Can Dogs Eat Gelatin?

Besides ice cream and soda, gelatin is another classic summer food. It's refreshing, rich in vitamins, and comes in many flavors so you can pick your favorite. But what about our dog? Can it enjoy this summer treat with us?

Today, at Soy un Perro, we want you to know the precautions you should take with this food and other food alternatives you can offer your friend in summer.

Is It Good to Give Gelatin to a Dog?

You're probably reading this after noticing the curious look your dog gave you while watching you enjoy your gelatin. We should admit your dog probably loves gelatin's taste and texture, and it also helps it beat the heat.

However, some caution is needed. Commercial gelatin, besides collagen, has a high content of sugar, dyes, and artificial sweeteners. Ingredients that aren't healthy at all for your furry friend.

So, although you can give your dog gelatin, it should be in small amounts and occasionally. Otherwise, overeating this will encourage a bad eating habit and health problems, such as high blood sugar levels or dental problems.

Either way, an occasional treat doesn't hurt, so you can offer your dog a bit of gelatin to cool off and enjoy summer flavors. That said, keep in mind that the smaller the dog, the smaller the amount offered should be.

Special Gelatin Recipe for Dogs

If your dog is crazy about gelatin, fortunately we have alternatives to commercial gelatin that will be much more recommended and healthy for your friend. Grab pen and paper and take note!

Recipe: Pig Trotter Gelatin

To make this gelatin you'll need:

• 1 pig's trotter
• 2 liters of water

First, boil the water in a pot. Next, cut up the trotter and add it to the boiling water, letting it cook for two hours over medium-low heat. If you have a pressure cooker, cooking time will drop to just half an hour.

Once that time's up, pour the pot's liquid into molds or an ice tray and let it cool in the fridge, always for a minimum of two hours, though ideally you'd wait until the next day to enjoy the food.

To unmold the gelatins, you can help by placing the tray or molds in a hot water bath. Wait around 20 seconds and remove it. Now you can take out the gelatins and give them to your furry friend to enjoy.

Recipe: Chicken Broth Gelatin

To make this delicious gelatin recipe you'll need:

• 2 ½ tablespoons of gelatin
• ¼ tablespoon of chicken broth
• ½ cup of bone broth

For this second delicious snack, pour all the ingredients into a pot at once and let them cook over low heat for about 10 minutes so the gelatin dissolves. You'll need to stir continuously.

Next, pour the mixture into an ice tray or small molds and let it sit and cool for a few minutes. Then, let the mixture cool in the fridge for several hours, as in the previous recipe. The next day it will be ready to enjoy.

Remember that these gelatins, although much more suitable than the commercial alternative, don't replace its usual balanced diet — they're just a fun, healthy treat for your dog to enjoy its favorite dessert with you.