Yes, dogs can eat vanilla ice cream. When in doubt, vanilla ice cream is the safest option if you want to share a cold treat with your dog. However, it should not be regularly given to your dog, since it is loaded with sugar which may cause obesity and disease like pancreatitis.

Unless your dog is lactose intolerant, vanilla ice cream can serve as an occasional treat for them. Vanilla is the best flavor to give them since it rarely contains ingredients that are toxic to dogs. 

Note, however, that there are barely any health benefits to giving your dog vanilla ice cream. It may contain calcium and other nutrients, but they only come in small quantities which are insufficient to counterbalance the junk and sugar.

Thus, although vanilla ice cream is not necessarily harmful to your dog, it is not recommended to give it as a treat. There are several dog-friendly frozen treats available that are healthier for dogs. This includes frozen fruits like blueberries or plain frozen yogurt.

To ensure your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance. Preparing for the unexpected guarantees money is never an issue in keeping you pup healthy.