Lollipops4Dogs!
Ice cold drinks and lollies are the go-to for many of us, on a hot summer’s day. But, don’t forget animals can benefit from the luxury of frozen treats too – as long as you make sure they are safe for them to eat. Read on for tips and recipes or lollipops4dogs – and ice cream too!
It’s not just companion dogs that can enjoy an ice cold treat, either. Many zoos, for example, provide their animals with cooling treats during hot weather.
The elephants at Blackpool Zoo enjoy delicious ice lollies made from fruit and frozen in large buckets to keep them cool on hot summer days. Not only are iced treats good for keeping animals cool, they also provide mental stimulation and enrichment.
However, it is important that foods are safe and appropriate for dogs. Human foods, including ice creams and lollies, aren’t good for dogs because they contain too many additives and sugar.
But – It’s easy to make your own lollipops4dogs (and ice cream too!). There are also many products you can purchase which are meant for dogs and have dog safe ingredients. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Veggies and Fruit.
If your dog is used to eating greens, or fruit, this is an easy way to provide something refreshing. They make great lollipops4dogs !
Try blending a variety of foods such as peas, cooked sweet potato, cooked or raw carrots, tinned tomatoes, green beans etc. Mash everything up, (or use a blender). Place in plastic lollipop containers, or ice cube trays, and pop them in the freezer.
Bone Broth.
These make lovely tasty lollipops for your dog – you can make your own bone broth at home – find out how here. You can also purchase bone broth for dogs and it’s becoming a very popular health supplement for dogs.
Baby Foods.
Baby food products, in jars or pouches are also great for making into ice lollies for dogs. Choose organic brands if possible.
Frozen Tuna Treats.
These make really tasty treats for dogs – and cats too! Use tuna in brine and don’t drain the tin, as the water helps with the freezing process. Add a little more water and beat well in a bowl – (better still, pop it in a blender if you have one). These fish flavoured lollies are sure to get your dog drooling and keep them nice and cool. For more tips on keeping your dog cool over summer read our other article here.
Tips on making lollipops4dogs.
Don’t forget – you can also freeze stuffed Kongs too. There are loads of different types of receptacles for freezing your doggy treats. Ice trays come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes.
Depending on the size of your dog, you could equally utilise old yogurt pots, or margarine tubs, just as well. Use different coloured plastic lolly makers and ice cube trays for your family and your dog. Or, better still you can buy doggy themed ice treat moulds just for the family pooch. There’s surely nothing worse than popping a beef broth ice cube into your drink by accident!
Ice cream for dogs.
Generally speaking, it’s best to avoid giving human ice cream to your dog. The odd lick here and there, probably won’t do your dog any harm – but it’s best not to allow your dog to consume ice cream in larger quantities. Why? – you might ask.
Dogs don’t really digest dairy products very well, due to their intolerance to lactose so, this can lead to upset tummies and vomiting. On top of this, some flavours may be toxic to dogs.
Ice cream containing chocolate, for instance, shouldn’t be given to your pooch as as chocolate is toxic to dogs. Ice cream may also contain other ingredients such as sultanas, nuts, sweeteners such as xylitol and other additives – all of which are harmful to dogs.
Home-made ice cream for dogs.
Making your own home-made ice cream for your pooch is pretty easy. Simply crush up your chosen fruits, such as strawberries, blueberries and banana and mix it with low fat natural yoghurt.
Freeze in suitable air-tight containers and voila! – a quick and easy frozen treat for dogs. If you don’t fancy messing about blending fruit by hand, you could make these treats in an ice cream maker.
Still can’t be bothered to make your own? There are now loads of frozen treat products on the market for dogs. Many of the market leaders also add healthy supplements to frozen dog treats – which is an added bonus.
Now you’ve got some ideas and recipes – everyone can enjoy some frozen treats this summer – including your four-legged friends.
