Can Dogs Eat Ice? Is Ice Safe for Dogs?

Of all the things that you might be worried about feeding your dog, chances are that ice is at the bottom of the list. After all, it’s just water, right? However, you may be surprised to learn that the answer to, “Can dogs eat ice?” is: It depends.

Whether ice is safe for your dog to consume will depend on a variety of factors, so we can’t give a blanket answer to that question.

If you’d like to know what those factors are, and what situations are best for feeding your dog ice, then the guide below will fill you in on the details.

 

Is Ice Safe for Dogs?

Let’s clear up one thing straight away: Ice is not toxic for dogs. So, if you catch your dog munching on an ice cube, there’s no need to panic or rush them to the vet or anything.

However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any potential downsides to giving your dog ice. One big issue is the possibility that the cube might chip or break your dog’s tooth, which would be painful for them and expensive for you.

There’s an even bigger issue to be concerned about, though: bloat. Bloat is a potentially fatal condition in which the stomach gets twisted inside the abdomen. This can happen if your dog eats too quickly or ingests too much water all at once.

That means that eating a large amount of ice — especially very quickly — could potentially trigger bloat. There’s nothing inherently dangerous about the ice itself, though.

It’s also theoretically possible that your dog could choke on an ice cube, but not likely. Still, it’s worth looking out for.

What Are the Warning Signs of Bloat?

Most dogs who suffer bloat do so because they ate too fast, but it’s possible to trigger it with liquids as well. As a result, you should try to limit how quickly your dog drinks, so consider waiting a few minutes to offer them their bowl after they’ve been exercising.

If it’s too late and your dog has already chugged as much H2O as they can, monitor them for a few minutes to make sure they don’t show any of the following symptoms:

If your dog is showing any of those signs, seek out emergency medical attention. A dog suffering from bloat can go into shock and die after only a few hours, so time is absolutely of the essence.

Are There Any Benefits to Eating Ice for Dogs?

There are a few, yes.

Ice is water, and dogs can typically need all the water they can get. If your dog is dehydrated and overheating, adding ice to their water is a great way to up their fluid intake while also cooling them off at the same time.

Dogs are generally offered ice chips when they’re recovering from surgery. This allows the pooch to rehydrate without flooding their stomach with fluid, so it’s often used when the dog has trouble keeping liquids down.

Many dogs enjoy playing with ice cubes as well. While this doesn’t have any nutritional value, it at least provides mental stimulation — and it’s cheaper than buying a puzzle toy.

Some dogs like to eat ice cubes as treats too. If your mutt loves ice, feel free to share, as it’s a great way to spoil them without expanding their waistline. Just don’t do it too frequently, as you could wear down the enamel on their teeth over time.

What’s the Best Way to Convince My Dog to Eat Ice?

There’s really no need to convince your dog to eat ice. After all, plain water has all the benefits that ice does, and it’s not likely to crack any teeth.

However, if you want your dog to consume more ice, the best way to do it is by adding a few cubes to their water bowl. This will help cool them down while reducing the risk that they’ll chomp on the cubes and break a tooth.

Not all dogs like drinking cool water, though, so adding ice to the bowl may actually discourage your dog from imbibing. If you notice that your dog avoids the bowl when there’s ice floating in it, you should probably just continue offering them room-temperature water.

If your dog enjoys crunching ice as a treat, then there’s no need to do any convincing — simply offer them a cube. If they don’t, though, there’s probably nothing that you can do to change their mind.

Are There Any Healthy Alternatives to Feeding My Dog Ice?

If you want to give your pooch a frosty treat that won’t destroy their chompers, you have a few options.

One is to take yogurt and stuff it into a Kong toy, and then freeze it. This will give your dog a delicious bit of frozen yogurt to eat, as well as provide plenty of mental stimulation. You can even mix in fruit for a nice boost of nutrition.

You can also offer frozen fruits and veggies like green beans or blueberries if your dog will eat them. This gives them a ton of vitamins and nutrients that ice lacks, though it doesn’t do much to diminish the risk of a broken tooth.

Ultimately, you’re better off just giving your pup dog-appropriate treats. Regular water and a chance to sit and pant are likely all that your dog will need to cool down, so there’s no reason to give them something frozen.

Should I Feed My Dog Ice If I Suspect That They’re Overheating?

You should only do so if instructed to by your vet. If you seriously suspect heatstroke in your dog, then you should seek out emergency medical treatment, not try to find a DIY solution.

Even if your dog isn’t suffering from heat exhaustion but seems uncomfortably warm, regular water should be plenty to help cool them off. The only reason to add ice is if it encourages your dog to drink.

Just don’t try to force-feed it to them, as you don’t want their body temperature to crash. Never put them in an ice bath, either.

So, What’s the Verdict? Is Ice Safe for Dogs?

Ice is generally safe for dogs, but you need to be careful that your dog doesn’t damage their teeth or eat too much ice too quickly, as that can trigger bloat. As long as they’re chomping away safely, though, ice should be fine.

However, you’re almost certainly better off just giving your dog plain water. It has everything that ice can offer, and it’s not going to hurt your dog.

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Featured Image Credit: Bruno /Germany, Pixabay