Canine nutritionist Gerald Pepin is the author of the book From Table to Bowl which seeks to take the mystery out of feeding dogs fresh food. Here the experienced dog nutritionist explains the benefits and safe serving tips for feeding a dog apples.

The proverb “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” would appear to be as appropriate for dogs as it is for we human beings. Good for digestive, heart and respiratory health, apples have the ability to help keep your dog’s teeth clean and its breath fresh. They also make an excellent low protein, low calorie snack or meal additive for any dog needing to lose weight. Want to learn more about apples for dogs? Can dogs eat apples? You bet!

Are apples safe for dogs to eat?

Apples are perfectly safe for dogs provided you take one or two precautions.

The skin of an apple is the most nutrient-dense part of the fruit, so don’t peel your dog’s apples whatever you do. Wash them if necessary to remove any potential contaminants, but don’t peel them.

Under normal circumstances, apples are not a choking hazard to dogs despite what you may have heard. Dogs have many times the bite force of human beings. A medium or large dog can easily crush an apple with one bite without any adverse reaction whatsoever.

But since the core of an apple is a potential choking hazard for a smaller dog, you might be best advised to remove the core before feeding an apple to your dog.

As for the seeds — the pips — apple seeds are toxic to dogs but only if crushed. A few swallowed seeds will not harm your best friend in any way. Even if your dog were to eat a whole apple as my own large dogs often do when scavenging on windfalls in the garden, the seeds would pass through its digestive system whole, which means they would do your dog no harm at all. Only in the unlikely event of an apple seed being crushed are its toxins released.

Virtually all plant-based foods contain naturally occurring compounds that can be toxic in large amounts.

I am indebted to Dr Andrew Spanner of Walkerville Vet of Brisbane, Queensland for the following information:

“A medium sized dog would need to eat 85 grams of apple seeds and completely chew them up to get a toxic dose [of cyanide] (source: ASPCA). We did an experiment:

I weighed the seeds from seven apples (54 seeds: average 8 seeds per apple) and reached 3 grams. That’s 0.4g per apple so the average weight of each apple seed is 0.055g. To poison this dog would require them to eat (and grind up) the seeds from 200 apples. Most webpages give the weight of an apple seed as 0.75g which only shows the authors either never bothered to check or there are some monster apples out there.”

As previously stated, apple seeds are not toxic to dogs except in absolutely outrageous, totally unrealistic amounts!

Dogs of any size have sufficient intelligence not to attempt to swallow more than they can safely manage. So under normal circumstances, apple cores and apple pips or seeds do not present either a choking hazard nor a toxin issue to dogs. So don’t be concerned if your dog chooses to chow down on a whole apple it finds in the garden. Dogs have been helping themselves to windfall apples for thousands of years without it doing them any harm whatsoever!

Are apples good for dogs to eat?

Despite being surprisingly low in essential nutrients, apples are good for dogs. They are still a valuable source of vitamins C and A, potassium and fibre just as they are jam-packed with phytonutrients and flavonoids, natural chemicals that help fight disease. They also have the ability to help keep a dog’s teeth clean and its breath fresh.

Apples may not be as healthy as a blueberries or bananas for example, but in terms of fruits you can safely feed to your dog, they are still definitely a worthwhile addition to your pup’s lunch box!

What are the health benefits of feeding apples to a dog?

Notwithstanding the fact that they’re far from nutrient rich, apples do provide other health benefits to dogs.

Apples are an excellent source of phytonutrients and flavonoids. Natural chemicals that help fight disease and which may help with fighting certain types of cancer in both humans and dogs.

Being high in fibre, apples are good for a dog’s digestive system. They make an excellent low protein, low calorie meal additive for older dogs or dogs needing to lose weight.

• Apples reduce the risk of cancer. Because of their antioxidants, apples can help reduce the risk of cancer.
• Apples reduce the risk of respiratory diseases. Apples help reduce the risk of respiratory diseases primarily due to their richness in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory plant compounds called flavonoids, particularly quercetin.
• Apples reduce the risk of chronic disease. Apples reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes through the synergistic effects of their rich content of soluble fibre (pectin) and various phytochemicals (antioxidants and polyphenols), which combat key disease drivers like inflammation and oxidative stress.
• Apples are beneficial for digestive health. Courtesy of their high dietary fibre content, apples are beneficial for digestive health.
• Apples support bone health. Apples support bone health by providing antioxidants and minerals like boron, potassium and vitamin C. These help reduce calcium loss, promote collagen formation and support bone-building cells (osteoblasts). Key compounds like phloridzin and polyphenols, found especially in apple peels, minimise bone breakdown and may improve bone density, protecting against osteoporosis (bone density loss).

So the proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” may be just as appropriate for dogs as it is for human beings!

What type of apples can I feed a dog?

Dogs can eat all common and popular varieties of apple include Braeburn, Cox, Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, McIntosh, Red Delicious and Pink Lady. So whether they are sweet, eating apples or tart, cooking apples, they are all perfectly safe to feed a dog.

What’s the best way to feed a dog apples?

In modest quantities, apples can be fed to a dog cooked, dehydrated (apple crisps) or raw. They can be fed raw and sliced or cooked and mashed depending on how your dog best prefers to eat this delicious and nutritious fruit.

Wash and slice the apple. Most of the nutrients in an apple are close to the surface so don’t peel it and lose valuable nutrients. As mentioned about, you don’t need to be the least concerned about removing the seeds, core and stem unless that is your preference. Give your dog a few slices a day as a healthy treat, or wash, cut and combine boiled or steamed apples with other ingredients in your dog’s food.

What is perhaps even more interesting though is how to ensure you dog gets the maximum nutrients from apples. Eating them, enjoying them and benefiting from apples is great. We know apples are good for dogs, but if you use food synergy to maximise the absorption of their nutrients, then you can take the nutrients in this juicy fruit to a whole new level.

To maximise the absorption of nutrients in apples, the most effective additions are foods rich in zinc, healthy fats and other antioxidant-rich fruits. These specifically target the bioavailability of quercetin (a powerful flavonoid in apple skin) and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A.

• Zinc-rich foods: apples are a significant source of quercetin, a flavonoid that acts as a “zinc ionophore.” This means quercetin helps transport zinc into cells where it can support immune function. For best effect when feeding your dog apples, combine with pumpkin seeds and oysters.
• Healthy fats: adding healthy fats is critical for absorbing fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin A and vitamin E as well as certain carotenoids. Pairing apples with fat also slows digestion, which leads to a more steady release of nutrients and prevents blood sugar spikes. For maximum nutrient absorption, combine apples with nut butters such as almond butter, peanut butter, walnuts, avocado or olive oil.
• Leafy greens: combining apples with leafy greens such as cabbage, spinach and Kale increases nitric oxide production, which can improve blood pressure, cognitive function and mood.
• Berries: the ellagic acid in raspberries enhances the ability of the quercetin in apples to combat cancerous cells. Combining different flavonoid-rich fruits amplifies their collective health benefits.
• Keep the peel: to reap the most synergistic benefits, you must feed your dog the skin. Apple skin contains 52% of the fibre, 38% of the vitamin A and 24% of the vitamin C. It is also where the highest concentration of phytonutrients like quercetin is found.
• Protein: adding a protein source such as Greek yogurt or cheese helps satisfy a dog’s hunger longer and facilitates muscle protein synthesis.

(I not only add cooked apple to some of my dogs’ meals and treats, I also give my dogs a few of my delicious homemade apple crisps for dogs as a treat every evening).

Frequently asked questions about dogs eating apples

Q. Can dogs eat apples?
A. Yes, dogs can eat apples in moderation. They are a healthy, low-fat, crunchy treat that most dogs enjoy.

Q. Are apples good for dogs?
A. Yes, apples are good for dogs. Apples contain fibre, water and vitamins such as vitamin C. They are one of the healthiest natural treats for dogs.

Q. How much apple can I give my dog?
A. Because apples are 100% natural, a dog cannot overdose on them. The worst that can happen is that the stool might be a little looser. Start off with a few slices and then feed in moderation — no more than 10% of your dog’s overall diet.

Q. Should I remove the seeds from apples before feeding them to my dog?
A. While you should ideally remove the seeds before feeding your dog apples, no harm will come to your dog if it eats the occasional seed. It would need to eat — and chew — hundreds of seeds before any harm will come to it.

Q. Can dogs eat apple skin?
A. Yes, dogs can eat apple skin. It is actually the most nutrient-dense part of the fruit. Leave the skin on when you feed your dog apple slices or chunks of apple for the larger dog.

Q. Can puppies eat apples?
A. Yes, puppies can eat apples.

Q. Can apples upset a dog’s stomach?
A. Yes, too much apple can cause an upset stomach in dogs, but this is only temporary and nothing to worry about.

Q. Can dogs eat green apples?
A. Yes, but some dogs may find them a little bitter. Red or sweeter apples are often preferred by dogs.

Q. Can diabetic dogs eat apples?
A. Possibly, in small amounts. Just bear in mind apples contain natural sugar. Ask your veterinarian before offering fruit regularly if your dog suffers from diabetes.

Q. Can dogs eat cooked apples?
A. Plain cooked apples are usually fine providing they are fed with no added sugar, xylitol or spices.

Q. Can dogs eat apple sauce?
A. Plain unsweetened applesauce in small amounts can be okay. Avoid versions with added sugar or the artificial sweetener xylitol.

Q. Can dogs eat dried or dehydrated apples?
A. Yes dogs can eat dried or dehydraed apples.

Q. Can dogs be allergic to apples?
A. It’s uncommon, but possible. Stop feeding and contact a vet if you notice itching, vomiting, diarrhoea or swelling.

Q. What’s the safest way to feed apples to a dog?
A. Wash thoroughly, remove the seeds and core and slice into bite-sized pieces.

Q. What fruits are also dog-safe?
A. In moderation, many dogs can also have:
Blueberries
Bananas
Strawberries
Watermelon
Pears
For more fruits your dog can eat and enjoy, please visit our blog.

Q. My dog ate a whole apple, what should I do?
A. Your dog could eat and chew the seeds of around 200 apples before receiving a toxic amount of cyanide. Monitor it closely but there is no need to call your vet for guidance unless vomiting, choking or lethargy occurs.

Q. Are apples better than store treats?
A. They can be a healthier low-fat option for some dogs, especially compared with high-calorie processed treats.

Studies

Studies indicate that apples are a safe, nutritious and beneficial addition to a dog’s diet when served in moderation and prepared correctly.

Research specifically into apple components such as apple-derived extracellular vesicles (ADEVs) and dried apple pomace, has shown potential for improving gut health and treating inflammatory conditions in dogs.

Key findings of various studies relating to dogs and apples conclude:

• Therapeutic potential for treating IBD: a study on apple-derived extracellular vesicles (ADEVs) from ‘Golden Delicious’ apples found that a 10-day oral administration in dogs with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) significantly reduced disease severity, lowered inflammatory markers (sIgA and calprotectin) and reduced symptoms like vomiting and diarrhoea. [ScienceDirect: Apple vescicles: Revolutionary gut microbiota treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease].
• Gut microbiota modulation: research showed that including 9% dried apple pomace in dog diets increased beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Blautia and increased faecal butyrate (a beneficial fatty acid). [ScienceDirect: Apple vescicles: Revolutionary gut microbiota treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease].
• Antioxidant benefits: apples are a rich source of antioxidants like quercetin and catechins which help combat free radicals, reduce inflammation and may assist with allergy symptoms.[ScienceDirect: Apple vescicles: Revolutionary gut microbiota treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease].

Take a look at the many other dog-safe foods you can feed your dog by visiting our Food & Feeding blog.