Do you share your ice cream with a pet?
When Piper and Hunley beg for the last of my ice cream cone, I happily share it with them. But lately, I’ve been wondering . . . Is this a good idea?
What to do? Oh, what to do? If I say, “No,” and hog the entire cone, they will go pout on the floor and won’t sit next to me on the couch.
I know, world hunger, social injustice, climate change, COVID 19 and its variants, inflation, government corruption, CO2 emissions, global warming, floods, fires, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, gun violence, and cell phone towers (to name a few) way outrank doggie diet concerns. But let’s get real. Pouting pups matter too—at least in this house, and probably in yours too.
So, what’s a furry mama to do? Once again, Dr. Marty—my favorite online veterinarian—came to the rescue with an e-mail just in time for my summer ice cream angst.
Here is his dog friendly alternative to people ice cream, like the wildly popular Ben & Jerry’s I saw over fifty people stand in line for on the Isle of Palms in South Carolina last week. Bill and I opted for cups of Haagen Dazs, Vanilla Swiss Almond, purchased at the Harris Teeter using self-checkout.
Piper and Hunley were not with us this time, so there was no pouting over any ice cream denial. But I’m making them a batch of Doggie Ice Cream for the next time they come around begging for mine with those irresistible big brown eyes.
You know, Penny, (That’s me!)
Sometimes, keeping things simple is the BEST thing you can do for your dog.
For instance, I saw “doggie ice cream” in my grocery store the other day…
It had cute packaging and it’s true that dogs love a frozen treat, but this product was filled with sugar, heavy cream, and wheat…
All the stuff that can really do a number on your dog’s digestion and lead to skin problems, messy poops, and even weight gain.
So today, I want to show you how to make doggie ice cream in just 2 steps, with 3 simple ingredients.
It’ll be cheaper than the store-bought stuff, there’s no tummy-upsetting ingredients, and best of all, this frozen “doggie dessert” will taste DELICIOUS to your pup. Here’s how you make it.
2-Step Doggie Ice cream
You’ll need:
– 1 8oz can of organic sweet potato
(Make sure the ONLY ingredient is pure sweet potato, with no sugar, salt, or additives)
– ½ a ripe banana (medium-sized)
– ½ cup water
– 1 freezer-safe container (12oz or larger)
– Fresh blueberries (optional)
– A blender
How to make it:
Step 1: Add your canned sweet potato and ½ a ripe banana to the blender.
Pour ½ cup filtered water over the top and then blend the mixture until it’s smooth.
Step 2: Pour the mix into your freezer-safe container and let it freeze for 4 hours (or until the mixture is solid.)
Then, dish up your dog’s recommended serving!
NOTE: This is a sweet and decadent treat. So be sure to limit your dog’s portion.
Here are the serving sizes I recommend based on your dog’s weight:
24lbs or less: 2 tablespoons
25 – 44lbs: 3 tablespoons
45 – 64lbs: ¼ cup
65lbs and up: ⅓ cup
And don’t forget to sprinkle a couple of fresh blueberries on top, if you like 🙂
So that’s all there is to it!
To you and your best friend,
Dr. Marty (Miss Penny’s favorite online Veterinarian!)
