Imagine this: It’s a sunny day, and all you and your pooch can think about are some refreshing popsicles. But you cannot eat in front of your pooch because you still doubt, “can dogs eat popsicles?”
But don’t worry, we won’t make you wait till summer to find out! So the answer is, drumrolls, please—yes! You can feed your dog popsicles, but not your regular ones. In this article, we have cracked the mystery of all you need to know about popsicles and dogs.
Are Popsicles Bad For Dogs?
Sharing your favorite popsicle with your canine companion might seem harmless, but it’s deeper than that. It is because when we say you can feed your dog popsicles, you should be fully aware of the ingredients used to make them. Your dog may insist on having popsicles, but as a dog owner, you are responsible for keeping your dog healthy and choosing the best ingredients.
The reasons why we do not trust popsicles, or should we say, store-bought popsicles for dogs, are:
- Firstly, xylitol is a very common artificial sweetener that your dog might drool for but can get extremely sick if consumed. Spoiler alert—popsicles labeled as “sugar-free” or “diet” often contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs (study).
- Secondly, no one wants their dogs to live on artificial ingredients, colorings, flavors, or preservatives with zero nutritional value, right? So why risk your dog’s life by feeding them store-bought popsicles?!
How to Make Dog Popsicles?
Now that you know this human food might not be the best choice for dogs, we still don’t think popsicles need to be uninvited to the dog’s menu. This is why we are here to clear up the big doubt. Yes, dogs should not eat store-bought popsicles, but what’s stopping you from making them at home?
So grab your furry buddy, and be ready to spend some lovely, quality time together while you mold yummy dog-friendly popsicle treats!
1. Choose dog-friendly ingredients
To make the popsicles dog-friendly, you need to know the safe foods for dogs. It is because before any taste comes your dog’s health! So you can include plain yogurt, ripe bananas, unsweetened applesauce, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, etc.
2. Say no to additives
When we think of popsicles, the first thing that pops to mind is a burst of fruity flavors, not some random preservatives, right? Also, when we say no to additives, we mean you should skip adding sugar, chili, oregano (maybe!), or spices. These additives can ruin the whole motive of making safe and healthy popsicles for your dog.
3. Blend
The next step is blending dog-friendly ingredients to make a smooth paste. Add more fruits, cinnamon, and yogurt in this step, or give your dog that extra crunch of cashews.
4. Freeze and serve
Once the mix is ready, it’s time to find the best molds you can find! Let your dog choose their favorite mold, making it a fun game. Then what? Put the mix in the mold, freeze it overnight, and let your pooch lick off the leftovers. And tada—that is all it takes to win your dog’s slobbery kisses!
Conclusion
Our final thoughts on “can dogs eat popsicles?” are yes and no! On the one hand, we want to hype you to feed your dog homemade, delicious popsicles; on the other, we are bound to say a HUGE NO to the store-bought ones. Let’s wrap it up by saying that dogs can eat popsicles, but only if you make them at home with dog-friendly ingredients and no additives that can harm dogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Popsicles or other candies, which are often labeled sugar-free, can contain xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener. This can be toxic to dogs and is the same ingredient that makes marshmallows bad.
You can feed your dog homemade strawberry popsicles without adding any additives, artificial flavorings, or sugar. The only catch is to avoid store-bought strawberry popsicles.
It’s best to avoid giving dogs sugar-free popsicles, as they often contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. But if you are making at home, you should absolutely serve your dog sugar-free ones only.
Dogs can only eat homemade freeze pops as they are made of dog-friendly ingredients and do not contain xylitol. You can mix their favorite fruits with yogurt and freeze them into popsicle molds.
