While dogs can eat whipped cream, some dogs have trouble digesting dairy products. Like humans, dogs can be lactose intolerant. This doesn’t mean that whipped cream isn’t safe to feed to your dog, but do so with caution.
Can Dogs eat whipped cream as a treat?
Do you love whipped cream and want to share some with your dog? Did your dog eat some whipped cream and you want to know if it’s safe or not?
If you’re looking like a fun, sweet treat for your dog, whipped cream may come to mind. But, is it safe to feed your dog whipped cream?
Most dogs can eat whipped cream in moderation. But, there are a few important points that you need to consider first to keep your dog safe.
Is Whipped Cream Bad for Dogs?
Like any new food, there are both risks and benefits to consider. Consult your veterinarian before introducing any new food.
Supervise your dog carefully during their first experience.
If you notice any signs of illness, stop feeding whipped cream and contact your vet.
Health Risks of Eating Whipped Cream for Dogs
Food Additives: Processed whipped creams often have more additives. This is how they keep the price of their products low.
These ingredients aren’t easy for a dog to digest and can cause a variety of health problems.
Examples of health complications associated with food additives include:
- Obesity
- Food Sensitivities
- Digestive Problems
- Inflammation
- Allergies
- Hot Spots
- Diabetes
Food additives are commonly found in non-dairy whipped toppings.
High Sugar Content: Sugar is a necessary part of a dog’s diet but too much can lead to health complications. The three common side-effects of excess sugar are diabetes, tooth decay, and obesity.
But isn’t sugar dangerous for humans too? Dogs are unable to use and store sugar effectively, meaning that foods safe to humans may not be safe for dogs.
The limit for how much sugar a dog can consume safely is much lower than a human.
Artificial Sweeteners: Sugar-free whipped creams or whipped toppings may contain toxic artificial sweeteners.
Ingredients like xylitol, a common artificial sweetener, are very dangerous for your dog. Xylitol poisoning is often fatal.
Consuming xylitol can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar or liver failure. It’s also found in sugar-free gum, sugar-free candies, and some brands of peanut butter.
High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Corn syrup is in many processed and aerosol whipped creams. This sweet syrup is a low-cost alternative for traditional sugar made from cornstarch.
In some countries, high-fructose corn syrup is restricted or banned.
While corn syrup is not toxic to your dog, consuming too much can cause obesity and diabetes.
Fat Content: Real whipped cream has a high butterfat content, as high as 40%. This is what gives it a rich taste.
The recommended amount of fat in an average dog’s diet is 5-20%. Anything more can lead to weight gain or pancreatitis.
Lactose Intolerance: A potential health risk that won’t impact every dog. Lactose intolerance, like in humans, is the inability to digest the milk sugar lactose.
Traditional whipped cream is made from heavy cream. Heavy cream is low in lactose compared to other dairy products, but it is present.
Signs of lactose intolerance include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Flatulence
- Diarrhea
- Stomach Pain
- Bloating
- Pacing/Discomfort
- Loss of Appetite
- Excessive Itching
- Face Swelling
- Difficulty Breathing (in Severe Cases)
If you notice any combination of these signs, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Bloat: Light and airy, whipped cream may put your dog at risk for bloat. As your dog eats their treat, they may take in a lot of air with it.
This isn’t referring to discomfort from excess gas. Bloat is the common name for a serious heath condition called Gastric Torsion.
When a dog experiences bloat, their stomach fills with air, gas, food, or fluid causing it to expand. The stomach puts pressure on your dog’s organs, cutting off blood supply.
If left untreated, a dog’s stomach can actually flip, which is often fatal.
The signs of bloat in dogs include:
- Retching or Gagging without Vomiting
- Restlessness/Pacing
- Excess Drooling
- Swollen and Sensitive Abdomen
If you suspect that your dog may be experiencing bloat, it’s an emergency. It is best to call your veterinarian while on the road to the closest vet or emergency clinic.
The sooner that bloat is addressed, the better their chances of survival.
Health Benefits of Eating Whipped Cream for Dogs
Outside of being a delicious little treat for your dog, whipped cream offers few benefits. There are a few specific situations where it can be useful.
Weight Gain: Weight gain is often looked at as a negative. But, what about dogs that are underweight and struggling to gain?
Whipped cream is calorie-dense and high in fat. This is a great choice for helping a dog to gain weight without too many extra ingredients.
Calcium: Whipped cream (being dairy) is a good source of calcium. Like in humans, calcium helps to build healthy teeth and bones.
But, with many other options for calcium, this benefits doesn’t outweigh the risks.
This benefit is specific to dairy-based whipped cream. The exception is if you are using a fortified non-dairy milk.
What Happens if a Dog Eats Whipped Cream?
Has your dog recently helped himself to some whipped cream from your kitchen? Whether they stole some off the counter or pulled a container out of the fridge, it can lead to questions.
Is your dog going to be sick? Is your dog okay?
The first thing that you should do is check the ingredients. If the whipped cream contains the sugar substitute xylitol, is is an emergency. Contact your veterinarian or local emergency veterinarian immediately.
If your whipped cream is xylitol-free, rest assured. A large helping of this dessert could make your dog feel ill but it won’t be life-threatening.
Watch your dog closely for signs of illness or discomfort. If your dog has eaten too much whipped cream, there is a good chance that they will have an upset stomach.
Speak with your veterinarian if you notice any signs that your dog isn’t feeling well. They will be able to recommend the next best steps to keep your dog comfortable.
Is Whipped Cream Safe for Puppies?
Most puppies can enjoy whipped cream in small portions. But, you want to watch for the same health risks mentioned above for adult dogs.
Limit the amount that your dog is eating due to their small size. This will also help to limit the sugar intake.
Due to your puppy’s young age, they may be more susceptible to some health problems. This makes it even more important to contact your veterinarian first.
Your vet will be able to recommend how much is safe and if they feel you should hold off on this treat until a specific age.
What Type of Whip Cream Can Dogs Eat?
There are many different types of whipped cream that you can choose from. Some options are safer for your dog than others, and some are best avoided.
The most common types of whip cream are:
- Heavy Whipped Cream
- Light Whipped Cream
- Unsweetened Whipped Cream
- Sweetened Whipped Cream
- Whipped Topping (Cool Whip)
- Aerosol Whipped Cream (Reddi Whip)
- Non-Dairy Whipped Cream
Some of these options contain toxic or potentially harmful ingredients.
Light whipped cream
Light whipped cream often relies on artificial sweeteners like xylitol. Both whipped topping and aerosol whipped cream are often sweetened with corn syrup.
The types of whipped cream that are safest for dogs are:
Heavy Whipping Cream:
The original whipped cream. This type is purchased as heavy cream and you have to do the work to whip it when you’re ready to enjoy.
Unlike many of the other options, heavy whipping cream is usually free of additives. This means that there are fewer ingredients that could make your dog sick.
The biggest risk with heavy whipping cream is the high fat content. Avoid feeding too much as it can cause significant weight gain.
Can dogs eat whipped cream if it’s unsweetened?
Sugar is one of the big health risks with many types of whipped cream. Choosing an unsweetened type is a great alternative.
Make sure to read the ingredients, checking for anything that may upset your dog’s stomach.
Can dogs eat whipped cream if it’s non-dairy?
There are two common variations of non-dairy whipped cream.
Both almond whipped cream and coconut whipped cream are okay for your dog as long as they aren’t allergic. But, some companies will use xylitol to sweeten their products.
Double-check the ingredients to make sure that it’s xylitol-free before feeding.
Homemade coconut whipped cream is often recommended as the most dog-friendly choice.
Can dogs eat cool whip?
As with the other types of whip cream be cautious of sugar and other potentially unhealthy and harmful ingredients before feeding your dog cool whip.
How to Feed Whipped Cream to Your Dog Safely
There are two important rules to remember when it comes to feeding your dog whipped cream:
- Read all ingredients first
- Only feed in moderation
An easy way to measure out your dog’s whipped cream treat is to look to your dog’s size. The recommended serving size for a dog is no larger than their paw.
Puppicino
If you plan on bringing your dog to Starbucks for a Puppicino, start small.
Instead of offering the full pup cup of whipped cream, give your dog a single spoonful on the first trip. Supervise your dog closely. Are they showing any signs of feeling ill?
A dog that can handle a spoonful of whipped cream can then try a slightly larger serving next time.
But, remember, this is still a treat. Feeding whipped cream to your dog too often can make a dog sick even if they can eat dairy.
Coconut Whipped Cream
If you are looking to treat a lactose-intolerant dog, coconut whipped cream is a great option. This treat is made from dairy-free coconut milk.
The limited ingredients in this kind of whipped cream make it a safer choice than most others.
While this option is lactose free, it should still only be fed to your dog in moderation. Stick to a dollop of coconut whipped cream as an occasional treat.
How to Make Dog-Friendly Coconut Whipped Cream
To make your own dog-friendly coconut whipped cream, all you need is a can of full-fat coconut milk.
Chill the coconut milk in your refrigerator for at least 1-2 days. This will harden the cream and allow it to separate from the coconut water.
Scoop the cream out of the coconut water and into a chilled mixing bowl. You can save the coconut water for use in another recipe.
Using a hand mixer, blend the cream until it starts to fluff up and create peaks of whipped cream.
This can be stored in your fridge for up to a week in a sealed container.
If you want to enjoy this treat with your dog, you may want to add a little sweetener or vanilla extract in your serving. But, keep a separate batch for your dog without these extras.
There are also recipes for almond milk whipped cream too. If your dog doesn’t coconut milk, almond milk whipped cream is a possible substitute.
The Final Verdict: Can dogs eat whipped cream?
Can dogs eat whipped cream? The short answer is yes! But, it may not be the best choice for every dog.
If you have a dog that is lactose-intolerant, has blood sugar issues or is overweight, you may want to skip it. This tasty treat could trigger some health problems.
You can feed whipped as a tasty treat in moderation to the average healthy dog.
