This is another commonly asked question that dog owners – Can dogs eat apples, are the safe
dogs wanting apples – @bobbitt_life via Twenty20
Answer
Yes, dogs can eat apples but there are a couple of things that you should know.
Yo should avoid giving your dog the seeds, as they contain a small amount of cyanide which is a toxic substance. Eating too many apples can cause your dog to have a sore stomach and even cause diarrhea because they have a high sugar content, so they are best eaten in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
The sugar content can cause problems for dogs who suffer from cancer or diabetes. Later on in this article we will have some recipes that include apples.
You should remove the stem and core if you want, there is no evidence this is detrimental to a dogs health but it can be a choking hazard – better being safe than sorry.
There is some talk on that chewing an apple can also help clean your dog’s teeth but this should not be used as an alternative for proper dental care for your dog – think of it as a bonus.
Nutrition Info
Apples can be a healthy treat for your dog.
Lets look at the nutritional profile of apples. As usual the values are for 100 grams and are human recommended daily values
Energy 218 kJ (52 kcal)
Carbohydrates – 13.81 g
Sugars – 10.39
Dietary fiber 2.4 g
Fat – 0.17 g
Protein – 0.26 g
Vitamins Daily value%
Thiamine (B1) – 1%
Riboflavin (B2) – 2%
Niacin (B3) – 1%
Pantothenic acid (B5) – 1%
Vitamin B6 – 3%
Folate (B9) – 1%
Vitamin C – 6%
Vitamin E – 1%
Vitamin K – 2%
Minerals Daily value%
Calcium – 1%
Iron – 1%
Magnesium – 1%
Manganese – 2%
Phosphorus – 2%
Potassium – 2%
Other
Water 85.56 g
Advice
As with any human food you should always consult your vet before sharing human foods like apples with your dogs
Dried apples tend to have a variety of non-benefitial things like sugar, preservatives and other chemicals added. Again its best to avoid these
You should buy organic if possible to avoid the risk of any pesticides and herbicides that may have been used in the growing process. Always wash the strawberries thoroughly before feeding to your dog for this very reason.
Be very careful with Apple-flavored products or products that contain apples as these often have sugar, artificial flavors, preservatives or chemicals in them. You should avoid added sugars, artificial sweeteners such as xylitol as this can be toxic to dogs. You need to look at the ingredients in any human food carefully before even considering giving it to your dog – if in doubt don't give it to your dog
You should cut the apples in small slices or chunks as well as removing the seeds, core and stem if you are going to feed them raw
Recipes
These recipes are intended for your dog but as they use human food you can eat them as well – just don't let your dog catch you 🙂
Many dog recipes use applesauce, the good news is that you can make this yourself
Homemade Applesauce
Some of the recipes below use applesauce and it is a common ingredient in many home made dog recipe
You can make homemade applesauce by peeling, washing, coring, and thoroughly removing all the seeds (remember the seeds are toxic to dogs as well).
Dice the apples and place them into a large pot and cover them with water in the pot.
Bring the pot to the boil, then turn down the heat and keep cooking until the apples are soft.
Now drain the water from the pot and remove the diced apples, then place them into a blender and purée.
You can store the applesauce in a jar or freeze for future use.
Oats, Applesauce and Carrot Treats
These treats are great for your dog and have other favorites such as oats and carrot. You can eat them as well of course – an added bonus
Serves: 10 to 14 treats
Ingredients:
½ cup quick cook oats
½ cup unsweetened applesauce (you can try the homemade recipe above)
½ cup all-purpose floure
½ cup peeled and grated carrot
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the bottom of a baking sheet with a parchment paper.
Step 2: Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
Step 3: Drop the dough onto the prepared baking sheet using a rounded tablespoons. Make sure to leave space between each treat.
Step 4: Place the baking sheet in the pre-heated oven and bake for approxiametly 20 to 25 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and transfer the treats to a cooling rack.
Step 6: Let them cool before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Apple Crunch Treats
If your dog loves treats
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 cup dried apple chips (organic)
1 medium egg
4 cups whole wheat flour
2 tablespoon honey
1/8 tablespoon vanilla extract
¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (you can try the homemade recipe above)
2 ¾ cups water
Instructions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 1: In a bowl, mix together the applesauce, water, egg, honey and vanilla and mix well.
Step 3: Add the remaining ingredients and blend well to form a smooth batter.
Step 4: Pour the batter to muffin pans lined with cupcake liners
Step 5: Bake for 45 minutes
Step 6: Remove from the oven and let them cool before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Apple Cinnamon Biscuits
These are great treats for your dogs
Ingredients:
2 large organic eggs
½ cup powdered milk
5 cups brown rice flour
½ cup olive oil
1 cup cold water
1 tablespoon parsley
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup organic applesauce (you can try the homemade recipe above)
Instructions:
Step 1: Mix all the ingredients together until smooth.
Step 2: Knead the dough on a flat working surface.
Step 3: Roll the dough and cover with a plastic wrap.
Step 4: Refrigerate the dough for 1.5 hours or overnight.
Step 5: Flatten the dough using a rolling pin and cut out the desired shape the next day.
Step 6: Bake for 30 minutes in a 350 degreees Fahrenheit oven or until golden brown.
Step 7: Let it cool until the mixture hardens. You can store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
Apple Carrot Treats
This is a great doggie snack for dogs that love sweet treats.
Ingredients:
½ cup unsweetened applesauce (you can try the homemade recipe above)
1 egg
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup brown rice flour
Directions:
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degreees Fahrenheit.
Step 2: In a bowl, mix all the ingredients to form a dough.
Step 3: Roll the dough using a rolling pin and make small balls using your hands.
Step 4: Place the small dough balls on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Step 5: Flatten the dough balls using a fork.
Step 6: Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 7: Let them cool before storing them in an airtight container in the fridge.