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Summer is about fun in the sun, and we indulge in various treats to beat the heat. Our precious furry friends can’t but beg for a taste too. But before you share some of your summer snacks, knowing which foods are safe and which can be harmful to your dog is crucial.
This blog post will explore the best and worst summer foods for dogs, helping you keep your four-legged companions happy, healthy, and tail-wagging all season long.
5 foods that are bad for dogs during summer
First, let’s take the risky foods out of the way. Here are 5 things that you should avoid giving to your dog during summer and, most likely, during all seasons:
Chocolate
Chocolate is already well known as the enemy of dogs. But not all people know that chocolate can even be fatally poisonous for dogs, depending on the amount of chocolate and the dog’s size. In a “better case” scenario, a dog that has eaten chocolate might experience diarrhea, vomiting, and seizures.
Ice Cream
The big question during summer is, “Can my dog eat ice cream?” And we’re here with the answer – no, it can’t. Even though ice cream is cold, which seems like a great thing to eat during summer, it contains huge amounts of sugar. It also contains milk, which contains lactose, which hurts the dog’s belly, because they can’t process it well.
If you want to give your dog an ice cream this summer, it can only be homemade, with yogurt and other fruits.
Grapes
You might not have thought this, but grapes and raisins can be toxic for dogs and lead to poisoning.
Researchers aren’t really sure why that happens, but the reality is – it does. Dogs that have eaten larger amounts of grapes or raisins might experience vomiting, nausea, and kidney failure.
Avocado
Avocados are delicious; we all know it. But dogs shouldn’t eat it. It contains persin, a fungal toxin, which might lead to vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Another big red flag in avocados is their large seed which might be a choking hazard for dogs. Look at it from the bright side – the less avocado your dog eats, the more avocado you eat, right?
Cherries
The cherries short is similar to the avocado one. Avocados have persin, and cherries have cyanide. If your dog eats larger amounts of cherries, it might suffer from cyanide poisoning with dilated pupils, red gums, and difficulty breathing. If this isn’t bad enough, cherry pits are also a choking risk, and can cause intestinal blockage.
5 foods that are good for dogs during summer
We went through the “bad” list; now it’s time to go to the “good” one. These are some foods that your dog could enjoy during summer:
Bananas
Bananas are not only safe but also good for your dog. They contain high levels of dietary fiber, potassium, and other vitamins and minerals, making them an excellent snack for your dog.
To surprise your pup or dog with a nice, healthy treat – cut a banana in big chunks, leave it in the refrigerator to get cold (not freeze) and treat your dog like a king during hot summer days. If you want to put more effort into it, you can blend the banana with other fruits on this list, add a little yogurt, and freeze the blend into small treats.
Watermelon and Cantaloupe
Watermelon and cantaloupe are refreshing for both humans and dogs! These fruits have a lot of water, so they are pretty hydrating for your fur friend. They also have numerous vitamins like A and C, rich with fiber while low on calories. This makes them an excellent summer treat for good boys or girls.
There is one thing, though – you must remove all the seeds and the rinds.
Yogurt
Even though dairy is not healthy for dogs because they have a hard time digesting lactose, yogurt is fermented, and in the process, the lactose content is reduced. With this, plain yogurt without any additives can be a great treat for your dog.
One tasty summer dog treat is frozen yogurt cubes with pieces of fruit. The making is as simple as it sounds. Put small chunks of the fruits from this list in an ice cube tray, top that all up with plain yogurt, and freeze it. Give individual ice cubes as chilled treats.
Blueberries and Raspberries
The biggest problem with any fruit as a dog treat is the amount of sugar in fruits. I underline “dog treat” because fruits should only be given in small portions.
Blueberries and raspberries get into the category of safe foods for dogs. They don’t contain that much sugar and yet have a lot of vitamins and minerals, which makes them great for additional nutrient value during hot summer days.
Cheese
As we said, dairy is not very good for dogs, but yogurt and cheese have different forms of lactose, making them suitable for dogs. Cheese contains vitamins, minerals (like calcium), and proteins, making it a great dog treat.
If you want to treat your dog with what they deserve, opt for our All-Natural Yakalicious Organic Dog Chews. They are made from organic yak cheese and are a great dog treat containing minerals, vitamins, fibers, and proteins.
Ending Words
By being aware of the good and bad summer foods for our furry friends, we can ensure their well-being and make summer funny, playful, and carefree. But remember – keeping our beloved dogs safe and nourished is a year-round responsibility. The foods we named won’t be any better for your dogs during other seasons.
Have a happy, healthy, and refreshing summer filled with numerous healthy snacks.