Most dogs like ice cream, which is why many people share their ice cream with their dog on hot summer days. Although a little ice cream every now and then won't harm your dog, it shouldn't become a habit, as the ingredients can cause health problems if your dog eats ice cream regularly.

 

Chocolate and chocolate ice cream contain methylxanines, chemical compounds based on caffeine and theobromine, which can be harmful to dogs. In harmless cases, chocolate causes nervousness, thirst, frequent urination, rapid breathing and diarrhoea in dogs. In more serious cases, the dog can go into cardiac fibrillation and even suffer a fatal heart attack. Small dogs are particularly at risk.

Like humans, a dog's body may be unable to digest milk sugar (lactose). If a dog is given ice cream made from dairy products, it can suffer from diarrhoea, flatulence, stomach problems and dehydration. Some dogs are even soya intolerant, so ice cream made from soya is not necessarily safe for your dog.

Milk proteins cause allergic reactions in some dogs. The symptoms of a milk allergy are itching and skin rashes on the ears, stomach, paws or legs. If you discover such symptoms in your dog, milk ice cream is definitely taboo.

Ice cream contains a lot of sugar, which cannot be sufficiently digested by dogs. Excessive sugar consumption can lead to obesity and the associated diseases.