[UPDATED JULY 2024]
Summer heat is tough for our dogs! Regulating their body temperature and making sure they’re hydrated are top priorities when the weather starts to warm. One of our favourite ways to cool down as humans is to eat an ice cream or lolly – and now your dog can, too!
Now, we don’t want you sharing your tub of Ben and Jerry’s with your pup. Not only is it pricey, but many human ice creams use ingredients that may harm your dog (such as xylitol – an artificial sweetener that’s highly toxic to dogs).
Here are some dog-friendly recipes you can make at home to help them feel refreshed and cool during those hot summer days...
How to make dog ice cream
The method for making dog-friendly ice cream and ‘pup-sicles’ is pretty simple. You’ll need a blender and moulds, or an ice cube tray for smaller dogs, as well as the ingredients you want to use. Below are some step-by-step instructions to follow:
Instructions:
- Put your ingredients in a blender and mix on high until combined.
- Spoon mixture into moulds or an ice tray.
- Freeze for 30 minutes, then push a longer dog biscuit (to act as the handle) halfway into each of the moulds and put back into the freezer until solid (at least 6 hours).
- Once solid they’re ready for your dog to enjoy (we suggest outside to avoid mess).
- They can then be stored in a zip-lock bag in the freezer.
What type of ice cream can you make?
Here are a few recipe ideas with easy-to-find ingredients that are safe for your dog to enjoy:
1) Strawberry and Banana Pup-sicles
Prep time: 5 mins | Freeze time: 6 hours | Servings: 4 pup-sicles
What you’ll need:
- 128g frozen banana slices
- 128g frozen strawberry slices
- 2 tablespoons Greek yoghurt or water
- 4 longer dog biscuits (for the handle/stick)
Follow the instructions above and serve when solid.
2) Peanut Butter Ice Cream
Prep time: 5 mins | Freeze time: 3-5 hours | Servings: 8-16 scoops (depending on amount you give)
What you’ll need:
- 1 tablespoon of smooth dog-safe peanut butter (make sure it doesn’t contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs)
- 227g plain yoghurt
- Loaf tin or ice cream pot
- (Optional) crushed pieces of your dog’s favourite treat to stir into the mixture
Follow the instructions above and serve when firm.
3) Chicken Pup-sicle
Prep time: 5 mins | Freeze time: 4-6 hours | Servings: 4 pup-sicles
That’s right – you can do savoury ones too!
What you’ll need:
- 237ml low-salt chicken stock
- 118ml water
- 50g finely chopped chicken
- 4 longer dog biscuits or carrot sticks (for handle)
Follow the instructions above and serve when completely frozen. To keep the chunks of chicken, you can mix the ingredients together by hand instead of blending.
4) Blueberry Lolly
Prep time: 5 mins | Freeze time: 4-6 hours | Servings: 2 lollies
What you’ll need:
- 64g blueberries
- 64g plain yoghurt or water
- 2 longer dog biscuits (for handle)
Follow the instructions above and serve when solid.
5) Apple-Honey Ice Cream
Prep time: 5 mins | Freeze time: 3-5 hours | Servings: 4 pup-sicles
What you’ll need:
- 227g plain yoghurt
- 113g apple puree
- 1 tablespoon of dog-friendly, xylitol-free peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Loaf tin or ice cream pot
Follow the instructions above and serve when firm. You can mix in a bowl if preferred.
A tasty treat can be the perfect way to indulge your canine companion on a balmy summer’s day. These frozen treats should be fed sparingly as part of a healthy, balanced diet. You should also reduce your dog’s usual food portions to account for these extra treats, as well as always supervising them when feeding frozen treats.
For healthy digestion year-round, we recommend YuMOVE Digestive Care Pre & Probiotic for Dogs – a complex of prebiotics and probiotic bacteria, designed to support your dog’s digestive health and keep sensitive tummies in tip-top shape.
