In hot summer, we would like to drink ice water, or we may eat ice cubes. When we chew ice, we feel very invigorating. If you have a dog at home, you may see his/her tongue sticking out in the hot weather. Then, how to cool down a dog? As pet parents, can we give them ice cubes?
Usually, when the weather is hot, we can give healthy dogs an appropriate amount of small ice cubes. Water is important for dogs to keep hydrated without heat stroke. And ice is formed by freezing water, but becomes solid. And the ingredients of the ice cube will not have other harmful ingredients.
However, there are certain safety risks when providing ice cubes to dogs, such as whether dogs will choke on ice cubes. Even if the ice cubes eventually melt, there is still a risk of suffocation.
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Pet parents should have an appropriate method when feeding ice cubes to pets. The size of the ice cube should suit your dog. If large and hard ice cubes accidentally get stuck in the dog's respiratory tract, the dog will certainly choke on the ice cube before melting, resulting in potential suffocation.
Hence, whether it is a large breed or a small dog, it is safer to feed smaller ice cubes, crushed ice, or shaved ice. But some dogs will gobble when they eat. In this case, you should grind the ice cubes before giving them to your dogs.
Be careful not to give your dog too many ice cubes at once. Ice cubes, especially hard ice cubes, may weaken and damage the dog's teeth if chewed frequently. In serious cases, it may cause tooth breakage. The larger and harder the ice cube, the higher the chance of tooth fracture.
If your dog looks very thirsty when it is very hot outside, an ice cube may not be the best choice to quench his/her thirst. Pet owners should pay attention to whether the dogs will gasp or have difficulty breathing. This is a sign of heat stroke. If you think your dog may suffer from heat stroke, it is not recommended to feed ice cubes at this time. Instead, you should cool him/her down with cold water. Please contact your veterinarian immediately because he/she requires urgent treatment.
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Finally, pet parents should feed an appropriate amount of ice cubes according to the situation of your pet. You can put ice cubes in the water or put ice cubes alone. If you are not sure, you can observe your pet carefully so that you will know his/her preferences. The coolness of the ice cubes will encourage your dog to drink a little more water to keep hydrated, but don't give your pet too many ice cubes at a time.
If your dog has serious dental disease or missing teeth, or your dog is teething, we suggest that ice cubes are not suitable for feeding. Chewing ice is not recommended because their teeth are very fragile.
The article only provides information and advice under normal circumstances. If you have any questions or concerns about your dog feeding ice cubes, please consult your veterinarian.
Tip: Making ice cubes is easy. You can use an ice tray, but the ice cubes from the ice tray are very hard. If you want to find soft ice for you and your dog, sonic ice is perfect. Sonic ice is soft and chewy. If you are interested, you can see more information about sonic ice maker.
Reference
Editorial, P. M. (2008, July 16). Tooth Fracture in Dogs. PETMD. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/mouth/c_multi_tooth_fracture
Editorial, P. M. (2010, February 14). Heat Stroke and Hyperthermia in Dogs. PETMD. Retrieved from https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/cardiovascular/c_dg_heat_stroke