Tampa Bay Pet Expo

Since summer is rolling around, you may begin to see an uproar of posts and emails about how giving ice cubes to dogs is harmful. Many dog owners are wondering if feeding dogs ice cubes is a bad thing, or it’s just a bad rumor. However, veterinarians say that dogs eating ice is not a good thing. 

There is one study that is called “no ice water for dogs; please read ASAP.” This was published in 2010 but had already been around since 2007. This study mentioned a dog named Baran and his owner who put ice cubes in his food bowl to help him cool off on steaming hot summer days. Immediately after, Baran was brought to the animal hospital to get treated. Once there, the veterinarian said the ice water caused his stomach muscles to spasm, resulting in severe bloating. For pups, bloating is a condition that can be life-threatening. It’s safe to say that dogs and ice cubes don’t go well together. 

Can dogs drink ice water? Many dog specialists believe that dogs can bloat by simply drinking or eating at a rapid pace. It does not matter how cold or hot the water is. Usually, on a hot day, a dog will get extremely thirsty and will gulp their water extremely fast. This means they will also swallow a lot of water and experience bloating. During the process of bloating, the air will condense gas, food, and air together and cut off the blood to the stomach and other organs in the body. This can shock the dog’s body, and their organ may fail or worse; the dog can die. So those that ask me, “can dogs have ice cubes?” The answer is no. 

Bigger breeds typically have a more deep chest putting them at greater risks of bloating because their stomach will twist and will cut off blood circulation. Some of the dog breeds that are at huge risk are Standard Poodle, Saint Bernards, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherd Dogs, and Great Danes. 

Avoid Trying to Cool Your Dog Off Rapidly 

For dogs that absorb too much heat, ideally, you want to cool off your dog slowly. Many ask, is ice water bad for dogs? My response is to first utilize a wet towel to cool them off from any overheating or heat strokes. You should not be using ice water to soak them. Ironically, ice water actually has the opposite effect, where they will cut off the capillaries in their skin. As a result, this will negate the cooling abilities of the internal organs. Instead, you may have them sit on a cool surface or have a cooling fan. When they reach a temperature below 103 degrees, you won’t have to do any further cooling. Your dog will naturally cool itself off. Cooling your dog rapidly will cause internal organ failure and shock your dog’s system. 

Bloating 

Now you know that dogs should stay away from ice water and ice cubes. But, how does bloating work in dogs? 

Why Dogs Bloat 

In general, the bloating means that their stomach will enlarge. Some dogs who overeat and intake too much food at once can experience bloating. If your dog pants excessively and becomes too anxious or excited, they may swallow too much air, which also leads to bloating. Careful with entertaining your dog too much to the point where they are gasping for air and excessively panting. You will instantly know when bloating occurs within your dog. They will usually seem uncomfortable, anxious, distressed, and may even vomit. You will also notice that their belly has become larger. 

Prevent Bloating in Your Dog 

You can prevent bloating by limiting your dog to only smaller meals each day and making sure they do not intake too much water at once. Also, reduce their exercise to an hour or less after meals. Make sure your pet sitter is familiar with these tips as well to prevent any accidental harm. 

Can I Give My Dog Ice Cubes? 

One of the most common questions about this topic is are ice cubes bad for dogs or are ice cubes good for dogs. Technically they are safe, but eating ice cubes can pose a huge risk. This is because dogs can get the ice stuck in their throats, causing severe choking or even break their teeth when chewing. So make sure to look after them carefully if you do give them any ice cubes. The best place to get more information is to attend a pet expo to learn more about best healthy practices for dogs to cool off.