What makes dog ice cream different from human ice cream? Ingredients to look out for:
Regular ice cream can be dangerous for dogs — their bodies cant break down dairy products, and dogs eating dairy can lead to severe gas, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting, according to the American Kennel Club. High amounts of sugar can also cause your dog to gain weight and experience other health issues, while xylitol is toxic to all dogs. Other ingredients commonly used in ice cream — such as chocolate — are also dangerous to dogs.
So, how is dog ice cream different from regular ice cream? Ben & Jerrys Doggie Desserts, as well as other dog ice cream brands on the market these days, aim to use very minimal amounts of milk and sugar in their products. Dog ice cream products also tend to forgo xylitol, chocolate, and any other ingredients that potentially could harm your beloved fur baby. Article continues below advertisement
Ben & Jerry’s dog ice cream is doggone sweet.
Ben & Jerry’s is delving into the dog ice cream market with two Doggie Dessert flavors, fit for any good boy. According to the companys press release, each flavor is sunflower butter-based and includes whole, real ingredients that can be found in any of the brands other products made for humans. The flavors include “Pontchs Mix,” which blends peanut butter and pretzels, and “Rosies Batch,” which combines pumpkin and mini cookies into each spoonful.
Both flavors will be sold in individual 4-ounce mini cups for $2.99 each, or in a multipack of four for $4.99 in supermarkets, mass retailers, and select pet stores across the country. Both flavors were named after pups who helped foster a dog-loving environment within the Ben & Jerrys offices, which remain notoriously pet-friendly to this day. Article continues below advertisement
“We know our fans love their dogs and treat them like family,” said certified vet tech and Ben & Jerrys Global Marketing Specialist Lindsay Bumps in the press release. “We created this product line so pups can enjoy something even better than belly rubs. Doggie Desserts are the sweetest treat they’ll ever put their paws on.”
How to Make Dog Ice Cream
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
This is such a simple and quick recipe, there are hardly any steps!
Dogs should not be fed regular “human” ice cream. They have different digestive systems than us, so they can’t digest dairy very well. Sugar, chocolate, and too much lactose can cause problems including gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting.
But that’s why we have this delicious doggie ice cream recipe, so they can enjoy it too!
This recipe uses real food ingredients, yogurt and peanut butter, so it’s definitely safe for humans to eat too. So if your kids find their way to it, or you just REALLY want to taste it too, all will be fine!
It depends on the size and weight of your dog. I recommend starting with 1/4 cup, and then increasing the amount for bigger dogs.
You can add other ingredients based on what your dog likes and what they can digest well. Some fruits are okay for dogs to eat, so bananas or strawberries might be a good option to try.
