If a dog could speak, you would probably hear that it wants a bite of every meal its owner has. Still, not all human food is suitable for your hairy pet. For instance, your dog will probably sit next to you with a plea in its eyes, begging for a treat if you have a dessert with whipped cream.
In that case, you may wonder can dogs eat whipped cream? The answer is not entirely simple. This food is not toxic to dogs, and most canines enjoy it. Unfortunately, it may harm your pet under certain circumstances. Let’s talk about it.
Whipped Cream Nutrition Info
Whipped cream basically consists of sugar, saturated fats, lactose, and air. This dessert has a high caloric value and only a few nutrients.
One cup of whipped cream contains as many as 154 calories. About 70%, or approximately 120 calories, come from saturated fats. As for the nutrient, this cream contains:
- Cholesterol 45.6 mg
- Carbohydrates 7.5 g
- Sodium 4.8 mg
- Potassium 88.2 mg
- Protein 1.9 g
This sweet food may also contain some vitamins and minerals, but they exist in negligibly small amounts. It varies, depending on the taste, brand, and exact recipe of the whipped cream. Still, it contains a lot of sugar and fat and can harm your dog and lead to diabetes, obesity, and dental problems in some cases.
Whipped Cream Benefits
The only benefit I can think of from feeding your pet with whipped cream is quick weight gain. You can use an occasional dose of this food for malnourished canines that needs extra calories.
However, it is healthier to offer your pet high-calorie dog food that also provides necessary nutrients. Whipped cream won’t significantly affect vitamin intake, so it won’t help a dog grow adequately or improve its health.
That is why most vets recommend against frequent giving whipped cream to dogs. However, some owners use it as a treat and reward their pets for desirable behavior, usually during training. You can also save it for a special event like a dog’s birthday.
Whipped Cream Types And Flavors
Nowadays, you can find different types of whipped cream on the market. Some brands offer products in tubes, while others rather use cans, various dispensers, or powders.
You can also effortlessly make home-made whipped cream. As you guess, this option is the safest one for your dog because you can control sugar, lactose, and fat content in such a case. Besides, when it comes to feeding your dog with whipped cream, you will think more of its flavor than the package it comes from.
1. Plain Or Home-Made
If you can’t resist offering your dog some whipped cream, the primary, neutral flavor will be the best choice. Dogs enjoy dairy products, assuming they are not lactose intolerant. Plus, the whipped cream texture is irresistible to your pet more than its taste.
2. Lemon
Generally, you should avoid offering the dog citrus fruits or foods that contain these extracts. Dogs don’t like a high percentage of citric acid, plus it may cause them digestive problems.
3. Chocolate
Chocolate whipped cream is a big no-no for your pet, no matter how persistently it begs for some. Chocolate contains theobromine, a caffeine-like substance that is toxic to canines. It may cause vomiting, diarrhea, and a racing heart rate. Luckily, chocolate poisoning is rarely fatal for dogs.
4. Peppermint
Add peppermint to a list of flavors you should avoid when it comes to your dog’s diet. Namely, such products, including whipped cream, often contain artificial sweeteners that are toxic to canines. Plus, some minty plants are poisonous to them.
5. Vanilla
Vanilla whipped cream can cause stomach upset, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs. The reason is that your furry friend can’t break down alcohol in its body, and even the weakest vanilla extract contains too much alcohol for it.
6. Espresso
You have probably known that your dog needs to stay away from coffee and any other product with caffeine. Espresso raises canine blood pressure, so even though this whipped cream type contains little of this substance, it is better to avoid it.
Risks Of Feeding Dogs With Whipped Cream
As I mentioned before, whipped cream comes with little benefit to your dog’s nutrition and health. On the other hand, a regular serving of this delicacy full of fat and sugar often leads to severe health problems of canines, including:
1. Obesity
If there is one high number in the nutritional value of whipped cream, it is calories. Be aware that dogs need far fewer calories than their owners. Therefore, regular feeding your furry friend with this food certainly leads to obesity, which can be beneficial only in overly skinny dogs.
Unfortunately, pet’s overweight opens the door to other diseases’ development, including diabetes, heart problems, and high blood pressure.
2. Diabetes
Blood sugar levels increase drastically even your dog eats the smallest amount of whipped cream. Over time, that can lead to diabetes development, which causes damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys, and liver. Unfortunately, it will also significantly shorten your pet’s lifespan.
3. Tooth Decay
You probably learned as a child that sugar damages your teeth. That is also true when it comes to your pet. Sugar creates an excess of acid in the dog’s mouth and leads to tooth decay, caries, and periodontal disease.
4. Lactose Intolerance
You need to visit a vet and make sure your dog is not hypersensitive to lactose before offering it whipped cream, even on special occasions.
Some dogs enjoy all dairy products without any problems, while others become bloated, gassy, or have an allergic reaction to the least amount of lactose in the food.
5. Digestive Diseases And Twisted Stomach
If your dog eats a more considerable amount of whipped cream, you will consider it lucky to survive. Excess sugar can lead to poisoning, followed by nausea and vomiting.
Besides, many dogs eat quickly and greedily. Whipped cream is airy, and the gas accumulation in their stomachs can lead to a tragic outcome.
A possible gastric torsion requires an urgent visit to the vet, sedation of the dog, and even surgery in some cases. Unfortunately, only a few animals survive this procedure without consequences.
How Much Whipped Cream Can A Dog Eat Safely?
Whipped cream is too difficult for the dog to digest, and any amount may slow down bowel movements and lead to bloating. The more dog eats it, the higher its blood sugar levels, empty calorie intake, and cholesterol will be.
Remember that only half a cup of whipped cream almost satisfies dog’s daily need for saturated fat. Whipped cream can satiate your furry pet so much that it skips the next meal, which is not a good idea.
Always keep in mind that there are too many short- and long-term negative consequences of consuming whipped cream to the dog’s health. So, the best option is to avoid feeding your buddy with such food entirely.
Whipped Cream Alternatives
If your pet loves whipped cream, you can prepare a healthier and safer alternative to it. The easiest way is to offer low-fat frozen yogurt to it or to make some other home-made treats.
Since dogs love peanut butter and coconut milk, it is an excellent idea to use them as a replacement for whipped cream in your buddy’s diet. Additionally, you can consider making mashed vegetables, chicken, and sour cream instead of a harmful treat.
One of the ideas is to mix ripe bananas, yogurt, and honeydew in a blender. Pour the mixture into molds or ice cube trays, and freeze it for a few hours. Then, offer your dog a cube or two after a meal.
Always pick out yogurt without artificial sweeteners such as Xylitol. The said substance can cause hypoglycemia, heart and liver damage to dogs, and eventually become fatal.
Starbucks Puppuccino
In recent years, Instagram has been flooded with cute photos of dogs with whipped cream named the #puppuccino. It is a special treat the famous chain of coffee houses has started.
The next time you get your favorite coffee, you can ask for an item from the secret Starbucks menu intended for your pet. A Starbucks Puppuccino is actually a small dose of whipped cream in a cone or cup.
The puppuccino is specially designed for dogs, so it is perfectly safe. It has slightly less sugar and fat than regular whipped cream, plus some thickening agents. This treat is also free of charge with a paid product for you, so you can occasionally reward your dog and enjoy it along with it on a patio.
Still, ordering a puppuccino every time you have coffee will be too much for the dog. It is better to save it for a road trip and other memorable adventures you share with your furry buddy.
Conclusion
It is OK to give some whipped cream to your dog from time to time. However, frequent intake may cause severe health problems, so you shouldn’t overdo it. Since this food contains too much sugar and calories, it is better to find healthier alternatives your four-legged friend can enjoy equally. If you offer this cream only occasionally, you will turn unhealthy food into a treat that represents something special for two buddies.
