Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream? Is It Alright For My Pooch To Have Some Puppuccino?

Indeed, happiness is a cup of your favorite coffee topped with fresh whipped cream (for humans at least).

In the realm of dogs, though, coffee is a definite no-no since this can be toxic. But, how about whipped cream? Can dogs eat whipped cream? Is whipped cream safe for dogs to eat?

Those are good questions and valid ones in our books. We all know that this isn’t the healthiest even for humans; what more for dogs? Then again, having a few every now and then won’t hurt, right? Or will it?

Well, slow down and hold those questions because, in a matter of minutes, all of those will be answered.

If you don’t know it yet, DogFood.Guide just loves to uncover the facts about anything related to dogs, including the sweet and creamy truth about whipped cream and its effects on your dog’s health.

Need-To-Know Whipped Cream Facts

Your everyday oatmeal, hot choco, or dessert are just much more fun and yummy with a touch of whipped cream. Yes, this light and fluffy dessert topping is all you need to make something so basic special (even IG-worthy). 

Interestingly, this type of “human” food has been around for ages – think 16th century. Italians, back then, call it neve di latte, while French call it neige de lait. When translated to English, both mean “milk snow.”

Nutrition-wise, whipped cream isn’t on top of the list of foods with the highest nutritional value. In fact, whipped cream is high in fat and sugar.

But, since this dairy product is made of cream derived from fresh, raw milk, many will be surprised to find out the nutrients hidden inside this simple yet delectable treat or dessert topping.

So, what can you get from a half cup of heavy whipping cream? According to Healthline, here are some of the vitamins and minerals you can enjoy:

• Protein (3g)
• Vitamin A (35% of the RDI)
• Vitamin D (10% of the RDI)
• Phosphorus (7% of the RDI)
• Calcium (7% of the RDI)
• Vitamin E (7% of the RDI)
• Choline (4% of the RDI)
• Vitamin K (3% of the RDI)

Fresh Whipped Cream Vs. Whipped Topping

Both may sound the same since fresh whipped cream is often used as a dessert topping, but there’s a BIG difference between the two. 

Fresh whipped cream refers to homemade ones. It is made by beating heavy, light, double, or manufacturing cream using a mixer or whisk until you get that stable, airy, and fluffy foam texture whipped cream has been known for. Sugar, vanilla, and other ingredients are usually added to the mix to sweeten its taste.

On the one hand, whipped topping refers to the readily available, store-bought type of whipped cream (think the likes of Cool Whip and Reddi-Whip).

Since these imitation whipped creams are made to last longer than fresh whipped cream, expect that tub of Cool Whip or can of Redd-Whip to contain preservatives and a lot more sugar.

Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream?

After a tiring morning walk with your four-legged pup, it’s good to get your daily dose of caffeine. Since your treating yourself to a nice cup of coffee, you might as well get your trusty companion a fun treat. Good thing, Starbucks’ secret menu includes a free cup of puppuccino. But, can dogs eat whipped cream? 

The short answer here is Yes, but only in moderation. True, despite its low nutritional value, whipping cream isn’t entirely bad for dogs since it is not toxic like chocolate or grapes.

Whipped cream is safe for dogs. As such, it can be given as an occasional treat. But then again, there are situations wherein feeding your dog whipped cream might be a bad idea. 

Benefits Of Whipped Cream For Dogs

If you can recall, we mentioned that whipped cream contains vitamins and minerals. Reaping these, however, is far from happening since you’d have to feed whipped cream to your dog a lot before it enjoys its benefits. The consequence, though, for doing this outweigh the rewards.

But, if you can’t resist the urge to feed whipped cream to your dog or to give your dogs some of Starbucks’ puppuccino, you can do it with less guilt if you think about its few nifty benefits.

Boosts Your Pup’s Energy

If your healthy dog is feeling a bit sluggish, a taste of a sweet whipped cream might just get his system up and running. You can thank the added fat, sugar, and calories in whipped cream for this.

Serves As A Great Training Treat For Dogs

Training your dog to “leave it” requires a lot of patience and a taste of whipped cream. Yes, you heard it right. Whipped cream serves as an excellent high-value training treat for dogs, especially for difficult commands.

 

When Whipped Cream Is Bad For Dogs

Whipped cream might be safe for dogs and might not be toxic, but it isn’t healthy. Like many types of human food out there, eating this comes with risks.

So, if you’ve already ordered a Starbucks puppuccino on the go for your pet dog, you should hold on to that cup of whipped cream a little longer. 

It’s true that letting your dogs eat whipped cream is fine and won’t kill them, but overdoing it might.

To get to the bottom of this, here is a list of all the possible health problems your pet dog might experience after feeding your dog a tablespoon or more of whipped cream:

Lactose Intolerance

Perhaps you’ve read from somewhere that many dogs are lactose intolerant. Well, this is true. Food intolerance in dogs is commonly caused by dairy products, including milk, cheese, and whipped cream.

Note, however, that dogs vary a lot. The number of dogs with lactose intolerance might be plenty, but some can tolerate small amounts of dairy products in their system. If your dog is one of them, then lucky you. 

But, if your dogs show signs of being lactose intolerant (think stomach upset, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and vomiting) after feeding them whipped cream, contact your vet right away. Your dogs are also better of eating non-dairy products for treats.

Weight Gain Or Obesity

As mentioned, whipped cream contains lots of calories, fat and sugar included. And just like in humans, eating too much whipped cream can lead to canine obesity.

Diabetes

Include sugar-loaded treats in your dog’s daily diet, and your dog might just end up with a high blood sugar level, or worst – diabetes. If left untreated, the high sugar levels in your dog’s blood can lead to organ damage.

Pancreatitis

Letting your dog eat foods or desserts high in fat is not recommended. Dogs have a hard time digesting fat, and when there’s too much of it to digest, your poor dog might develop a painful health condition called pancreatitis. 

Xylitol Poisoning

Many sweet treats in the market use artificial sweeteners to do away with sugar. Now, this may be fine for people but ultimately dangerous for your dog. So, if your commercial whipped cream is labeled sugar-free, make sure to keep these out of your dog’s reach. 

Xylitol poisoning can lead to a sudden reduction of your dog’s blood sugar levels and cause vomiting, lethargy, and seizures.

Tips On How To Feed Whipped Cream To Your Dog

Now that we’re done discussing the health benefits and risks of whipped cream for dogs, let’s talk about what you can do to lessen such health risks when your dog eats whipped cream. 

That’s right! Your dog can eat whipped cream as long as you give this sweet treat to your dog the right way. Here are a few pointers you ought to remember:

Avoid Sugar-Free Whipped Cream

If there’s a whipped cream that’s bad for dogs, that would be the sugar-free whipped cream. Since whipped cream has to taste sweet, these dairy food products would most likely contain artificial sweeteners that are harmful for dogs to eat.

Always Start Small

If it’s your dog’s first time to eat whipped cream, make sure to give small amounts – meaning just a spoonful. This way, you can check if your dog can tolerate it. After giving a spoonful, watch out for signs of stomach upset, diarrhea, gas, and the like.

Give It In Moderation & As ONLY An Occasional Treat 

Your dog will most likely eat any food you offer them. As such, the responsibility of limiting the amount of high-fat foods your dog eats lies on you alone. 

When it comes to whipped cream, adding this to their daily diet is NOT recommended, given its high calorie and fat content. Moderation is key! As such, it’s best to feed this to your pup as an occasional treat or only during special occasions.

How Much Whipped Cream Is Too Much?

When it comes to the amount of whipping cream to feed your dog, it’s suggested to give just a tiny amount. By small, what we mean is that it shouldn’t exceed the size of their paw. 

Final Thoughts

Is whipped cream safe for dogs? Yes. Is whipped cream bad for dogs? Yes, it can be.

We know that sharing food, treats, or desserts with your bestie dogs is always great. However, this happy moment can turn drastically wrong if you ignore the risks (think gas and vomiting). 

When it comes to Cool Whip or puppaccino, your dog can have a little once in a while as long as they’re in tip-top shape.

However, if your dogs have food allergies or weight issues, it’s best to focus on what matters more: their overall health and giving them a well-balanced diet.