09/22/2026
🍦🐾 HAPPY NATIONAL ICE CREAM CONE DAY! 🐾🍦
Today is National Ice Cream Cone Day, and naturally, we couldn’t let a day dedicated to ice cream pass without including our four-legged family members!
Just look at Sturgy boy pretending to enjoy his very own pet-friendly frozen treat! 🐶🍦
Before you hand your pup a bite of your cone, there are a few things we want our MVAH family to know!
🚨 First and foremost, watch out for xylitol!! 🚨
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is EXTREMELY TOXIC to dogs. It can be found in some sugar-free and reduced-sugar foods, including certain candies, baked goods, peanut butters, and other products.
Even a relatively small amount can cause a rapid and dangerous drop in blood sugar, which can lead to weakness, stumbling, tremors, seizures, collapse, and potentially life-threatening liver problems. If your dog eats something containing xylitol, don’t wait for symptoms to appear. Contact your veterinarian just to be safe.
And remember, xylitol may also be listed on an ingredient label as birch sugar or wood sugar, so checking the label is always a good idea.
🍫 A few other ingredients we don’t want in the pup cup:
❌ Chocolate
❌ Grapes or raisins
❌ Macadamia nuts
❌ Caffeine
❌ Anything containing xylitol
🍦 SO… CAN DOGS HAVE ICE CREAM?
Sometimes, a tiny amount of plain vanilla ice cream may be tolerated by a healthy dog, but traditional ice cream isn’t exactly what we’d call a nutritional necessity. 😂 It’s high in sugar and fat, and many dogs don’t handle dairy particularly well.
That can turn your sweet little ice cream date into a not-so-sweet evening of “Why does my dog have diarrhea?” 💩😂
Instead, you can make your own simple frozen treat at home!
🐾 EASY PET-FRIENDLY FROZEN TREATS 🐾
Try mixing:
🥄 Plain, unsweetened yogurt (if your pet tolerates dairy)
🍓 A few mashed strawberries or blueberries
🥜 A small amount of xylitol-free peanut butter
Mix it together, pop it into a silicone mold or ice cube tray, freeze, and voilà! You have a simple frozen treat your pup can enjoy right alongside you. ❤️
Just remember that treats, even healthy ones, should be given in moderation!! And if your pet has a medical condition, food sensitivity, or is on a prescription/special diet, check with your veterinarian before introducing new treats.
So today, enjoy your ice cream cone… and if your pup gives you that look, consider making them their own safe version. 😉
Happy National Ice Cream Cone Day from all of us at Mountain View Animal Hospital! 🐾
Because our fur babies deserve to have a little fun too, just safely!
