If it’s too hot for us, it’s definitely too hot for our cats and dogs.
There are lots of tips and tricks to keep cats and dogs cool in the hot weather, but one of the cutest methods is providing your pet with their very own icy treat.
But please don’t rush to just give your much-loved pets a lick of whatever ice lolly or ice cream you’ve picked up from the van.
While a Calippo might be just what you need to keep your cool when temperatures rise, the treats we love can cause harm to cats and dogs.
Instead, you’ll need to make your pets their own frozen treats. Handily enough, we’ve got a recipe for ice lollies for cats and dogs below.
Can cats and dogs have ice lollies?
Cats and dogs are fine to have ice cubes and blocks in the heat, whether you put them in their water bowl or just pass your pet an ice cube to play with.
They can also have ice lollies – but only ones made especially for cats and dogs.
The sugars and other ingredients in iced treats made for humans can cause harm to our four-legged friends, ranging from vomiting and diarrhoea to severe reactions.
Even a few licks of plain ice cream can cause trouble, as cats and dogs can struggle to digest lactose, meaning they’ll vomit.
Instead, you need to make your pet their very own lolly with ingredients that are good for them… and that they’ll actually enjoy. Cats don’t have sweet taste buds, after all, so even the poshest sugary ice cream flavour won’t be that exciting for them.
How to make an ice lolly for your cat
This recipe is from Battersea, and while the resulting lolly seems pretty gross to people, your cat will absolutely love it.
Ingredients:
- Liquid from 1 Tin of tuna in spring water
- 400ml Water
- Small Paper cup for a mould
- Meaty treat stick (or any stick-shaped cat treat)
Method:
How to make an ice lolly for your dog
Ingredients:
- 1 Apple
- 1 Carrot
- 300ml Water
- Meaty treat stick (stick-shaped edible dog treat)
- Paper cups for a mould
Method:
You can add loads of other ingredients to your dog’s ice lolly, such as flax seed, blueberries, peanut butter, and meat – just make sure to check your chosen ingredients are safe for dogs then load ’em in.
Rebecca MacIver, rehoming and welfare manager at Battersea, said: ‘Hot weather can be really uncomfortable for dogs and cats, so it’s important that owners do a bit of forward planning on keeping their pets cool in higher temperatures.
‘At Battersea we give our canine and feline residents a frozen treat on warmer days, as part of their regular healthy balanced diets, to help keep them as comfortable as possible.
‘Making treats like these for your pet can be a great way to bond with them and is a fun activity for any member of the family!’
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