Are Ice Cubes Safe for Dogs? Expert Tips & Health Facts

This summer, more-so than summers past, I strived to find easy, fun ways to keep my dogs cool.  This was my first summer ever having dogs and no air conditioner!  Some of our favorite ways to keep cool sans AC included wading around in our local brook, relaxing inside in front of fans, and exploring the nice shady woods around our house.  The dogs especially enjoyed eating doggy ice cream, both store bought and home-made.  I made bone broth and froze it in ice cube trays, which served the duel purpose of having a ready made frozen treat for the boys, but also as a way to make the broth last longer.  We put ice cubes in their water bowls, and sometimes just gave them ice cubes to play with.  Is it safe to give dogs ice cubes?  After reading some conflicting information I decided to do more research.

There has been a story circulating the internet, apparently since around 2007, that warns owners against giving dogs ice cubes or ice water.  All these years later I couldn’t find a link to the original article anymore, but the short version is that supposedly eating ice or drinking very cold water can cause a dog’s stomach to spasm, which can lead to bloat.  Bloat is most common in large dogs, although not unheard of in small breeds, and it can be deadly.

Photo Credit: Darren Hester, Wikimedia Commons

However, I was unable to find any reliable source that could explain the link between cold water, stomach spasms, and bloat.  Dr. Patty Khuly, in a now removed petmd article, wrote that “Frigid water gastric “cramping” is a falsehood akin to those that inform you that your hair will grow back coarser if you shave it (myth), or that you shouldn’t go swimming for 30 minutes after eating lest you drown in a fit of cramps (myth).”  Although I looked at many articles about bloat and its causes, I didn’t find a single source that specifically listed eating ice or drinking cold water as a risk factor for bloat.  The ASPCA states that “the exact cause [of bloat] is currently unknown. Certain risk factors include: rapid eating, eating one large meal daily, dry food-only diet, overeating, overdrinking [water of any temperature], heavy exercise after eating, fearful temperament, stress, trauma and abnormal gastric motility or hormone secretion.”

In fact, many veterinarians and pet experts recommend ice be given to teething puppies.  One of our old vets recommended offering ice chips as a way to help keep sick dogs hydrated.  I also came across many sources that recommended ice be used in pet bowls to keep their water cool in the summer.

The only widely documented risk of eating ice, that I could find, was that, because it’s so hard, it can cause fractured teeth.  If this is something you’re worried about, you can offer your dog crushed ice instead of ice cubes.  In addition, frozen treats such as doggy ice cream, yogurt, bone broth, etc, are usually quite a bit softer than plain ice.

I came across a few sources that also suggested ice can present a choking hazard, although I couldn’t find any actual cases of this happening.  My guess would be that, even if a dog were to swallow a large pieces of ice, it would quickly melt enough to not present as much of a choking risk.  If you have a dog that’s prone to gulping food, be especially careful not to offer large food items.  This is another instance where a softer frozen treat, or shaved ice, might prove safer than offering large ice chunks.

I know this is only anecdotal, but I’ve been giving my Kitsune ice cubes every now and then for 11+ years, and Fenrir for 5+, and we’ve never had any issues doing so.  Like most things, I think it’s important to offer frozen treats, ice included, in moderation.  Like for people, ice cubes for dogs should be made from fresh, clean water.  Know your dog.  My Fenrir, for example, usually likes playing with ice more than eating it.  Even when he does eat it, he licks at it rather than biting/chewing on it.  I doubt I’d ever have to worry about him hurting his teeth or choking on ice.  However, if his ice eating style was different I’d think twice about offering it to him, and would probably opt for offering shaved ice and soft frozen treats only.

If anyone comes across any information on this topic that I may have missed, feel free to comment and let me know!  For now I’ve decided that I’m going to chill when it comes to offering my dogs ice, and will continue to offer the occasional frozen treat to help keep my boys cool.