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An older Asian American man in glasses and a sweater vest holds out a vanilla ice cream cone as a brindle Boxer licks it. 1 / 29

Grandpa Ken Bought One Ice Cream Cone on a Hot Day. Rocco Noticed.

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It is a hot afternoon, and the ice cream is melting faster than anyone can eat it. Grandpa Ken sits on the back step in his argyle sweater vest and wire-rimmed glasses, holding out a vanilla cone with a gentle, amused smile. Rocco, his brindle Boxer, has his wrinkled face pressed right up to it, pink tongue stretched out for a careful lick and big brown eyes looking up as if asking permission for one more. A drip of cream runs down the cone, and potted plants, a garden hose, and a blue water jug sit by the house behind them.

Sharing a cold treat is a sweet gesture, but dairy is not a great everyday snack for dogs. Many adult dogs have trouble digesting lactose, so ice cream can cause gas, vomiting, or diarrhea, and it is high in sugar and fat. Some flavors are a bigger concern: chocolate and the sweetener xylitol are toxic to dogs, and certain nut or raisin mix-ins can be harmful too. A safer summer option is a frozen treat made specifically for dogs, or plain yogurt or blended banana frozen in a small cup. Boxers are a short-nosed breed that can overheat easily, so shade, water, and limited exercise on hot days matter more than any snack.

Rocco does not need to know any of that right now. All he knows is that Grandpa shares, and that makes him the best person in the world.

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