A cold treat on a hot summer day can be so refreshing, until a sharp pain attacks your head! If you’ve enjoyed an ice cream cone or slushy, you’ve probably experienced brain freeze at times. But what about your pup? Does Fido experience the same shooting pains in the head when he takes a few licks of your ice cream cone?
Dogs enjoy treats too, but you don’t want to give them something that will cause them pain. Here’s how to tell if a frozen treat bothers your dog, and what to do about it.
What is Brain Freeze?
Brain freeze is the temporary sharp or throbbing pain in the forehead that happens when you eat something cold, especially if you eat it too quickly.
Brain freeze is caused by a bundle of nerves, called the trigeminal nerve, that transmits sensory signals from the face to the brain. This bundle of nerves is located at the back of the roof of the mouth in people and dogs.
When you eat something cold, the tissue at the back of the mouth and throat is cooled rapidly. The cooling process in turn dilutes the blood vessels, which people feel as pain. Once the temperature in the mouth returns to normal, the painful sensation goes away.
Symptoms of brain freeze in humans include:
- Sharp, sudden pain
- A throbbing, intermittent pain
- A dull freezing feeling in the head
- Holding a hand suddenly to your head
- Shaking your head sharply to get rid of the feeling
- Covering your head with your hands or arms
Since dogs have the same cluster of nerves in the same location of the mouth, it makes sense that they might also experience brain freeze. However, your pup can’t express himself in the same way as a person. Here are some signs of brain freeze in your dog:
- Shaking their head
- Pawing or rubbing at their head (similar to a person who gets brain freeze)
- Rapid sneezing
- Drooling
- Refusal to have any more of the cold treat (shows discomfort or dislike)
Some of these symptoms, such as shaking the head and pawing at their head, can be similar to what a human might do. Observe your dog carefully when he’s enjoying the cold treat to see if he shows any of these signs or symptoms of discomfort.
When Is It Not Brain Freeze?
The trigeminal nerve, which senses and sends sensory signals to the brain, also controls the motor functions of the jaw and parts of the eyes and the areas around the eyes. Be aware if your dog experiences:
- Facial paralysis
- Inability to close his mouth
- Drooping eyelids
These signs mean that something else may be wrong, and that your dog is experiencing dysfunction or pain in the trigeminal nerve. Consult with your vet to find out if these signs indicate other medical issues.
Neurological Problems
Medical conditions like epilepsy and inflammatory diseases of the trigeminal nerve can lead to facial nerve weakness or paralysis. Also, symptoms that are associated with brain freeze can also be caused by ear infections, toxin exposure in botulism, tumors, trauma, or even hypothyroidism.
Dental Issues
A cracked or rotting tooth, mouth injury, or some type of infection in the gums or teeth can all cause similar signs of brain freeze. Your dog may also show discomfort when eating hot food, however, not just with cold treats. Drooling is a top sign of dental or mouth issues.
Allergies
Food or environmental allergies can cause several different issues in both dogs and humans. Violent sneezing and head shaking is a common symptom in dogs, and is a similar symptom to what a dog might show if experiencing brain freeze.
Since it can be hard to determine what is causing your dog’s symptoms or behavior, always consult your veterinarian when in doubt. If Fido only sneezes or shakes his head when he shares your ice cream cone, it’s very possible that he is experiencing that strange phenomenon of brain freeze. Just like you!
Does That Mean My Dog Can’t Enjoy Frozen Treats With Me?
Since it can be hard to determine if a frozen treat is painful for your pup, does that mean you shouldn’t try it at all?
There are several things to consider when feeding your dog treats, frozen or otherwise.
Cognitive Ability
People can feel a brain freeze and know to slow down or wait to eat another bite of something cold. Dogs, however, don’t know what is causing them discomfort, so they don’t know to slow down or stop.
When giving your dog cold treats, feed it to them slowly. Also, make sure they can only eat a bite-sized piece at a time.
Ingredients
Many dogs are lactose intolerant. Giving them ice cream, which contains milk, can cause them to have gas, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort. Ice cream is high in sugar and fat, unless it’s fat-free. Dogs can also be allergic to ingredients in ice cream or any treat. In addition, sugar-free frozen treats can sometimes contain xylitol, an ingredient which is toxic to dogs.
Always give treats in moderation and monitor your pup’s behavior to make sure they’re not allergic. Treats should only make up a small percentage of a dog’s diet, no more than 10%. Too many treats can cause problems with your dog’s weight and general health. Especially if your pup fills up on DQ treats and doesn’t eat his healthy meals!
Final Thoughts
Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that your dog can’t enjoy a few frozen treats here and there. You can buy dog-friendly frozen treats, research beforehand and consult with your vet, or make your own healthy frozen treats. Here are some great options:
- Peanut butter banana bites
- Frozen banana bites
- Pumpkin puree pupsicles
- Cantaloupe ice cream
- Yogurt pops
- Apple carrot cubes
- Frozen dog ice cream
- Frozen meat treats
Slow feeding and monitoring will help prevent your dog from getting a brain freeze. If he does experience it, just help him through it by plenty of petting and hugs. You can also offer him some room temperature water.
