Discussing The Do’s And Don’ts Of Summer Treats For Your Pets
Summer is in full swing and we all love a cool delicious treat to help break the heat of these long summer days. Your pets also love a tasty delicious treat during the summer season. However, not all pet treats are created equal. Although most dogs will eat nearly anything, there are some ingredients that are good for your dog and others that your dog simply shouldn’t be eating. This article will discuss which summer treats are healthy for your dog, which treat ingredients you should avoid giving your dog, and how to make your own frozen dog treats at home.
A Quick Explanation
Full disclosure, we are not a veterinarian clinic and/or hospital nor are we medical professionals regarding animal healthcare. That being said, we are pet professionals and have been working with and caring for animals for over a decade now (mostly dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, and small mammals). Through years of experience, we have learned a lot about pets including what things are good for them and bad for them. This article is more of a guide and/or list of general advice regarding what treats are healthy for your dog and which are generally speaking not healthy for your dog.
Summer Treats That Are Not Safe For Your Dog
So let’s start with summer treats you shouldn’t be giving your dog. 1. Ice cream. It may seem harmless to give your dog the last lick or bite of an ice cream cone, but most dogs are actually lactose intolerant. Too much dairy can cause digestive issues and severe discomfort. Additionally, various ice cream flavors contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs such as chocolate, raisins, nuts, etc. 2. Grapes and/or Raisins. Both grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs and can result in kidney failure within a matter of hours or days. 3. Fruit seeds and fruit pits. Most pitted fruits, such as plums, peaches, and nectarines, make for a healthy summer snack for dogs in moderation. However, the pit of these fruits can be deadly to dogs as they contain a dangerous toxic called cyanide that will be released into the body during digestion. Additionally, the seeds in apples also contain the dangerous toxin cyanide which again can be deadly to dogs and should be avoided. 4. Corn on the cob. Although corn isn’t toxic to your dog, it doesn’t offer any nutritional value to your dog. The only thing corn offers is something for your dog to chew and gnaw on for fun. Corn on the cob is a huge choking hazard and can lead to potential intestinal blockage as the kernels of corn aren’t actually broken down during the digestion process. 5. Avocado. Avocados are a very popular ingredient during the summer months because who doesn’t love guacamole!? However, Guatemalan avocados (the most popularly sold avocados in U.S. grocery stores) contain a substance known as Persin which is toxic to dogs. Persin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and even heart congestion in dogs. Avoid giving your dog any of the aforementioned foods to ensure your dog has a happy and safe summer.
Summer Treats That Are Safe For Your Dog
Now that we’ve covered what summertime treats are not healthy for your dog, let’s discuss some healthy alternatives. One of the most popular types of summertime dog treats are the DIY Frozen Treats. Making your own homemade frozen dog treats is not only a healthy option, but a very convenient and inexpensive option as well. Simply combine some plain unsweetened greek yogurt (lower fat yogurts are fine too) and frozen fruit such as blueberries, banana, or pumpkin. Place the mixture in an ice cube tray or similar silicone mold used for baking. Then pop them in the freezer and you’re done! You can also add some variety by adding peanut butter or honey to sweeten things up a bit. If you are interested in learning different DIY frozen dog treat recipes, check out PeelwithZeal.com for more information. Another take on the frozen dog treats are pupsicles (popsicles for dogs). To learn more about pupsicles and other ways to keep your dog cool during the summer heat, check out our previous article entitled How To Keep Your Dog Cool This Summer. If making homemade frozen dog treats doesn’t appeal to you, simply give your dog some frozen fruits instead. Safe frozen fruits for dogs include bananas, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, peaches, mango, raspberries, and pineapple. Be sure to give your dogs these frozen snacks in moderation as too much of anything can be a bad thing and always make sure you’re using unsweetened fruits as well. It’s also important to make sure that you are correctly portioning these frozen delectables so your dog doesn’t eat them too fast and potentially choke on them.
Happy Summer Dog Days
Summer is a wonderful time of year that should be celebrated and embraced with tasty frozen snacks to help beat the heat and keep you cool as a cucumber. Although our dogs can’t enjoy the same tasty treats that we do, they can still enjoy some frozen treats of their own. Our pets are our family and they deserve to be treated as such. Keep your dog cool this summer with some of the previously mentioned treat options and be sure to avoid all of the hazardous/toxic foods previously mentioned as well. Your dog deserves the best and we hope this article will help you give your dog the best summer they could ask for. Stay cool, stay hydrated, and stay well informed about the do’s and don’t of pet summer treats.
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