Is it safe to eat ice cubes?

[Debbie and Toby]

Toby loves eating ice cubes, expecially now that the weather is warmer, and I have been reading a lot of posts about how much other doodles love eating ice...my concern is his teeth. I have been told not to give him ice cubes as it puts him at risk of breaking a tooth, or choking.....(we never give him ice when we are not able to supervise),  also we were told recently that giving him ice cold water can cause muscle spasms in the stomach which can result in bloat.   We have already had temps in the 90's and  will occasionally add some crushed ice to his water or add a couple ice cubes, now I am not sure if I should be doing this.  Does anyone have any opinions on either of these issues?

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

I give Coco ice. She loves if and we have never had a problem. This was the only treat she would eat as a young puppy!!

[Kerri B. & Zoey]

My Golden LOVED ice cubes and would come running whenever the ice machine went off - she ate them daily.  No issues.

[Val MacQueen and Jasper]

Jasper loves to eat Ice cubes After chasing them around the floor for a bit. We have had no problems with ice.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have given my dogs ice cubes and I can't imagine that an ice cube is harder on teeth than bones. As to the effect on bloat, I have no idea.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

I did an internet search and found that although the question about ice cubes and bloat has been asked numerous times there is no reliable information to support a connection but there are many posts that claim the ice causes stomach spasms leading to bloat.

[cheryl & oliver]

Oliver has had ice cubes since he was a puppy, he loves them, and he also comes running if he hears the ice machine...I never thought about bloat with ice water, although I never give ice water, lol...This is Florida, even the cold water is warm thru the taps.  I do mix with water from the frig, but I am wondering if it is true about cold wter causing muscle problems..Well I can't take away Oliver's ice cubes, he loves them, but I can not give really cold water, so that is wht i will do...

[Dori & Rua]

Rua loves ice cubes.  We are putting them in her downstairs water bowl now that the weather has warmed up.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Our doodles love ice cubes too with no problems!

[Adina P]

Someone on another forum recently posted an article on this.  http://rogersparkdog.blogspot.com/2007/08/dogs-and-iceice-water-dog... --- whether this information is supported by research or is just speculation I have NO idea.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Interesting but still anecdotal. Surely not a good idea to give a dog lots of ice/ice water. I probably will continue to give my dogs an ice cube once n a while under supervision. That is, of course, if I clean my freezer enough to actually make ice cubes. This is declutter summer!

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Very Interesting blog. Thanks Adina...I never give a lot of ice cubes, just 1 to play with. I may reconsider....

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Thanks for starting this discussion....I will say that the BLOG Adina linked was very interesting, it appears to me that the dog was given ICE WATER - really cold. Caution is a good idea, however....
I give Daisy an ice cube once in a while, it is small and mostly melted before it is gone, mostly she licks it, knocks it around, usually there is a small puddle, I seriously doubt this practice would cause bloat. I don't give it to her to cool her water or cool her down.