It’s inevitable that your dog will want to bite into a delicious apple.
Are you wondering if sharing this fruit is a good idea?
Here’s our answer:
A few sliced up apple wedges should be no problem for your dog. Just a little preparation is required.
While the ASPCA is concerned about trace amounts of cyanide, this is not a factor when the following steps are taken:
- Cut up an apple into easily digestible slices
- Remove the seeds, stem and core
- Provide appropriate portions (more on this later)
To be clear: The edible flesh is not at all poisonous!
Your Dog Can Have An Apple
Done right, there is no harm in offering this fabulous fruit.
With that being said, it is best to limit apples to a special treat only.
While nutritious, and low in calories, a smart approach to apples is to use them as a reward for good behavior!
Must Do Pet Preparation
It’s important to be aware of some entirely avoidable risks.
Perhaps the biggest concern is that your dog could choke on an apple.
It cannot be stressed enough:
Chop the apple up (so digestion goes smoothly). Also, be sure to remove the core because it can get lodged in the throat.
A scary incident could occur if this part is swallowed whole.
Removal of the stem, leaves and seeds is equally important (due to a tiny presence of Cyanogenic glycosides).
Then, just limit your dog’s apple consumption and sharing is caring!
What About Apple Skin?
Many owners have asked about the outer peel.
There is no reason why dogs must be prevented from eating the skin of a fresh apple.
Of course, as you would for yourself, wash any fruit before serving it.
Different Doggie Digestion
At this point, let’s take a step back for a moment…
Consider that dogs aren’t accustomed to eating fruits. Nor do they require this type of food.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, there’s a good chance Fido won’t fully absorb an apple’s vitamins and minerals.
Your dog has a relatively short digestive tract, but that does not mean you can’t share.
Portions & Other Pitfalls
The goal is to minimize a possibility of diarrhea or stomach upset.
How best to do that?
Quite simply, don’t feed too much apple. Avoid getting carried away!
And definitely not the juice, or one in a potentially rotten state.
Of course, every animal’s tolerance for specific foods is a bit different. Sensitivity varies from pet to pet.
Monitor your dog afterwards (especially the first time feeding an apple).
They Say, An Apple a Day…
As the saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.
But this doesn’t apply to dogs!
There is no need to supplement in this way, though sharing is totally fine.
The Bottom Line
Dogs can be fed apples.
There is no toxicity factor when simple prep work is done.
Remove the core and stem as well as leaves and seeds. Then, set aside a modest amount.
Be reasonable.
Remember: Apples don’t have what your dog actually requires to thrive. Go easy!
My Lab/Boxer mix loves his morning apple snack. He gets about 1/2 of a very small Fuji apple each morning. He’s very big (110 pounds) so I don’t have to cut them into tiny pieces. No stems or seeds of course.
I don’t give him apple for the sake of nutrition, rather as a healthier and more weight-friendly snack. He gets a quality grain-free dry food for his meals.
I do have to watch his weight. He tends to put on pounds if he snacks too much. A bit of pumpkin puree, carrots and apple each day (spread out) keeps his weight in check and satisfies his snack tooth.
Both my boys enjoy this treat once in a while. One of them isn’t able to chew the apple’s skin so I peel it for him. Will he get the same nutritional value?
I have a 12 year old Basset Hound who is an epileptic and is taking Phenobarbital. Bella is 65 pounds which is big for her breed. She’s always hungry and has put on weight. So now she is on satiety dog food and has lost 7 pounds.
The vet suggested I could give her apple, carrots but no seeds in between feedings to calm her hunger. I was sort of surprised when you said no fruit. It’s been a struggle but the fruits do help. Bella is a healthy dog other than her epilepsy. Who do I believe?
My dog is also needs to lose weight. I give her apple slices between feeds as well. She loves them and it helps her hunger. Even after reading this article I will continue to do so.
Occasionally I give my Australian Kelpie and Border Collie apple slices. Both of them really enjoy it with no side effects. But I also have a German Shepherd with pancreatic deficiency syndrome and whenever she gets hold of only a small piece of apple, she gets very sick with vomiting and diarrhea and even some fever.
I live in apple country, eastern Washington State. Dogs eat apples. Coyotes eat apples. Dogs are omnivores. We have English Mastiffs, as other Mastiff owners can attest, they have delicate constitutions. Our dogs have dehydrated apples as treats. We also tear up some of the dehydrated apple and put it on their bland, high quality, boring kibble. It works well. They are very regular and well formed.
Dogs are carnivores and a Prey-Model Raw (PMR) diet is the most appropriate for such animals. Other than meat, the diet doesn’t normally include fruits and vegetables. Of course, there’s no harm in adding fruit like apples to treat certain diseases. The BARF diet, on the other hand, definitely includes fruits and vegetables plus meat. The founder of the diet, Dr. Ian Billinghurst, believes dogs are omnivores.
Apple is the main base ingredient for an anti-cancer diet. I have been giving my 13 year old Shepherd-Husky mix this fruit. She was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma and I created a diet for her based on organic apples, kale and carrots along with other things I add such as Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), Essiac tea, wormwood, etc.
The vet was surprised that her last ultrasound showed no sign of cancer. Of course, no seeds, as they are poisonous. However, apples contain a multitude of phytochemicals all which may very well play a role in preventing cancer.
Cornell researchers have identified dozens of compounds in apple peels that either inhibit or kill cancer cells in laboratory cultures. So, I’m continuing to give my dog apples!
Hello Bobbie. Thank you for sharing that detailed information. I am going to look into what you have said and edit the information regarding Apples for dogs accordingly. You have provided some great info, based on first-hand experience, to this community.
Thanks for your response James. I realize dogs are carnivores and they need mostly protein. Their digestive tract has a hard time breaking down certain plant matter, especially grains. Grains and corn are cheap filler used in most commercial dog foods. Most diseases including cancer can be traced back to the digestive tract.
I believe the cancer epidemic in dogs (statistically 60% of dogs over 6 will develop some type of cancer) can be related to the horrible commercially processed dog food. Even the ‘better’ ones are not so great. The high heat processing kills a lot of vital nutrients. But, when animals kill prey in the wild, the prey often has partially digested fruits and vegetables in them. Their diets are more well rounded than ‘just meat’.
I’m no expert, but my love for my rescues (two are 13 years old and one is 5 years) and the recent cancer diagnosis has led me to research and research. I’m thrilled that Roxy’s new ‘cancer diet’ appears to be working. So miraculously that the vet is now claiming the ultra sound machine must be broken! Roxy is currently acting and feeling better as well.
So, as I said I will continue the organic apple, kale, carrot base and I’m using fresh sardines as the protein. I welcome any new info. I continue to research. Thanks again for responding!
Thanks for sharing Bobbie. I lost two dogs to cancer. My newest dog, a 3-year old rescue, has recently shown me she loves apples. I too was surprised at the author here recommending no apples. Your post gives me very good information. I won’t give her too much, of course, but I’m glad to know of the cancer-fighting attributes.