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An elderly man in a cable-knit sweater holds a vanilla ice cream cone as a red and white husky licks the top of it. 13 / 32

Grandpa Kenji Bought One Ice Cream Cone on a Hot Day. That Was His Mistake.

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One scoop of vanilla in a waffle cone, and it never stood a chance. Grandpa Kenji holds the cone out with a crinkly-eyed smile while Maple stretches her neck forward and slides her pink tongue right across the top. Her blue eye is half closed in concentration, one white paw rests on his knee, and the cozy living room behind them, with its plaid throw and framed family photos, suggests this is a long-standing summer ritual.

Sharing a treat is a sweet gesture, but regular ice cream isn't ideal for dogs. Many adult dogs have trouble digesting lactose, so dairy can lead to an upset stomach, and the sugar and fat aren't doing them any favors either. Some flavors are genuinely dangerous: chocolate is toxic to dogs, and certain sugar-free products contain xylitol, which can be life threatening even in small amounts. A safer summer option is a homemade frozen treat, such as plain yogurt or mashed banana frozen in an ice cube tray, or a store-bought frozen dessert made specifically for dogs. Huskies are built for cold weather, so on hot days they also need shade, plenty of fresh water, and walks scheduled for cooler parts of the day. If a dog gets into a chocolate or sugar-free treat, call your vet right away.

A single lick of plain vanilla is unlikely to be a big deal for most healthy dogs, but it's the kind of thing best kept as a rare, tiny moment rather than a habit.

Maple, of course, would argue that this is the best tradition ever invented. Grandpa Kenji may need to buy two cones next time.

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