Whipped cream is a human food favorite and you’ll find it on the top of nearly every dessert. But is whipped cream safe for dogs to eat? Keep reading to see the answer, plus a recipe for homemade puppicinnos. 

Is whipped cream safe for dogs to eat? 

The fluffy dessert topper is aptly named – it’s heavy cream that’s been quickly mixed, or whipped, into a light foam. Heavy cream doesn’t taste great on it’s own, so most people add ingredients like powdered sugar, vanilla, or honey to sweeten up the flavor.

Dessert fans who want to avoid sugar may add sugar-free sweeteners to make their whipped cream more diet-friendly. Sugar-free sweeteners contain xylitol, which can be harmful to dogs. So can dogs eat whipped cream? It depends on the ingredients and what’s being used to sweeten the taste. 

While whipped cream isn’t the healthiest snacking choice for your pup, it’s mostly safe for them to eat. Just be sure that the whipped cream is free of sugar-free sweeteners. Whipped cream free of added sugar or sweeteners is an even better alternative for dogs. 

Avoid sugar-free whipped cream.

When dogs eat foods containing xylitol, their pancreas and liver are at risk. The xylitol tricks your dog’s body into thinking it’s eaten sugar and so the pancreas will produce insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. 

Since xylitol isn’t actually sugar, the insulin release can cause hypoglycemia. This causes a severe drop in blood sugar levels that can result in seizures, lethargy, and tremors. Severe cases of hypoglycemia in dogs may lead to death. 

Eating too much xylitol also causes your dog’s liver to stop processing insulin properly. If your pup’s liver isn’t functioning properly, there is a fatal risk of liver failure. 

These risks do not mean that your dog can’t enjoy whipped cream or puppuccinos. Just be cautious and take the time to look into the ingredients before feeding it to your pup. 

Are pup cups bad for dogs?

Pup cups, also known as puppuccinos, are a pet parent favorite. Starbucks has this menu item reserved just for dogs accompanying their humans on a coffee run. Puppucinnos are just tiny cups filled with whipped cream for your dog to enjoy while you sip your favorite Starbucks drink. 

But are pup cups bad for dogs? Pup cups from places like Starbucks should be safe for your furry friend. Starbucks whipped cream is made with heavy cream and vanilla extract. The lack of sugar-free sweeteners means your dog can enjoy puppucinnos as much as they please. 

Curious how to order a pup cup? Next time you go through the Starbucks drive-thru, simply ask for a “puppucinno” or “pup cup”. Either of these phrases work – Starbucks employees have dozens of dogs come through the drive-thru with their humans every day. At the window, an employee will hand over your drink and along with a free-of-charge pup cup. 

DIY Pup’kincino Recipe

While a sweet treat every now and then should be more or less okay for an average pup, it doesn't mean it's the best option. You may want to make your own puppicinno at home, to be sure of the ingredients, plus use some that are all around better for your pup than a cup of whipped cream. 

Here's an easy recipe for DIY dog treat you can whip up at home. 

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. non-fat plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup unsalted chicken broth–should not contain garlic or onion
• (optional) the liquid from 1 can of chickpeas–opt for an option with low to no sodium and no preservatives
• (optional) Sundays for Dogs pieces as a topping
• (optional) non-sugar-free whipped cream 

Supplies

• Can opener, if needed
• Measuring cups
• Measuring spoons
• Mixing bowls
• Whisk
• (optional) electric mixer

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Yield: 4 servings for dogs under 50 pounds, 2 servings for dogs over 50 pounds

Instructions

1.  Measure out the appropriate amounts of Greek yogurt and chicken broth and add to mixing bowl.
2. Whisk ingredients together to combine.
1. (Optional step 1) In a separate bowl, separate the aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas) from the solids. This recipe does not use the actual chickpeas.
2. (Optional step 2) Using the electric mixer, whip the aquafaba until stiff-peak consistency is achieved.
3. Pour the yogurt and broth mixture into a serving dish.
4. If continuing on to extra steps top the “latte” with a dollop of aquafaba whip or whipped cream, and finish it off with a square of Sundays for garnish.