Is It Safe for Dogs to Eat Apples?

Whether or not apples are safe for dogs is a question that many dog owners find themselves asking, especially after their pet has snatched an apple slice from the kitchen counter or gulped down an apple core at a family picnic.

The Harmful Part of the Apple

Although moderate amounts of the flesh of the apple is perfectly safe for your dog to eat, you must use caution when giving this treat to your dog since the covering of the seeds contains minute amounts of amygdalin, a compound that contains cyanide. There’s some evidence that suggests the stems may also contain traces of cyanide, so it’s best to remove them, too. To be harmful, the seed coating has to be broken in order to release the amygdalin, so if your dog consumes a few seeds whole, he should be fine.

While it’s unlikely your dog would chew up and eat enough seeds to become ill or die (for comparison, an adult would need to eat about a cup of seeds to suffer any ill effects), it’s still easier and safer to remove seeds and stems before serving the apple to your pet.

The Benefits of Feeding Apples to Your Dog

In addition to being tasty treats, apples provide some nutritional benefits to your dog. They offer vitamin C and dietary fiber, and they are low in sodium and saturated fat. They contain calcium and phosphorus,  and they also add to a dog’s skin and coat health by adding omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to his diet.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Too Many Apples

In certain instances, it might not be a good idea to feed your dog apples. If he has kidney disease, for example, the additional levels of calcium, phosphorus and omega-6 fatty acids will need to considered in light of the rest of his diet, and arthritic dogs may need to have their omega-6 fatty acid levels monitored, too.

For most dogs, the biggest problem they face from apples is an upset stomach or diarrhea if they consume too many. Monitor your dog’s apple intake to ensure his good health, and keep him out of the kitchen as fruit salads or pies are being assembled so he isn’t tempted to upset the apple bowl and eat too many.

Another Beneficial Apple Product for Dogs

Another apple-based product that many dog owners find helpful for their pets is natural apple cider vinegar. Mixed with an equal part of water, apple cider vinegar can be an effective flea-control rinse following a shampoo, or it can be used as a flea-control spray when mixed with water. It also helps control odor on your dog’s coat and skin.

A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar added to your dog’s water or food bowl several times a week may help alleviate clinical signs of arthritis and other chronic health conditions, and it may also increase his appetite and relieve some digestive upsets.