There have been a few alarming blogs and articles on the internet claiming that it is dangerous to give your dog ice cubes or frozen treats. I can’t scroll through one community Facebook page – other than Spoilt Dog Club, obvs – without seeing at least one person claiming that their ‘cousin’s, friend’s, sister’s, cat’s, uncle’s vet said’ they shouldn’t give dogs frozen treats.
It’s simply untrue. Iced treats are perfectly fine for your pet on a hot day, that is unless they’re suffering from signs of heatstroke. You can find all the signs to look out for, and what to do should you suspect your dog has heat stroke here.
The only other thing you might want to be careful of with frozen treats is dogs with dental issues chomping on ice. Soft frozen treats like Doggy Doggy Yum Yum are not only safe for dogs to enjoy when the temperatures soar, but offer relief from the hot weather and help them to cool down.
The 100 per cent organic treat comes from the team behind Baboo Gelato, and is a delicious, dairy-free, gluten free and vegan treat to cool down our furry family members. Inspired by her flat-coated retriever, Dasha, Annie Hanbury – a Bologna-trained professional ice cream maker – launched the brand after wanting to make better ‘ice cream’ for dogs.
Their peanut butter and banana frozen dessert is a lactose-free treat made with live coconut yoghurt, bananas, peanut butter and agave syrup. This means it’s also lactose-free, making it gentler on tummies, as most dogs struggle to digest lactose without a runny tummy.
The brand said: “We love our dog Dasha and want to give her the best. There is a lot of muck in both human and dog food, and we don’t think it has to be like this. Doggy Doggy Yum Yum is made for dogs who want a cool treat in the summer heat, just like their owners.
“It is made with 100% organic ingredients. We don’t want to give dogs anything less than we want for ourselves. In fact it is so good we eat it ourselves. How many pet products can say that?”
Annie’s belief is that just because something is given to dogs we shouldn’t compromise on ingredients, so everything that goes into Doggy Doggy Yum Yum is organic, with added health benefits, too.
Live coconut yoghurt contains live cultures which are good for the gut, and it also contains vitamin C, magnesium, potassium and iron, working as a good immune booster. Meanwhile, bananas contain potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, are high in fibre which is good for gastrointestinal problems, and magnesium which is good for bone growth.
Then there’s pooch-favourite peanut butter, which is not only an absolute favourite tail-wagger, but also contains lots of B vitamins, vitamin E and magnesium.
The ice cream comes in 120ml tubs which are recyclable, too. There is even a wooden spoon in the lid to help your dog scoop out every last bit. That said, they’re now masters at cleaning canine ice cream pots, so it’s not like they need the assistance.
They love the banana and peanut butter flavour – as evidenced by the empty pots – and the Scamps can often be found lurking near the freezer asking for another.
You can get your paws on Doggy Doggy Yum Yum at one of four kiosks at tourists spots across the UK including West Bay, Morecombelake, Weymouth and Lyme Regis, or shop online for £2.65 a tub at Baboo Gelato.
