Can Dogs Eat Apples? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

Yes, dogs can eat apples. These fruits can make a good, occasional treat for dogs because they are a rich source of fiber and nutrients. You just need to be aware of the parts of the apple that are safe for dogs to eat and the parts that should be avoided because they could be toxic.

When you prepare apples for dogs, you need to first remove the seeds, stem, and core. The seed, in particular, is toxic to dogs because it contains a small amount of cyanide. Once the “dangerous” parts are discarded, we suggest either cutting the apple flesh into small chunks or to blend it and add it to your dog’s regular meal.

Can dogs eat green apples like granny smith apples?

It’s safe for dogs to eat green apples like granny smith apples as long as it’s in moderation. There may, however, be slightly more health risks associated with green apples, in general, having a bit more acidic content than their red counterparts.

Can dogs eat apple seeds?

Nearly every pet article you will come across will state that the apple seeds must be discarded before the remaining parts of the apple are given to your dog. There is good reason for this.

Apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide which will get released into the dog’s body once the seed exterior is chewed or broken down. Dogs that suffer from cyanide poisoning may show symptoms like excessive salivation and difficulty of breathing. The severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount of apple seeds ingested and the size of the dog.

According to a review in 2015, the amount of cyanide that can be derived from one gram of apple seeds is about 0.6 mg. For dogs, the amount of dosage that’s considered lethal is about 2 mg per kg. Let’s assume you have a small dog that weighs about 3 kg and a single apple seed weighs about 0.7 grams. This means the dog might face severe or fatal consequences from eating over ten apple seeds.

The average apple will contain about five to eight seeds so you can see how dangerous this can get, especially for small dogs. Make sure apples are never in the dog’s reach. They should only be given to dogs after the “toxic” parts are properly discarded.

Can dogs eat apple skin?

Yes, dogs can eat the skin or peels of the apple. There’s no reason to believe that apple skin is toxic to dogs. The only parts of the apple you must not allow your dog to eat is the core and seed.

Before you let the dog eat some apple skin, make sure the apple has been washed properly. The skin of the apple may have collected debris and dirt while it was transported. Depending on the source, some apples may also contain a small amount of pesticide residue on the skin.

One home remedy to eliminate some of the harmful residue on the apple skin is by soaking the fruit in a 1% baking soda solution for about 15 minutes. Want to know what other fruits dogs can and cannot eat? Check out our human food for dogs database which uncovers 100+ foods dogs should and shouldn’t eat.

Despite the many health benefits that apples have to offer, it’s not considered a normal thing for dogs to eat so it should only be served as an occasional treat.

Can dogs eat sugar or custard apples?

No, dogs shouldn’t eat sugar or custard apples. The regular apples are preferred because custard apples contain a higher sugar content (up to 28% sugar). A lot of dogs don’t have the stomach to handle a sugar rush.

Can dogs eat crab apples?

Yes, dogs can eat crab apples in moderation. That said, crab apples are much smaller in size than regular apples. It might harder to discard the parts of the crab apple which are toxic to dogs. This includes the seed and core.

Can dogs eat apple with peanut butter?

Apple with peanut butter is a classic combo that some of us enjoy eating as a snack. It can be considered a healthy treat given the nutrient profiles of apple and peanut butter. Dogs can eat apple with peanut butter as well but it should only be in small, infrequent amounts.

In addition to only letting dogs eat a small amount of apple with peanut butter, there are a couple of other safety precautions for dog owners to be aware of. First, it’s important to make sure that you only let your dog eat the flesh of the apple. Don’t give them the core or the apple seeds.

Second, make sure the peanut butter that is slathered onto the apple doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients. Some peanut butter, for example, may contain xylitol, an artificial sweetener that’s toxic to dogs.

We would also suggest limiting the amount of peanut butter you add on top of the apple slices. Too much peanut butter may cause gastrointestinal upsets in dogs due to the amount of fat it contains.