Humans and furry friends alike can agree that, there is nothing better in the heat of summer than a frozen treat to help cool off. Not only do they take the edge off a sweltering day, but they can also have additional health benefits for your pet as well as being a source of mental stimulation. Frozen treats can be another source of hydration and keep your pet busy as they can easily be put into toys or puzzle devices your pet can work on for hours.

Different types of frozen treats

Here are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to frozen treats for our furry friends from store bought to DIY.  While each option is mostly based on preference, there are some things to consider when which frozen treat your pup gets to munch on. When considering store bought options, the main element to watch for is sugar content.  Ice-cream and popsicles can be a joy for people but should not be given to dogs due to excessive sugar and dairy content irritating dogs’ digestive systems. An irritated digestive system for most dogs involves vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. If store bought is the way for you, there are several pet safe brands, as well as specialty retail shops online, offering many different styles and flavours that are pet friendly.

Nowadays, the most popular option for frozen pet treats is homemade. There are many fun and easy recipes online that can be made in a matter of minutes while the longest part is waiting for them to freeze! Below is a list of ideas for homemade options:

• Plain ice cubes – great on their own to chase across a floor or an easy addition to cool off the water bowl. If you have a spare bowl – filling half of it with water and freezing it will also provide additional source of cooler water.
• Flavoured ice - freeze sodium free broths or electrolyte solutions in ice cube trays. DoggyRade, KittyRade and YummyRade are the perfect frozen summer treat for your pets. These can also be placed in a water bowl to encourage your pet to drink more, but once melted the bowl should be cleaned and refilled with fresh water. The electroytes in both will help your pet recover those lost due to increased heat and activity
• Frozen fruit– fruit like banana, watermelon, cantaloupe, and blueberries can be frozen in water or pureed with other ingredients to be poured into moulds and frozen for bite sized treats
• Pupsicles – these can be made by using peanut butter, pumpkin, or yogurt as a base and adding things like fruit, bacon, or veggies that can be frozen in moulds
• Brothsicle – a new trend is to take horse carrots (cleaned and peeled), place them in a mould or cup, pour in broth or electrolyte solution, and freeze. This creates a toy and treat all in one that dogs can work through to get to the carrot in the middle.

Things to remember: 

• As always, only use pet safe ingredients and stay away from certain fruits like grapes and certain ingredients in broths like onions and garlic. Don’t forget that chocolate is very toxic to dogs, so stick to plain or dog safe fruit flavours and yogurts.
• While most dogs are lactose sensitive and should not have dairy, yogurt is safe for dogs in moderation. Yogurt contains probiotics that are beneficial for a dog’s digestive tract as they regulate the microbes within the intestine. If yogurt is not tolerated by your dog’s digestive system even in small doses, try substituting it with coconut milk.
• Treats should not make up more than 10% of a pet’s diet. Talk with your vet to make sure these homemade treats fit in with your pet’s diet. zoo
• Avoid freezing popsicles with sticks as they can get stuck in your pet’s throat and cause intestinal damage.
• Frozen treats can be stored up 2-3 months, so leave a draw in your freezer for your furry friends treats.

Check out our YummyRade video here for inspiration!