Is it okay for Prince George to feed ice cream to his pet dog?

Leading animal charities in the UK have warned that people should not feed ice cream to dogs after new photos of Prince George were released showing him doing just that. The pictures of the Prince, released for his third birthday, showed him in the garden of the family's Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.

In one photo, George can be seen feeding ice cream to the family dog, Lupo, as they sit on a plaid blanket. As sweet as the scene seems, the RSPCA released a statement saying that people should be careful when feeding food meant for human consumption to dogs, particularly mentioning that dairy items "can be difficult for them to digest".

"It is lovely that Prince George is trying to help keep his family dog, Lupo, cool in these high temperatures," said the animal charity. "Instead of ice cream we would suggest making an ice lolly from pet friendly ingredients. Making these can be really fun for children and the end product is both safe and enjoyable for dogs."

Dog Trust echoed the comments, with Veterinary Director, Paula Boyden, saying that though the charity advocates "seeking methods to keep your dog cool" - these should not include ice cream unless it is a particular dog friendly kind.

"The cow's milk and sugar content in ice cream can sometimes lead to digestive issues. Whenever you do treat your dog, do consider the ingredients and always seeks the advice of your vet," said Boyden.

For more information about what and what not to feed your dog, the RSPCA recommends looking at their website section about dog diets.