Dogs can indeed eat apples without much fear of unwanted effects, however they shouldn’t eat it too regularly and definitely not the apple’s core. Apples are a supremely nutritious fruit for both humans and dogs and contain plenty of beneficial nutrients, vitamins and minerals. However, as dogs are carnivorous animals who wouldn’t really eat apples if they were in the wild – they shouldn’t be a staple part of their diet and more of a treat.
Benefits of feeding apples to dogs
Apples are packed full of good stuff such as:
- Vitamin A
Vitamin A, also called retinol, helps the body’s immune system to protect the pooch from illnesses. Vitamin A found in apples also helps with vision and how well the eyes absorb light (vision in the dark) and helps keep the skin and lining of the dog’s body (nose) in good shape.
- Vitamin C
Apples are also chock full of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) which plays an important part in the development of healthy skin, bones, natural healing and teeth. All very important factors to a dog, especially active hounds and elderly dogs.
- Fibre
Dietary fibre, or roughage as some people would call it, from apples helps with your dog’s general digestive system by keeping things moving and keeping everything healthy. The fibre in apples are mostly found in the skin.
Why not have a look at some of our recommended fibrous foods for dogs?
- Antioxidants
Apples contain a lot of antioxidants which help ensure you have an overall healthy pooch. Apples can help clear the bad stuff which can naturally build up in their body, especially from foods containing meat. Think of apples as the dog version of us drinking green tea.
- Cleans their teeth
Apples require a bit of chewing (especially if some skin has been left on) which can help keep their teeth clean and fresh. Who wouldn’t want that?
Apples are so good for dogs that you can even get treats made using them
- Soopa Kale & Apple Dental Sticks 100g, 100% natural.
What to look out for
Feeding dogs have overwhelmingly more positives than negatives but they do have their drawbacks if you decide to feed your dogs apples. The biggest drawbacks are the core and the seeds of an apple which contains cyanide. Although a seed in itself will cause very little harm, regularly consuming seeds or other foods containing cyanide can cause a build up which can lead to serious medical issues that simple painkillers may not be able to fix.
Should dogs eat apples?
The question of can dogs eat apples is simple to answer – but should dogs eat apples? The answer to that is yes! Apples are fantastic fruits which can easily be used as a treat (see also ‘Is It Safe For A Dog To Chew Pig Ears?‘) in moderation due to their many benefits – just make sure to take out the cores and remove the seeds before they start chomping on it.
How to serve them
There’s loads of ways to serve apples to your dog.
- As simple slices
- Small chunks mixed in to their regular food
- As a frozen treat – blend them down along with other fruit into ice cubes
- As an addition to a puzzle toy such as a Kong
- Instinctual Needs: The KONG Classic red rubber toy helps satisfy dogs' instinctual needs and provides mental stimulation. Healthy play is important for dogs' physical and mental development, emotions and behavior. By encouraging healthy play and satisfying instinctual needs, this toy helps solve chewing, separation anxiety, teething, boredom, weight management, crate training, digging, barking and more!
Final Word
You should feel safe in the knowledge that dogs can eat apples and it is beneficial for them to do so. Just make sure they do not eat the core or the seeds.
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- Best Dog Food For Firm Stools
- Best Wet Dog Foor For Sensitive Stomachs
- Best Dog Food Containers
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
