Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?

Nutrition January 31, 2024
Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?
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Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?

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Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?

Humans love the airy, sweet taste of whipped cream. It’s smooth, sugary, and dairy taste makes it great on desserts or when added to a hot drink. But should you be sharing this treat with your beloved pup? Whipped cream is tasty, and if you enjoy eating it, why wouldn’t your dog like a taste too?

So will whipped cream have negative or long-term affects on your dog’s health? Will the sugar and dairy ingredients cause your pup digestive issues if they are consumed?

In this article, we will go over any positive or negative health benefits your dog may have from eating whipped cream, as well as the best alternatives to this tasty treat.

What’s in Whipped Cream?

Whipped cream is basically a mixture of cream, sugar, and vanilla flavoring. Whipped cream is a rich and sweet dessert topping to put on desserts, and it became popular during the 16th century in Italy. But it was only served to aristocrats of the era, and only royalty was allowed to indulge in this delicious topping.

Lets take a closer look at what is really in whipped cream. Here is the nutritional value of whipped cream:

  • Saturated fat – 70%
  • Total fat – 33%
  • Cholesterol – 25%
  • Protein – 6%
  • Sugar – 8g

Is Whipped Cream Safe For Dogs?

Even though there is nothing essentially dangerous in whipped cream, that doesn’t mean whipped cream or other dairy products necessarily agree with your dog.

This sweet treat may contain some vitamins and minerals, but they are very small amounts. Depending on the taste, brand, and specific recipe of the whipped cream, it still contains a lot of sugar and fat that can not only harm your dog but lead to diabetes, obesity, and dental problems over time.

Because whipped cream is a dairy product it can cause your dog to experience lactose intolerance, which is more common in small dog breeds. Even some adult dogs can have lactose intolerance that may be triggered when they have too much whipped cream.

Most vets recommend not giving your dog whipped cream on a regular basis. However, it is safe enough as a treat and reward for desirable behavior, usually during training. You can also offer a little bit for a special occasion like your pup’s birthday.

Does Whipped Cream Provide Any Nutritional Benefits For Dogs?

Whipped cream is about 70% fat and the rest is made up of sugary carbs. Your pup is much better off getting their calories from a quality dog food, than consuming empty calories from whipped cream.

However, there are traces of calcium, vitamin A, and protein in whipped cream, but your dog can also get these nutrients from much better sources.

Here are some reasons not to give your dog whipped cream:

High in Fat – The cream used to make whipped cream is 30-36% fats. This high-fat content can be very unhealthy for dogs and can lead to becoming overweight.

Dairy Allergies – Many dogs are sensitive to lactic acid in dairy products like milk or sour cream to some extent. Some dogs are allergic to dairy (lactose intolerant) and can get sick from eating even a little bit.

Sugar is Harmful – Your dog has no reason to consume sugar. Sugar does not contain any nutritional value and it is known to cause many health issues in dogs. Like humans, dogs can also get addicted to sugary food and crave treats all the time. While regular whipped cream is high in sugar, commercial whipped cream may also contain sugar substitutes like corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup. Both these syrups are just as harmful as sugar, if not more.

Vanilla is Toxic to Dogs – Vanilla extract is 35% alcohol and is usually added to whipped cream. Alcohol, in general, is toxic to dogs. However, the amount of alcohol in the vanilla extract that is used in whipped cream is far too little to cause your dog any harm. If your dog eats too many vanilla-flavored desserts, he may run the risk of alcohol poisoning. Note that this risk is bigger if you have a smaller dog.

How Much Whipped Cream Can I Feed My Dog?

If your dog is having more than an occasional treat then it’s probably too much. Whipped cream should not be a part of your dog’s regular diet and is not even recommended once a week.

Foods or treats with little nutritional value, like whipped cream, should only be fed to your dog in small amounts and not on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb (or paw) is to give your dog a portion of whipped cream no larger than one of their paws.

Because it is a light and airy texture, it’s easy for the amount of whip cream your dog eats to add up. A medium-sized dog weighing around 30 pounds needs about 14 grams of fat per day. One cup of pressurized whipped cream from a can offers just over 13 grams of fat, which is your dog’s fat intake for the day. What seemed like a harmless treat can start to cause negative health effects if constantly served.

What Is A Puppuccino?

You have probably seen dogs on social media enjoying their own Starbucks drink. This is a Puppuccino and what their human ordered off of the secret menu. The best part of it is they are complimentary.

A Puppuccino is pretty much a blob of whipped cream in a Starbucks cup. But is this healthy for your dog? As we have already discussed whipped cream isn’t a huge red flag toxin for dogs, but if your dog has a sensitivity to dairy, a Puppuccino may not be the right treat.

What About Low-Calorie Whipped Cream? 

Cool Whip, a healthier alternative to full-fat heavy whipped cream, contains high fructose corn syrup, which is not toxic to dogs. Sugar-free Cool Whip uses NutraSweet, derived from stevia, but can upset their tummy.

Sugar-free treats like Splenda and xylitol are toxic to dogs and should be avoided, as they can cause dangerous blood sugar drops, seizures, vomiting, and diarrhea when consumed in large quantities.

Try Homemade Whipped Cream

You can make your pup a healthier version of whipped cream with less fat and sugar content. This is a quick and easy recipe and will take you less than five minutes to make.

You start with heavy cream but make sure it has little to no sugar, and very low fat content. Just whip it up until it is fluffy and serve it to your dog. It may not be the sweet treat us humans like but your dog won’t even notice.

Final Thoughts

While most animal health experts say that it is safe for dogs to have whipped cream type treats on occasion, it is probably better they stay away from the saturated fat and sugar . If your dog is lactose intolerant, whipped cream maybe bad and cause an upset stomach. It is best if the whipped cream you serve your dog is the stuff you make yourself.

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Amy Towry is a Certified NAVC Pet Nutritionist and pet lover. She is the proud owner of two rescue cats and a rescue dog and her love for animals has led her to a successful career as a freelance writer specializing in pet care, nutrition, and product reviews.
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