5 Things to Not Feed Your Dog in Summer

When the summer heat kicks in, our instinct is to share whatever we’re using to cool down with our dogs. Whether it’s a backyard BBQ or a quick trip for a soft-serve cone, it feels mean to let them watch us eat while they sit there panting.

But "human treats" in the summer can be a minefield. Some are just a bit heavy on the stomach, but others can turn a fun afternoon into an emergency vet visit. Here are five things you should definitely keep off your dog's summer menu.

Corn itself isn’t the enemy—in fact, plain kernels are a decent snack. The danger is the cob. At summer cookouts, it’s so easy for a dog to snag a discarded cob from a plate or the trash.

Dogs don't "nibble" corn; they tend to gulp it. The cob is essentially a solid, indigestible pipe that is the perfect size to get stuck in a dog’s intestines. It won't break down, and it almost always requires surgery to remove. If you want to give them corn, cut it off the cob first.

Grapes are the ultimate refreshing summer snack for us, but they are Russian Roulette for dogs. Scientists still aren't 100% sure why, but grapes and raisins can cause sudden, acute kidney failure in some dogs.

The scary part? There is no "safe" amount. For some dogs, one grape is enough to be fatal. Since you can’t know how your dog’s body will react until it’s too late, keep the fruit salad well out of reach.

It’s the most tempting "guilty pleasure" to share, but most adult dogs are actually lactose intolerant. Their bodies aren't designed to process dairy once they’re weaned.

A big scoop of vanilla can lead to gas, bloating, and messy diarrhea—which is the last thing you want to deal with in a heatwave. Even worse, "sugar-free" ice creams often contain Xylitol, an artificial sweetener that is incredibly toxic to dogs. If you want them to have a cold treat, stick to a "Puppy cup" made specifically for dogs or just plain frozen blueberries.

Summer is the season of the salty snack, but salt is much harder on dogs than it is on us. If a dog eats a bag of salty chips and doesn't have immediate, unlimited access to fresh water, they can develop salt ion poisoning.

In a heatwave, your dog is already losing moisture through panting. Adding a bunch of sodium to their system is a recipe for severe dehydration, tremors, or even seizures. If they need a crunch, give them a slice of cucumber or a piece of ice instead.

It’s tempting to toss your dog the leftover bone from your grilled steak or ribs, but cooked bones are a no-go. Unlike raw bones, which are relatively pliable, cooked bones become brittle and dry. When a dog crunches down on them, they splinter into sharp shards that can puncture the esophagus or the stomach lining. Stick to vet-approved chews and keep the BBQ scraps in the bin.

If you feel bad seeing them left out, make them a "Summer Plate":

Seedless watermelon (the ultimate hydration king).

Plain, frozen yogurt (in very small amounts, if they aren't sensitive to dairy).

Frozen green beans (crunchy, cold, and zero calories).

Image: Gemini AI

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