When you consume extremely cold foods and drinks too quickly, you’re likely to experience brain freeze. For pet parents, we often wonder: Do dogs get brain freeze too? Quick answer: Yes! When it comes to brain freeze in dogs, here’s exactly what you need to know.
Article Summary
Let’s Answer Your Question: Do Dogs Get Brain Freeze?
Often referred to as an ice cream headache or cold stimulus headache, brain freeze is a well-known condition that can affect an extensive array of dogs.
In simple terms: Brain freeze is basically a painful headache, but it normally doesn’t last too long.
In more scientific terms: Brain freeze causes a change in blood flow in a dog’s mouth, throat, and sinuses area, which ultimately results in local vasoconstriction. This condition causes the blood vessels to constrict. The change in blood vessels is why many dogs experience pain.
What Causes Brain Freeze In Dogs?
There are a couple of reasons why dogs suffer from a brain freeze sensation.
A dog can get brain freeze by quickly eating extremely cold foods and drinks. Contrary to most humans, many dogs do not know when to take a break from eating cold substances. They are usually unaware that their tasty food or drink is causing severe pain.
The second cause of brain freeze in dogs is a medical condition. Some dogs may experience brain freezes more often if their bodies have an imbalance of chemicals. Other dogs may suffer from frequent brain freezes if they have arthritis or a cranial nerve disorder.
What Are The Signs Of Brain Freeze In Dogs?
As a loving pet owner, you probably want to know the signs of brain freeze in dogs. By recognizing these signs, you’ll be able to provide the appropriate treatment as soon as possible. If your dog is experiencing any of the following signs, there’s a good chance that it has a brain freeze.
- Pain in the forehead or face
- Extremely strange behavior
- Frequent shaking or tingling
- Excessive pacing
- Widened eyes and mouth
- Whimpering or crying
Do you notice any of these signs in your dog? Does your pet exhibit critical signs of stress in a dog? If so, you’ll want to provide treatment in a timely manner.
Can You Feed Your Furry Friend Traditional Ice Cream?
According to virtually every vet, you should never offer your pup regular ice cream or an ice cream cone because it’s extremely toxic for dogs. If your dog ever consumes regular cold ice cream, it could be at risk of an ice cream headache and serious health problems. In the short term, your dog may start vomiting a lot. In the long term, your dog may develop diabetes and obesity.
The good news is that many vets can recommend safe alternatives to regular ice cream. If you’re trying to get your pup to cool down, you can offer it a few cups of ice cubes. You’ll want to avoid giving your dog extremely cold water as it could result in brain freeze.
Dogs will love eating ice cream. Tip: a great alternative to regular ice cream are dog-friendly ice creams. You can make dog-friendly ice cream at home or buy it at the local grocery store. If you decided to make dog-friendly ice cream at home, look for recipes without milk [1]. The recipes with yogurt tend to result in the best dog-friendly ice cream.
Try making frozen popsicles or flavored ice cubes for your dog too. Your dog will love these great varieties of tasty dog treats.
Your Dog Has Brain Freeze: What Should You Do?
Most dogs with brain freeze will require immediate attention after consuming a cold treat.
The first thing that you should do is stop feeding your dog the cold food or drink and give it room temperature water.
In order to reduce your dog’s shaking or tingling, gently rub its coat and forehead. You’ll also be comforting your dog emotionally.
You can also comfort your dog with soothing words.
How Can You Prevent Brain Freeze In Dogs?
While this condition isn’t uncommon, you can reduce the chances of your dog suffering from a brain freeze. Check out these really great ways to prevent brain freeze in dogs.
- Avoid feeding your dog ice cream
- Offer your dog cold food in small quantities
- Substitute cold foods and drinks with alternative options such as liver and dog snacks.
- Try combining frozen treats with liver, dehydrated dogs treat, or even dry dog food
- Give your dog cool water instead of really cold water throughout the day.
- Consider alternative ways to cool your dog down in the summer like backyard sprinklers, dog water parks, and an inflatable swimming pool. Make sure that your dog is getting plenty of exercises too
- Provide your dog with plenty of shade or an air-conditioned room during a hot day
When Should You Visit A Vet?
As soon as you notice any significant changes in your dog’s health, you should contact a vet immediately.
If you accidentally gave your dog ice cream, it may experience vomiting and diarrhea.
A vet will check out your dog’s blood vessels and recommend the appropriate treatment. A vet will be able to properly treat your dog’s brain freeze with medicine and/or therapy.
Be sure to ask the vet any questions that you may have about your dog’s condition.
FAQ
1. What happens when a dog gets a brain freeze?
When a dog gets a brain freeze, it will not be feeling well.
Many dogs will start to behave rather unusually. A dog may start shaking or experience tingling. It may start to cry and whine a lot.
Many dogs suffering from a brain freeze may also have widened mouths and eyes.
2. Does brain freeze hurt dogs?
For most dogs, brain freeze isn’t a pleasant experience. Most dogs who suffer from brain freeze will experience a painful headache. Not only will a dog’s forehead hurt, but its entire face may also be in pain.
These such dogs may also suffer from excessive shaking and tinging.
If you suspect that your dog is experiencing extreme pain, take it to the vet in a timely manner.
3. Can a dog get a cold headache?
A cold headache is similar to a brain freeze, so yes, your dog can experience this condition.
When a dog is suffering from a cold headache, it may be experiencing forehead pain, tingling, and strange behaviors.
In order to relieve your dog’s cold headache, stop feeding it cold food and drinks. You’ll also want to massage its coat and forehead.
Be sure to visit a vet if you suspect your dog’s cold headache isn’t improving.
4. Does brain freeze cause damage?
When brain freeze isn’t treated immediately, it could cause serious damage in dogs. For example, if your brain freeze is due to your dog eating traditional ice cream, it may be prone to pancreatitis.
One way to prevent brain freeze from seriously affecting your dog is to take it to the vet immediately. A vet may give your dog effective treatments like IV fluids.
While brain freeze could cause lasting damage, many experts believe it isn’t likely, especially if the condition is treated promptly.
