Have you ever seen someone give their dog Cool Whip and wondered if it is safe? Can dogs eat Cool Whip? Well, some dogs can, while others cannot. Cool Whip is not toxic to dogs, but just like humans, dogs can be lactose intolerant.
Therefore, if your dog has ever had problems eating other dairy items, Cool Whip should be avoided. On the other hand, if your dog can tolerate dairy just fine, then Cool Whip is a fun treat to give your dog occasionally.
Before scrolling down this article “Can Dogs Eat Cool Whip,” check out these other dog questions: Can Dogs Eat Carrot Cake and Can Dogs Eat Pepperoni?
What’s in Cool Whip?
Cool Whip is a name brand of whipped cream. Whipped cream is made up of heavy cream and sugar, and sometimes other ingredients are added to the mixture to contribute additional flavor, such as vanilla.
This mixture of ingredients is then literally whipped into that creamy, fluffy condiment loved by humans and dogs alike. If you make your whipped cream at home, it will likely need to be used within a day of making it.
However, products such as Cool Whip often include additional preservatives to help them stay edible longer. These preservatives are generally safe for dogs, but additions such as xylitol and chocolate are toxic. Generally, Cool Whip avoids these products, but it is always good to double-check.
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Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Cool Whip?
As you can see, Cool Whip is almost entirely made out of dairy. Dogs can be lactose intolerant. Therefore, they will not process the dairy in Cool Whip if they suffer from this condition.
If your dog has never had problems with other dairy products such as cheese, it is generally safe to give it some Cool Whip once in a while. However, as we mentioned, it is essential to still check the ingredients before giving your dog Cool Whip, to be sure.
This ensures that no toxic ingredients have been added, such as artificial sweeteners. Sometimes, however, you may not have access to the ingredients of your dog’s treat.
Do not worry. Places such as Starbucks, which makes puppuccinos, ensure there are no toxic ingredients in the whipped cream they are giving to your dog.
Whipped Cream Portion Sizes For Dogs
Although some dogs can digest dairy fine, there is still such a thing as too much dairy in your dog’s diet. Even dogs that eat dairy can have too much and then feel sick afterward.
Therefore, if you want to give your dog whipped cream, you should still be mindful of the proper portion size. These portion sizes are based on the size of your dog. Small dogs should receive no more than one spoonful of whipped cream at a time. Larger dogs can have approximately 1⁄4 cup at a time.
If you are still unsure about your specific dog, you can use the one paw rule. This is a standard rule that people follow when determining the proper portion size for their dog. This rule states that the appropriate whipped cream portion size for your dog is equivalent to the size of its paw.
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How Often Can I Feed My Dog Cool Whip?
Cool Whip does not provide nutritional value to your dog. Just because your dog can eat it does not mean that it should. Therefore, you should feed your dog this product very sparingly, if at all.
Cool Whip is exceptionally high in fat and sugar, making it less than ideal for dogs. Whipped cream is also high in calories and can use up a dog’s entire calorie intake for the day.
All of these things can cause significant health problems in dogs if not appropriately moderated. Treats should never make up more than 10 percent of a dog’s daily calories. As we mentioned, whipped cream is highly calorie-dense, so you should be conscious of the amount given when feeding it to your dog.
However, even when given a tiny amount, it will still probably make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s recommended calories for the day. This is why you must only give whipped cream rarely, such as once every few months.
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Cool Whip Health Risks For Dogs
Although plain whipped cream is generally non-toxic to dogs, it can still pose some health risks. These risks may occur because your dog cannot process dairy correctly or because you are feeding your dog too much-whipped cream. Below you will find the most common health risks for dogs who consume whipped cream.
Gastrointestinal Problems
As we mentioned, many dogs suffer from lactose intolerance. If your dog cannot process dairy, consuming whipped cream can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.
If this occurs, immediately remove any dairy from your dog’s diet. Once the dairy has passed through the body, it is unlikely that it continues to affect your dog. However, if your dog’s condition worsens, you should seek medical help immediately.
Cardiac Problems
Consuming high-fat foods can cause an increase in cholesterol. This cholesterol builds up in the arteries, leading to an inability to pump blood properly.
Therefore, dogs that consume too much-whipped cream can develop cholesterol problems that are detrimental to heart health. Therefore, if your dog has pre-existing heart problems, avoid giving it high-fat foods such as whipped cream.
Dental Problems
Many whipped cream products, such as Cool Whip, are incredibly high in sugar. Sugar affects dogs‘ dental health because it can cause tooth decay. While humans can eat some sweets, dogs should generally avoid them because they do not brush their teeth as frequently as humans do.
Other Problems
Whipped cream can cause dogs to experience a variety of other health problems. A significant factor of this is the calories that come along with whipped cream.
Consuming whipped cream frequently means an increase in calories which can cause obesity. In addition, obesity increases your dog’s chances of developing other health problems such as diabetes and pancreatitis.
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Alternatives to Cool Whip For Dogs
When giving your dog whipped cream, it is always better to opt for something low in fat and sugar. Therefore, although it is convenient, Cool Whip is not the best option for your dog.
The best thing you can do is make your dog some low-fat and sugar-free whipped cream yourself. And if you can make your dog’s whipped cream dairy free that is even better.
The most popular alternative to Cool Whip for dogs is coconut whipped cream. When making this, you will want to use canned coconut milk, not coconut milk used for drinking.
Canned coconut milk is thicker, which makes it easier to whip. Chill this milk, put it in a whipping canister, and serve it up to your dog as a treat. If you have ever thought of making your dog a homemade puppuccino, please note there is no coffee in this beverage.
A puppuccino is just whipped cream with no special additions. Unfortunately, caffeine is toxic to dogs, so please ensure you never include coffee in your dog’s homemade puppuccinos.
Related: Can Dogs Eat Canned Chicken and Can Dogs Eat Bratwurst?
Conclusion For “Can Dogs Eat Cool Whip”
As you can see, Cool Whip is not something all dogs can eat. Cool Whip is generally non-toxic, but some dogs still cannot eat it because of the large amount of dairy in the product.
If your dog can process dairy, it is still best to only give this treat sparingly. Instead, it would be best if you opted for healthy treats such as carrots or apples, with only the occasional puppuccino.
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Andy is a full-time animal rescuer and owner of a toy doodle. When he’s not saving dogs, Andy is one of our core writers and editors. He has been writing about dogs for over a decade. Andy joined our team because he believes that words are powerful tools that can change a dog’s life for the better.
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