Many of us adore whipped cream for its creamy, airy texture and irresistible taste. It works great for many desserts and snacking applications. The light, fluffy treat goes well on a slice of pie or a sweetener to fresh fruit. So, there is no doubt we all adore this treat as humans, but can dogs eat whipped cream from Starbucks? Is Starbucks Puppuccino safe for your pup?
As you may already know, many perfectly fine foods for humans aren’t necessarily good treats for dogs. When it comes to whipped cream, yes, dogs can safely eat this Starbucks secret menu item. However, as a caring dog owner, you’ll need to feed your pup responsibly by observing a few rules we’ll discuss below.
Can Dogs Eat Whipped Cream From Starbucks?
Originated in Italy during the 16th century, whipped cream, then known as “milk snow,” was served to royalty and aristocrats throughout the country. The first recipes for the light and airy treat appeared as early as 1549. After being introduced to England in 1673, the delicacy took on a new name, “whipped cream,” but was still alternatively referred to as “snow cream” for over 100 years.
In terms of nutrient content, this Starbucks treat has 76% of its calories emanating from fat, about 19% from simple sugar carbohydrates, and only 5% from protein. This makes Puppuccino offer minimal nutritional value to both humans and dogs. Other than small amounts of Vitamin A and calcium, it contains minimal amounts of vital nutrients. So, yes, dogs can eat this Starbucks delicacy, but it offers insignificant health and nutritional benefits.
Health Benefits Of Starbucks Puppuccino For Dogs
Puppuccino majorly contains fats that are rich in calories and coffee. Unless your pooch is underweight and struggling to gain weight, this delicious drink offers little or no health benefits. The treat is extremely calorie-dense, making it a desirable treat for food-motivated dogs.
How To Safely Feed Starbucks Puppuccino To Your Dog
Feeding your dog this drink is easy and intuitive regardless of the source or the items contained. It can be homemade, out of a tub of Cool Whip, or from a pressurized can. For dogs that enjoy the sweet and fatty taste of Puppuccino as well as its airy texture, you can use it as an occasional treat for positive reinforcement training. This works great for highly food-motivated dogs.
How Much Starbucks Puppuccino Should Dogs Eat?
Since offers little nutritional value, you should only give your dog little amounts infrequently. A safe rule of thumb is to provide a small portion of the treat not larger than his paws.
Due to its airy volume, it’s easy to feed your dog excessive amounts of Puppuccino unknowingly. For example, a medium-sized dog breed weighing about 30 pounds requires approximately 14 grams of fat each day. Just a single cup of pressurized cream from a can contains over 13 grams of fat, which is nearly the maximum amount your dog needs per day.
Combined with other meals your pup takes throughout the day, you can easily exceed your dog’s daily fat intake and trigger various health issues such as obesity. Always consider that before feeding whipped milk. Additionally, if your dog exhibits signs of lactose intolerance — gas, bloating, and diarrhea — be sure to cut down on milk products or avoid them entirely.
Is Starbucks Puppuccino Safe For Dogs?
Technically speaking, Puppuccino is safe for dogs to eat. It’s basically non-toxic and won’t cause any known immediate harm to most dogs. Besides, many pups love the treat, which makes it great for reinforcing positive behavior.
Essentially, this dairy product is just air-infused cream rich in lactose. However, it’s not an appropriate food that your dogs should consume regularly. One common long-term effect of feeding your dog this delicacy regularly is obesity, something you don’t want to pooch to struggle with.
Can Puppuccino Be Bad For Dogs?
Statistics indicate that many dogs are lactose intolerant. Most dog breeds find it difficult to digest lactose, the primary sugar found in dairy milk products. So, feeding your dog too much whipped milk may lead to gas, bloating, or diarrhea.
Additionally, whipped cream is rich in fats and sugars, which might contribute to canine obesity. Because of this downside, you should never make it a regular part of your dog’s diet. Regularly feeding your dog Puppuccino in large quantities can result in nasty side effects, such as:
1: Weight Gain
If you check the nutritional facts of Puppuccino on the back of the can, you’ll notice high figures for sugars and saturated fat. Both nutrient constituents are safe in moderation, but taking too much can lead to excessive weight. Saturated fats particularly make dogs put on more weight quickly. Consuming Puppuccino regularly can result in canine obesity within no time.
2: Dental Problems
High sugars in Puppuccino can easily affect your dog’s teeth. The same way candies cause a host of dental problems for kids, this heavy cream can cause tooth decay and periodontal disease in your pet. Sugars often seed up dental problems in pets by producing harmful acids in their mouth.
3: Heart Disease And Diabetes
Other than weight gain, those extra pounds come with a higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. Puppuccino is very high in sugars, which gives the fluffy treat its irresistible taste. Unfortunately, consuming too much of this sweet treat will cause your dog’s blood sugar levels to spike up and ultimately lead to diabetes. Both diabetes and heart disease are life-long conditions that will affect all aspects of your pup’s health and wellbeing. So, be sure to trade with caution and avoid treats such as Puppuccino as much as you can.
4: Bloat
Puppuccino’s light and fluffy texture is typically generated by air. While it might not be visible, your pup is gulping a lot of air when consuming Puppuccino, resulting in bloats. In some situations, bloat can be downright deadly. It can even cause your dog’s stomach to convulse and turn on itself, restricting airflow and exerting immense pressure on other organs.
When left unaddressed for long, bloat can cause sudden death in dogs. If you suspect that your pooch has consumed large amounts of Puppuccino, it’s best to take her to the vet ASAP.
5: Lactose Intolerance
Dogs don’t have the ability to handle large amounts of lactose. Although most dogs aren’t fully lactose intolerant, different dogs exhibit varying sensitivity to lactose. Some dog breeds do not digest dairy products well, which could lead to vomiting, allergic reactions, and digestive problems.
Even if you usually limit Puppuccino to an annual holiday treat, you need to ensure that your pup can handle it beforehand.
6: Digestive Upsets
Consuming too much of this product can also lead to some digestive discomfort. Note that sensitivity to dairy products varies significantly from one dog to the next. More often, smaller dog breeds tend to be more intolerant than larger dogs. If your dog’s diet comprises mainly dry kibble, a sudden influx of wet dog foods such as dairy products will not bode well in their digestive system. It will likely cause diarrhea and acute discomfort, so you need to trade with caution.
Wrapping Up
In a nutshell, this special treat won’t likely kill your dog, but it’s also not adding any significant nutritional value. You can find far better alternative treats and snackers you can feed your pup. Due to its high fat and sugar content and lack of vitamins and minerals, it’s best to keep this delicacy as an occasional treat for your dog. More importantly, avoid giving your pet Puppuccino unless you’ve determined that his digestive system is capable of handling milk products.
