Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream? Is Whipped Cream Bad for Dogs?
Whipped cream is one of the most popular desserts in the world. It has a creamy, sweet, and smooth feel of sugar and dairy that excites the senses. Because of how good it tastes, you might wonder whether it is okay to share some of it with your dog.
There is nothing toxic about whipped creams that can affect your pooch. However, this largely depends on your dog. Some dogs have no issues when taking dairy products, while others may have lactose intolerance. This can present itself through vomiting, flatulence, and diarrhea.
The biggest risk you can take as a dog owner is introducing whipped cream to your dog in large quantities without knowing if they are allergic. Also, avoid overfeeding a dog that has no allergic reactions. A frequent dose of the cream daily can add excess calories to your dog’s diet leading to obesity.
We recommend that you only use it as an occasional treat.
Whipped Cream Nutritional Facts
Whipped cream is made up of cream, sugar, and occasional flavoring. It is a sweet dessert topping that you can prepare at home or find in a store. The cream became popular in the 16th century in Italy. It was known as ‘milk snow,’ and was served to Aristocrats and royals all over the country.
Calories from whipped cream come from fat, making up 76%, carbohydrates contributing 19%, and protein, 5%.
Whipped cream has small amounts of calcium and Vitamin A. Other than that, it offers little nutritional value to both humans and dogs.
How to Feed Whipped Cream to a Dog
If you would like your furry friend to enjoy some whipped cream, start by introducing a spoonful of it and see their reaction.
If your dog likes sharing the food you make for yourself, always remember that they are smaller and need fewer calories than you. The 10% rule should apply when giving treats to your dog. The rule states that your dog’s treat should not exceed 10% of their daily caloric intake.
Whipped cream is less risky compared to chocolate. If opting to get a store-bought sugar-free whipped cream, ensure that it does not contain xylitol, a harmful sugar to dogs.
How Much Whipped Cream Can a Dog Eat?
Given the airy volume of whipped cream, it is easy for the amount to add up quickly when your dog eats it. An average dog packing about 30 pounds requires about 14 grams of fat daily. There are about 13 grams of fat in a cup of whipped cream.
Always ensure that your dog does not exceed the recommended amount as it can result in adverse effects when repeated often. Feed them a small amount a day or a few times a week to ensure you stay within the recommended fat intake.
Health Benefits of Whipped Cream to Dogs
Whipped cream is extremely rich in dense calories, perfect for underweight dogs. Using whipped cream as a treat will help such dogs gain weight.
Whipped cream is also helpful in tricking sick pups into taking medicine by dropping or mixing them with it.
Additionally, as mentioned above, the cream contains calcium and Vitamin A. However, these are in very small amounts which means that whipped cream doesn’t offer much, in terms of nutrition, for healthy dogs.
Can Whipped Cream be Bad for Dogs?
Some dogs are lactose intolerant, making it difficult to digest dairy milk products leading to bloating or diarrhea. Avoid feeding them whipped cream if you notice a change in your dog’s stool.
Whipped cream contains high levels of sugar and dairy, which contributes to canine obesity. Small portions are fine every now and then but do not overdo it.
Treats for Lactose Intolerant Dogs
Not every dog will enjoy a scoop of the average whipped cream. Luckily, there are alternatives that dog owners can turn to. Coconut whipped cream is a safe alternative for lactose intolerant dogs as it is dairy-free. If your dog has health issues, you can rest easy knowing that a homemade coconut whipped cream will not mess up their stomach.
Related: Is Coconut Safe For Dogs?
How to Make Coconut Whipped Cream
Coconut whipped cream is a safe alternative to classical whipped cream. The cream is a dairy-free, vegan-friendly version that contains full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. Below is a simple guide on how to make the cream.
- Select your favorite brand of coconut cream or coconut milk.
- Chill the coconut milk or cream overnight in the refrigerator to harden it.
- Take it out and put it in a bowl
- Whip it using a hand or stand mixer until it forms soft peaks.
- You can opt to sweeten with sifted powdered sugar to taste.
Final Thoughts
Although whipped cream is sweet and we love using it in our desserts, it doesn’t offer significant health benefits to dogs. If you opt to make the cream part of your dog’s diet, only use it as an occasional treat.
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