For my South Korean friends and probably every South Korean, Melona is not just a frozen treat; it is an ode to Motherland and an easy way to bring back those childhood memories.
In this dawn of unstable climates and global warming, having that frozen treat after a tough day out in the sun is always bliss, but what about our pooch? While they could participate in lots of frozen treats, including ice cubes, is it safe for dogs to have some melona?
In this article, we have detailed everything we know you need to know regarding sharing or making melona for dogs.
What is Melona?
The Melona Bar is a product of Binggrae Co. Ltd. and debuted in 1992, at a time when fruits were hardly imported into South Korea. (Up until now, melons are still regarded as luxurious and sold as exotic gifts.)
Melona was inspired by the trip Binggrae’s team took to Southeast Asia, where the juicy fresh melon was decadent and unlike anything they had before, and they decided to bring the experience back home.
Not having enough supplies of the melon they had just experienced, they opted for the Korean melon (chamae), as it was the closest they could get to those southeastern melons. A test in the lab produced a melon creamsicle that had the taste of milk-flavored melon.
After the first year of launch, over 18 million USD (21 billion won) was realized from sales of the product—a very big feat for an ice cream company at the time. This success propelled them to create other tasty variations, like strawberry, coconut, honeydew melon, banana, and mango flavors. Melona became the first ice cream bar produced in South Korea to be exported to the United States.
Can dogs eat Melona?
Dogs can have 1/7 of a Melona bar without problems, but it is not recommended. A typical Melona bar is made of condensed milk and cream, which have lactose that will lead to an upset stomach if given to your dog in significant quantities.
Further, as listed on the MelonaIceCream website, both natural and artificial flavors were used in making this lovely treat. Artificial flavors such as MSG or disodium inosinate can cause digestive problems and allergic reactions in dogs.
Cellulose gum is another concern; it is usually found in the cell walls of all plants. This compound is not easily digestible for dogs. Polysorbate 80 is also a possibly toxic compound for dogs; after consuming a little, your dog will experience mild gut upset and symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
Is Melona good for dogs?
The fruits used in flavoring different variations of Melona ice creams are all safe for dogs and provide benefits, but when combined with other ingredients like dairy, artificial sweeteners, and flavors, it becomes a terrible combination for dogs.
Dogs are not well suited to handle such human treats, so while not toxic, Melona is not good for dogs either. Every single advantage of this frozen treat is matched by four disadvantages.
My dog ate melona; what will happen?
If your dog had little Melona bars, nothing would happen to your pooch, as little Melona bars are incapable of causing a threat to an average-sized dog.
However, if your dog consumes as much as half of the bar or an entire bar of Melona ice cream, it is likely going to have an upset stomach, which will be shown through symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.
After a few hours of fasting the dog and offering only water, you can offer bland foods like chicken and plain cooked rice to resolve the resulting symptoms.
Can puppies eat Melona?
While puppies will handle the lactose content of Melona better than adult dogs (since they still have the lactase enzyme that helps them break down the lactose content of their mother’s milk), they will react badly to the other ingredients used in the Melona ice cream bar.
Puppies should not have human treats or some human foods, as they could lead to serious gut problems. Your puppies need to keep eating the high-quality puppy foods formulated for them to ensure their organs develop properly.
Alternative frozen treats to Melona for dogs
These frozen treats are great for lick mats to cure your dog’s boredom and keep them entertained while also providing lots of benefits for them. Here are my dog’s favorites:
Frosty Paws
Our natural choice will be homemade frozen treats for dogs, but some of us may be too busy to get them ready, so we need a better, already-made alternative. We could just offer our pooch on the go. From my dog’s reactions, I can say Frosty Paws taste great and are always a nutritious summer treat.
Peanut pupsicle
This is a homemade frozen treat your pooch will love so much, and it is made with just a few dog-safe ingredients. For the ingredients, all you need is peanut butter, bananas, plain yogurt, and pureed blackberries in a bowl. Then you can get bone-shaped treats dipped into the peanut popsicle and freeze.
Final thoughts
Dogs should not have Melona or any human ice cream, as they are made with ingredients that may be safe for humans but not for the delicate systems of our pets. You’re better off making homemade frozen treats or purchasing dog-specific ice creams that will offer your dogs some benefits.
