Cool Whip is a kind of whipped cream that is very popular in America. It is light in texture and mildly sugary. You can purchase it at any grocery store in a tub, or a can form. Since it is sweet and can be added to almost all deserts, it becomes a health hazard for your dog, who is constantly roaming around you and your kitchen. Additionally, there has been an influx of Starbucks coffees for dogs known as puppuccinos that are topped with whipped cream. It is only human to feel the need to share sweet and savory dishes with your dog. This brings us to the question: can dogs have Cool Whip?
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Can Dogs Have Cool Whip?
Maybe. Frustrating right? There is no staunch answer to the question ‘can dogs eat Cool Whip.’ Cool Whip is a brand of whipped cream that has gained popularity in the recent past. The canned version of the Cool Whip has been selling like hot cakes on the market shelves of America. While Cool Whip is not heavily dangerous, your dog doesn’t need to digest it well. Many dogs are lactose intolerant, and since whipped cream has a milk base, it can be a little dangerous for them.
What Is a Cool Whip?
Cool Whip is a whipped cream brand which has taken over the market with a storm. It uses heavy cream, sugar and artificial flavorings to create amazing and light whipped cream. It is available in two forms: a tub and a bottle. It has been a popular topping on desserts like coffee, cakes and ice creams. Some people also use it with fruits and pancakes.
What Ingredients Make Cool Whip Harmful For Dogs?
Here are the following ingredients that make Cool Whip harmful food for dogs:
- Sugar: While sugar in moderation is okay for dogs, you should not make it a habit. Just like humans, dogs do not require sugar for energy and are an unnecessary addition to their food. Dogs derive energy from carbohydrates found in dog foods and other human foods like rice and fruits. Sugar can cause multiple health complications in dogs.
- Xylitol: Most variants of Cool Whip contain xylitol, a very harmful ingredient for dogs. Xylitol is often used in place for sugar, and it can negatively impact your dog’s health.
- Milk base: Since whipped cream has a milk base, it can harm dogs because many dogs do not digest lactose well. Dogs do not have the lactase(an enzyme) in their body to digest lactose.
What Are The Health Hazards Of Feeding Your Dog Cool Whip?
Since dogs do not react well to human food, it is common logic that they will also react badly to Cool Whip. Cool Whip contains several ingredients that can cause various symptoms in dogs:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Excessive thirst
- Lethargy
- Xylitol poisoning
Additionally, it can call several health hazards for your dog like:
- Weight gain
- Change in glucose
- In blood pressure
- Lactose intolerance
How To Safely Serve Dogs Cool Whip?
If you want to serve your dog Cool Whip, ensure that you give them a healthy and nutritious diet. Ensure they get a high level of carbohydrates and protein in their daily diet. This will make sure that all the adverse effects of eating Cool Whip are canceled. And make sure that your dog is well hydrated before feeding him Cool Whip. Additionally, ensure that Cool Whip is not made a habit for your dog and is an occasional treat for them.
Can Cool Whip Give Dogs Diarrhea?
Unfortunately, yes. Cool Whip can give your dog diarrhea if your dog has a history of lactose intolerance. It is noted that most dogs are lactose intolerant and do not digest any milk base product well. Therefore, if you observe symptoms like diarrhea and vomiting in your dog after feeding them Cool Whip, rush them to a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Cool Whip or whipped cream is not a food that will agree with every dog’s digestive system. Since most dogs are lactose intolerant because of the lack of lactase in their body, it is advised that you keep Cool Whip away from your dog. However, if you feel your dog is not lactose intolerant and has not reacted adversely to Cool Whip, you can feed it to them occasionally. Keep in mind:
- Look out for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy if you fed your dog Cool Whip for the first time.
- Always consult your veterinarian before feeding your dog any human food since dogs do not react well to it.
- If you decide to feed your dog the popular Starbucks puppuccinos, ensure that they have a healthy diet that gives them great nutritional value and does not negatively impact their health.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can Dogs Have Sugar-Free Cool Whip?
It is to be kept in mind that anything that is sugar-free will contain xylitol. Xylitol is added to food to make it taste sweet and is a replacement for sugar. Therefore, dogs can face something called xylitol poisoning if overfed with sugar-free food. The symptoms of xylitol poisoning are diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and excessive thirst, and you should rush your dog to the nearest veterinarian in case you see any of these symptoms.
Can Dogs Have Cool Whip Lite?
Cool Whip lite, just like its original variant, contains artificial ingredients and chemicals. They are as harmful to a dog as they are to a human. Cool Whip Lite uses lighter cream to make it fat-free. This means that it goes through extensive processes that can make it extremely harmful to a dog’s health.
Can Dogs Have Starbucks Puppuccinos?
Starbucks coffees for pups called puppuccinos are topped with Cool Whip. Since they are loaded with whipped cream, they can harm a dog’s health. However, if you give your dog a well-balanced dog diet, there are chances that your dog will not react to it. Therefore, if you want to feed your dog Starbucks puppuccino, ensure that you do it in moderate quantities and maintain a healthy diet for your dog.
