Can Dogs eat apples? The answer to this question is a BIG YES.
There is a famous proverb in humans “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Does, this proverb also applies to veterinarians? As pet owners, we are always thinking before we share our foods with our pets “what is good for humans is also good for our pets?” So, whether I feed apples to my dog or not? Luckily yes. You can share this nature’s yummy treats with your dog as a midday snack or also after every meal. Most of the dogs love this treat. Apples are delicious and nutritious snacks for dogs.
5 Reasons apples are good for dog
Research has shown this small fruit is incredibly large in benefits both for humans and for dogs. It provides bone and teeth health, protects the gut from injury, prevents diabetes, and also helps a lot in weight management. It is impossible to list all the benefits here.
So, it’s clear that dogs can eat apples. We’re going to talk about a few benefits that this sweet fruit offers for the dietary well-being of canine pets.
1. Full of vitamins
Nature’s most sweet treat, Apples are rich in vitamins. You can count seeds in an apple but you can’t count the beneficial vitamins and minerals in an apple.
Apples are a healthy source of vitamin A and C. Here are some benefits
Vitamin A
In many elder dogs diminution of sight is a common symptom. Vitamin A helps dogs to prevent from diminution of sight and makes proper eye health. The cone and rod cells in the retina of your dog’s eye remain healthy and youthful by consuming regular amounts of vitamin A.
Vitamin A is an important factor in the growth of your dogs. It also boosts their immune system. Vitamin A is also essential for pregnant female dogs and puppies.
Vitamin C
Apples are well known for being high in vitamin C. It is an excellent antioxidant that shows active protection from cancer and treatments of joint disease symptoms. It is well known as an immune system booster preventing many diseases. Vitamin C gets converted by the body into serotonin and this “chemical” can act as a natural anti-depressant helping to boost your dog’s mood. Vitamin C maintains your dog’s immune system and also protects against illness.
2. Rich in Potassium
Potassium is important for the healthy diet of dogs. It is an electrolyte that is good for your dog’s health. Potassium makes your dog active and it never gets tired. Your dog never gets Potassium deficiency if it eats an apple.
It keeps him away from cardiac arrests and maintains the normal pulsation of the heart. If your dog is short of potassium he may have no desire to eat.
3. High in Fiber
Apples are high in fiber which can help your dogs in the digestive system. It also maintains your dog’s weight ideal. The natural bacteria in a dog’s intestine flourish by fiber diet and prevent any other harmful bacteria from growing in the colon.
4. Allergy relief
Sometimes dogs suffer from allergies which makes them feel very discomfort. Scratching their skin all the time might make them injured too.
Eating an apple makes your dog a big relief from allergies because apples are a great source of Quercetin that helps your dogs to prevent from harmful effects of allergies. Quercetin is an antihistamine that reduces inflammation, irritation, and redness of your pup.
5. Rich in Polyphenols
Apples provide an important component of whole nutrition known as polyphenols. These are micronutrients that reduce cancer disease factors. It also helps to digest food because antioxidants like polyphenols reduce chronic inflammation.
How many apples can a dog eat?
Dogs can eat apples on daily basis but their diet depends upon their size. Here we are going to tell you the consumption of an apple according to the dog’s size.
- For small dogs, give a couple of small thin slices of apple several days each week.
- For medium dogs, give quarter to half an apple as slices a week.
- For larger dogs, give a whole apple as slices per week.
And don’t forget to wash and de-core the apples before giving them to your pup.
Which types of apples to choose?
You should be very careful before choosing an apple for your dog. Always buy organic apples because many kinds of apples are sprayed with pesticides that can transport toxins into your pup. Always wash them before serving.
Red or Green Apples
From their nutritional profile, both red and green apples are nevertheless.
Red apples are rich sources of antioxidants blended with many-core vitamins and minerals.
On the other side, green apples are richer in vitamins than their other counterparts.
Your furry fellow might not love green apples as much he loves red apples because the red color is found attractive for dogs. Choose red apples for your dog, if he loves to consume them.
What are the risk factors of feeding an apple to dogs?
Now we are going to know some possible risk factors that could occur.
If a dog eat many apples at a time
Dogs can eat apples as a snack or after a good meal but eating too many apples daily can cause some serious health issues. Excessive consumption can lead to your dog experiencing a bellyache or diarrhea. Eating many apples can cause diabetes in the dog, so it’s advisable to serve them in moderation.
If a dog eats an apple with seeds and core
Giving the whole apple to your dog is not a good idea because apple seeds contain harmful toxins such as cyanide which was not be chewed or ingested. The whole core of an apple should also be avoided to save your dog from choking because of its hardness and size. Therefore before serving your dog an apple you should cut it into slices then your dog can eat that apple easily.
If dogs are allergic to apples
There were very rare cases in which dogs get an allergic reaction by eating an apple. To check this condition in your dog, notice that after your pup eat an apple if there is any sign of allergic reaction like coughing, sneezing, and breathing difficulty. Contact your veterinarian and avoid feeding an apple to your dog.
Final Thoughts
Apple is no doubt a sweet fruit because too much consumption of apples is hazardous to your dog. In markets, apple-flavored or apple-containing items are avoided too for your dogs as they contain sugar, artificial flavors, and chemicals, which also can cause serious diabetic issues in your pup.
An apple a day may not keep the vat completely away, but it will absolutely help your dog stay healthy.
You May Like our Related Articles
Gift Recipes for Apple Dog Treats
My Dog Planet has picked some gift recipes for Apple Dog Treats ensuring a safe and hygienic treat is offered to your dog.
Roasted Apple Slices
Dogs love enjoying crisps. The simplest way to prepare apple chips is to cut apple (cored) into slices and roast them until crispy. Your dog will enjoy the lovely crunch of apple chips.
Icy Apple Pops
Ingredients
- Apples 1
- Coconut milk 1 cup
- Bananas 1
Steps
- Peel the apple and cut it into small square slices.
- Peel the banana and mash it in a bowl.
- Pour Coconut milk into the bowl and stir until a fine thick mixture is obtained.
- Take ice cube trays. Put a slice of apple in each slot and top it with banana and coconut thick paste.
- Put the tray in the freezer for 3 to 4 hours.
- Get the icy apple banana pops out from slots carefully and serve your dog a yummy summer treat.
Yummy Apple Biscuits
Ingredients
- Apples 1cup peeled and sliced
- Flour 2cups
- Oats ½ cup
- Salt ½ tbsp
- Cinnamon ½ tbsp
- Eggs 2 well beaten
- Peanut butter 3tbsp
Steps
- Preheat the oven to 350C and spread a baking sheet in it
- Place apple slices, oats, cinnamon, salt, flour in a bowl and mix well.
- Mix the peanut butter and eggs and then add the mixture we prepared.
- Knead the dough for 10 minutes unless becomes thick and hard.
- Spread the dough in a tray and use cutters to cut out any desired shape.
- Bake for about half an hour until the golden crispy layer turns out.
- Store in an air-tight jar and offer occasionally to your furry friend.
You may be interested in
FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions)
-
Can apple help clean a dog’s teeth?
Absolutely yes, giving your dog an apple makes his teeth clean because it contains malic acid which is also good to breathe freshly. Additionally, the skin of an apple performs as a toothbrush. So in this case you may freely give your dog some slices of his favorite fruit.
-
Can dogs eat applesauce?
Undoubtedly dogs can eat apple applesauce but it is recommended to avoid sweetened applesauce as it may cause a diabetic issue. Therefore, try to give your dog unsweetened applesauce but serve them as a small treat.
-
Can a diabetic dog eat an apple?
Try to avoid giving apples to diabetic dogs as we all know that apples contain sugar. Moreover, if you further want to give your dog a small amount of an apple first ask for a veterinarian if he advises you to give this to your dog then you shall proceed.
-
Can dogs eat apple pie?
Yes, you can give your dog an apple pie. Especially if the apple pie is made with sugar and cinnamon but you should ensure first that other hard ingredients won’t be added to the pie like nuts or raisins as it may cause choking. But for some dogs, it is not recommended to eat apple pie as it may contain health issues. Here is the list of dogs who can’t eat apple pie.
Diabetic dogs
Pregnant dogs
Sick dogs
Nursing dogs
Overweight dogs -
Are green apples good for dogs?
Without any doubt, your dog may also enjoy green apples. Additionally, you should serve these green apples with the skin as it contains phytonutrients that can help in the fight against cancer disease. On the other hand, these green apples are sour in taste that is why some dogs don’t like to eat these green colored apples as compared to red ones because red apples are easy to chew and sweeter than green ones. There are some varieties of green apples in the market, the best one is Granny Smith apples which usually have natural sweetness.
-
Can dogs eat a dried apple?
Apples contain water which makes your pup hydrated especially in the summer season. You can also give dried apples to your dog but just occasionally because dried apple is dehydrated. Even so, dried apples also contain all the nutrients like normal apples but it is also possible that the dried one may result in bellyache and diarrhea. Last but not least too much intake of anything food may cause health problems in your pet.
