Can dogs eat whipped cream? Yes, dogs can eat whipped cream, but there are things you should know before they do!

Whipped cream is like the cherry on top for any dessert or sweet breakfast dish for people – and it can be for dogs too. After all, Starbucks’ famous Puppuccino is a popular whipped cream dish for dogs.

But like all products at coffee shops, they might not be the healthiest. So, let’s take a closer look at what’s in whipped cream to decide if it’s safe for dogs to ingest.

Is Whipped Cream Healthy For Dogs?

Whipped cream is definitely not a healthy choice for your dog. While a small amount should not cause any issues in healthy dogs, it still has sugar and too much can make their belly’s pretty yucky.

Whipped cream has no real health benefits for dogs other than being tasty. If your dog needs to gain some weight, it can be an exciting treat for food-motivated canines. It won’t harm your dog in small portions, but other than tasting good, there are no real positives to it.

Risks of Whipped Cream for Dogs

While whipped cream isn’t toxic for dogs, it can be dangerous if served too often. It’s high in sugar, fat, and calories, so it’s not a good treat for overweight dogs. Since whipped cream is also a dairy product, it could cause problems for lactose intolerant dogs. So, if your dog has never eaten whipped cream before, it’s possible that it could cause digestive problems.

Here are some symptoms to look out for if your dog eats whipped cream:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Teeth cavities or decay

Whipped cream commonly leads to nothing more than an upset stomach in dogs, but in extreme cases it could lead to diabetes or obesity. A small spoonful of it might not harm your pup, but it should never be a daily snack.

How Much Whipped Cream Can I Give My Dog?

Any food with no nutritional value should be given in small servings, if at all. A good recommendation is to give your dog a serving that’s no bigger than their paw. This snack should never be given to them more than one day in a row.

Whipped cream is more airy than most human foods, but a little can go a long way. Even small amounts can have too much fat for dogs. Dogs only need a certain amount of fat in their diet, and most of that should be made up of healthy fats from animal sources.

One cup of pressurized whipped cream contains about 13 grams of fat, which is about how much fat a 30-pound dog would need in a single day. So, when it comes to unhealthy snacks like whipped cream, less is more.

Whipped Cream Nutrition Facts for Dogs

In order to best determine if dogs should have whipped cream or not, we need to look more closely at the nutrition facts. Whipped cream and other similar products all have ingredients that might not be the safest for dogs.

Here are general whipped cream nutrition facts (per 1 cup):

• Calories – 154.2
• Total Fat – 13.3 g
• Cholesterol – 45.6 mg
• Sodium – 4.8 mg
• Potassium – 88.2 mg
• Carbohydrates – 7.5 g
• Protein – 1.9 g

As suspected, whipped cream is high in a lot of items that are considered unhealthy for dogs. Dogs shouldn’t have that much fat, calories, sodium, or carbs in a snack that’s not beneficial.

While potassium and protein are healthy items that your dog should get in their diet, whipped cream probably isn’t the best way for them to get those things. In most cases, a healthy dog treat, a fruit, or a vegetable will be a much better treat for your canine.

Healthier Alternatives to Whipped Cream for Dogs

There’s only one ingredient in the Starbucks puppuccino: whipped cream. Puppuccinos are simply served in an espresso cup or a sample cup to make your dog feel extra special. This whipped cream is probably one of the safest things for your dog in the Starbucks drive thru, but there are so many better treats you could serve them.

If your dog loves whipped cream, but can’t handle much lactose, then you could simply try a different type of whipped cream. Coconut whipped cream is an example of a dairy-free puppuccino for dogs. The same is true for how coconut milk is a safer option for dogs than regular cow milk.

You could also serve your dog some dog-friendly ice cream. Regular ice cream usually has too much sugar and lactose for dogs to handle, which is why some pet supply stores sell dog-specific ice cream. These brands provide a cold, tasty treat for dogs without all these unnecessary ingredients that could upset your dog’s stomach.

While they’re not the same food group, fruits can also be a sweet treat for your pup. Just be sure to research which fruits are safe for dogs before serving them. Blueberries, raspberries, and apples are all examples of fruits that your dog can enjoy. Fruits often provide more health benefits for dogs than other human foods too.

Keeping Your Dog Healthy

It might be tempting to grab a cup of whipped cream for your dog every time you pick up coffee, but you might want to hold back on the puppuccinos for now. Whipped cream is especially tasty for dogs, but it’s not what they need in their diets. So, if you’re worried about your dog’s health, stick to beneficial treats instead and skip the ones with no real health benefits.