Can dogs eat ice cream at all?
You're enjoying an ice cream on a warm summer day and your dog is watching you longingly? Just treat them to their own ice cream! Yes, dogs are allowed to eat ice cream – but not every kind. Classic ice cream made for humans often contains sugar, cream or ingredients like chocolate or xylitol, which can be hard to digest or even toxic for dogs.
The best choice for your dog on hot summer days: homemade dog ice cream. You decide what goes in, and you can tailor the ingredients perfectly to your dog's taste. Dog ice cream is wonderfully easy to make, preparing it is fun – and best of all: your dog will love you for it.
Make sure your dog licks the ice cream at a leisurely pace and that large amounts of something cold don't irritate the stomach or lead to diarrhoea.
Making dog ice cream: easy, quick and super tasty
Want to make healthy dog ice cream yourself? Here you'll find easy recipes for a tasty refreshment. The base for dog ice cream is uncomplicated. You need ingredients your dog likes to snack on anyway. Many dogs enjoy:
- Banana
- Natural yogurt
- Cream cheese/cottage cheese/quark
- Watermelon
- Mango
- Berries
- Carrots
- Liver sausage
- Tuna
- Unsalted broth
Only use dog-friendly ingredients. If you're unsure which foods your dog is allowed to eat, take a look at our Food A–Z section. There you'll find info on fruit, vegetables and other ingredients for dogs.
Our baking mats: the easiest way to make dog ice cream
Baking mats are especially handy for homemade dog ice cream. Simply spread your dog's favourite mixture into the mat, freeze briefly – and you've got ice-cold mini treats to lick and nibble.
This works perfectly with yogurt, cream cheese, puréed fruit or savoury versions with liver sausage or tuna. The small portions are ideal as a summer snack in between and are prepared in no time. You can also use them to pep up your dog's water bowl.
Don't have a baking mat yet? You'll find high-quality baking mats in the loveliest colours and shapes in our shop.
Alternatively, you can also fill the dog ice cream into moulds such as ice cube trays, a yogurt pot or a Kong and freeze it.
The best dog ice cream recipes
Making dog ice cream with banana and yogurt
Can I make dog ice cream with banana and yogurt? Absolutely. It's one of the classics.
- 1 ripe banana
- 2–3 tbsp unsweetened natural yogurt
Purée both, spread into ice cube moulds or onto the baking mat and freeze. Ready – creamy dog ice cream with yogurt and banana.
Making dog ice cream with yogurt
Many dogs love natural yogurt as a base for dog ice cream. It gives a creamy consistency and combines wonderfully, for example with:
- Banana
- Berries
- Mango
- Carrot
Please only use unsweetened natural yogurt.
Making dog ice cream with peanut butter
A particularly creamy and tasty ice cream for your dog and you: peanut butter ice cream à la LuckyChef!
- 70 g Greek yogurt, low-fat
- 70 g coconut milk
- 10 g creamy peanut butter, unsweetened, unsalted
Mix everything well, pour into the baking mat or an ice cream mould and pop it in the freezer for at least two hours.
Making dog ice cream with cream cheese
Cream cheese is also great for dog ice cream. It's especially tasty mixed with a little cucumber or carrot. The consistency turns nice and creamy and spreads perfectly onto baking mats. If you like, you can also mix in a few fine oat flakes.
Making dog ice cream with watermelon
Dog ice cream with watermelon is really easy:
- purée seedless watermelon
- optionally add a little yogurt
- freeze
The result is fruity, refreshing and perfect for really hot days.
Making dog ice cream with liver sausage
Treat-lovers with a taste for the savoury will be delighted by dog ice cream with liver sausage. For this you take:
- a little liver sausage
- water or unsalted meat broth
stir together and freeze in portions.
Works great on baking mats too and makes lots of little rewards.
Making dog ice cream with tuna
Tuna is generally suitable, but it's not our first choice for homemade dog ice cream. Other ingredients are more sustainable and let you conjure up just as tasty a refreshment for your dog.
Our summer favourite: mango smoothie for dogs
Tastes great to two-legged friends too: we have a particularly delicious smoothie recipe with mango that freezes wonderfully and can be served as dog ice cream.
- 100 g mango, fresh or frozen
- 100 g kefir, 2.5% fat
- 100 g water
Peel the mango and remove the stone, blend everything, spread into the baking mat or fill into moulds and freeze. Ready – fruity summer dog ice cream.
Conclusion: making dog ice cream is simply a joy
Making dog ice cream yourself is a great way to give your dog a little treat in summer. With natural ingredients, a bit of imagination and our baking mats, you'll whip up healthy ice cream treats for your dog in no time.
