Ice Alternatives

Instead of just giving your dog plain ice, you can make dog-safe alternatives at home. Here are some recipes that won’t just get your dog excited over frozen rewards but also have some wonderful health benefits:

Carrot-Parsley Frozen Yogurt

This frozen yogurt recipe contains probiotics that are excellent for your dog’s gut. It also contains plenty of fiber and various nutrients for your pup’s overall health.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 cup Plain Greek Yogurt
• 1/4 cup Carrots, finely grated
• 1/4 cup Parsley, finely chopped

Procedure:

• Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl and thoroughly combine.
• Spoon the mixture into an ice cube tray or silicone mold.
• Place in a freezer and wait to solidify before giving as a treat.

Frozen Chicken Broth Pupsicles

Chicken broth is filled with amino acids that can be beneficial to your dog’s health. Giving it as a frozen treat is an especially helpful way to give your dog some nutrients when they’re sick and have no appetite.

To make dog-safe frozen chicken broth treats, it’s better to avoid using packaged products and bouillon cubes since those can contain unsafe amounts of salt and preservatives.

Instead, you can make chicken broth for your dogs using the following recipe:

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds Chicken Bones (include feet and neck, if possible)
• 1.5 gallons Water
• 1/2 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
• 3-inch piece Turmeric, sliced (optional but beneficial)

Procedure:

• Put all ingredients in a pot and place over high heat.
• Bring to a boil and lower the heat to let the liquid simmer.
• Simmer for as long as possible (some do for up to 24 hours).
• Once done, strain the mixture to remove the bones.
• Let cool to room temperature.
• Place in the refrigerator and discard the layer of fat that forms on top.
• Pour the broth over ice trays or silicone molds and place in the freezer.
• Once solidified, it’s a frozen treat your pup can instantly enjoy.

Final Thoughts

Feeding your dog ice can be a fun way to keep them properly hydrated and help them cool off, especially during the warm summer months. You can stick with just plain water or use the same ice trays and silicone molds to prepare other types of frozen treats. Either way, your dog will surely love the special reward.

If your intention is to increase your dog’s water intake, you might also want to try giving them some watermelon. But if it’s about rewarding them with delicious frozen treats you can purchase dog-safe ice cream or try freezing some blueberries or sliced bananas.