Are Ice Cubes Dangerous For Dogs?
When I first heard the question “are ice cubes dangerous to dogs?” my first response was: “only if someone throws an ice cube at a dog’s eye,” but this question seemed to linger. There was the reported case of a dog ingesting ice cubes and winding up at a veterinary emergency hospital requiring surgery to alleviate “bloat.” Reportedly, the veterinarian in charge felt the cause of the bloat was due to the dog ingesting ice cubes.
Bloat, or gastric dilation volvulus, is a dangerous, life-threatening condition that occurs acutely when the stomach fills with gas and then rotates within the abdomen. There has been much study into potential causes of bloat: genetics, diet, environment, exercise/activity have all been studied, and all may be potential factors in the development of bloat. Drinking too much water too fast or feeding large amounts of food immediately after exercise is never recommended, as this may make it more likely that a dog will gulp a lot of air along with water and/or food.
Dogs should always be allowed to cool down after they exert a lot of energy and excitement prior to being offered free access to food and to water, much like racing horses are walked and cooled down after a race. You can offer them water, but only small amounts at a time until the dog is calmer and rested, at which time free access can be allowed.
Ice cubes can actually be used to slow down the rate of ingestion of water by overly excited dogs. Offering ice cubes is a way of adjusting the rate and amount of water a dog takes in. Veterinarians even recommend offering ice cubes as a way to slowly introduce water to dogs recovering from surgeries or as a tryout after vomiting episodes associated with gastroenteritis, to see if they are able to hold fluids down.
I personally have placed ice cubes in my dogs’ water bowls when we are traveling, in an effort to encourage them to drink more water.
Clubs Offering:
As any mixologist will tell you, an ice cube is only as good as the water you freeze to make it. And that is exactly what ice is: frozen water. So what does that mean for dogs?
Can I Give My Puppy Ice Cubes for Teething?
Puppies get their first set of teeth when theyre around two weeks old. After you adopt your puppy and bring him home, hell begin teething (losing his baby teeth to make room for full-sized chompers) when hes between 4–6 months old.
Dont give your pup ice cubes for teething. If anything, Nichols says that she has recommended freezing a washcloth and letting the teething puppy chew on it. But doing that could encourage him to chew on cloth—and your pillows and clothes might not be safe afterward.
To help with teething, its best to give your puppy soft and flexible chew toys.
Ice Cubes & Dogs – What’s the deal?
Giving your dog ice cubes, frozen treats or putting ice in their water can be a great way to keep them cool on a hot summer’s day, but is there any risk of them breaking a tooth, getting it stuck in their throat or causing them to develop life-threatening bloat?
Generally speaking, giving your dog ice cubes or homemade frozen treats is ok, but there are some issues to be aware of and some precautions that we recommend you take.