Is canned whipped cream safe for dogs?

Now that Fall has arrived, there are certain things we are going to see more of through the end of the year. One of those things is whipped cream (or perhaps even Cool Whip). That is because as the holidays approach, more people are making things like and hot chocolate, where a dollop of whipped cream just seems to be the perfect finishing touch. But is this a dog safe treat?

As we all know those Pup Cups we get when we go out to places like Starbucks and Dunkin', are actually just dollops of whipped cream in a cup. So that made us curious about just how safe canned whipped cream really is for our dogs, if we are giving them cups of whipped cream from restaurants and cafes.

We asked an expert whether or not canned whipped cream was a dog safe treat. And at the same time, we also asked them about Cool Whip, as that is definitely another product we see pop up more often around the holidays as well. So what did our expert share with us?

Is canned whipped cream (or Cool Whip) safe for dogs?

Our expert answers came from Dr. Antje Joslin who is a veterinary consultant for Dogtopia. Not only did she answer our question about how safe whipped cream might be for our dogs, but she also answered our additional question about Cool Whip itself.

Starting with canned whipped cream, here is what Dr. Joslin had to say:

"While whipped cream itself isn't toxic, it’s not the healthiest treat for dogs. Many whipped creams contain sugar and sometimes artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which is toxic to dogs. If you do offer it, do so in moderation and check the ingredients first."

- Dr. Antje Joslin

And of course our second question was all about Cool Whip, which is not quite the same as whipped cream.

"Cool Whip is not toxic, but it contains sugar and other additives that aren’t great for dogs. It’s best to avoid giving it to them regularly, and like with whipped cream, moderation is key."

- Dr. Antje Joslin

Clearly we need to be mindful of the amount of sugar our pups are consuming, but it is also important to check the labels to make sure that the ingredient list does not say Xylitol or Birch Sugar (an alternative name for Xylitol) as this is toxic to dogs. It is also important to avoid flavored whipped creams, especially some of the more fancy flavors like Pumpkin Spice or Chocolate, as these are also bad for our dogs.

Basically, be careful with how much whipped cream we are giving our pups, while also avoiding any that contain harmful chemicals.