When people eat, it’s not rare for people who have dogs to feed their animal table scraps as a treat. Can Dogs Eat Apples?
People have to be careful what they feed their pet because you don’t want to cause your dog pain or discomfort by feeding them something that is not good for them. What about fruits and vegetables? Are those safe for our pets to eat?
Can Dogs Eat Apples?
Yes, dogs can eat apples but before you feed them to your dog, there are some things you should keep in mind.
Apples can be good for dogs because what makes apples healthy for humans will have a positive effect on dogs as well. But you don’t want to risk your dog swallowing a seed or trying to eat the core of an apple. You also don’t want to feed too many apples to your dog because too much of anything is never a good thing.
If apples are given to dogs the right way and it doesn’t happen too often then these could be substituted as rewards for when your dog does something well. However, you should consult with your veterinarian before you feed any human food to your dog.
The following information you should consider before you give your dog any apples.
The Ways Dogs Benefit From Apples
Since apples aren’t expensive and they are healthy then as we stated earlier, you could feed your dog an apple as a treat for doing something well instead of a normal dog treat. Of course, that is true as long as you don’t give too many apples to your dog in a short amount of time.
Apples don’t have much protein but they contain a lot of fiber which is positive for the digestive health of your dog. Another way apples are beneficial for dogs is if your dog is on a diet where your dog can’t have a lot of protein.
If your dog is sick or old then that’s another reason how apples could have a positive impact on your dog.
Apples also have a lot of vitamins and minerals. Apples could help your dogs avoid getting cancer and prevent problems with their joints as they get older. Apples can also improve how your dog’s breath smells and improve the overall health of their teeth.
Reasons Not To Give Your Dog Apples
We already stated that if you let your dog eat an apple and you don’t cut it into pieces first then you have to look out for the seeds and the core of the apple.
The seeds do contain a toxic poison that could be fatal to your dog. If your dog swallows one seed or a few seeds then there is no reason to worry. But if you would rather be safe instead of sorry then take out the seeds before you give your dog an apple.
Something else that should be taken off the apple is the stem. While dogs will be able to eat most parts of the apple, they will have trouble when they get to the core of the apple. They could end up choking on the core or form a blockage in their gastrointestinal tract.
Believe it or not, apples do have sugar which could hurt your dog if they have diabetes or cancer.
Even if your dog doesn’t suffer from those diseases then they could end up with an upset stomach or diarrhea if they have too many apples. This is why it’s always best to talk to your veterinarian first before you take a chance.
If something has the flavor of an apple or has apples as ingredients usually also have chemicals, fake flavors, or sugar. You should check the ingredients of anything that you think about feeding your dog. If anything has those ingredients then don’t feed it to your dog because it could make them sick.
This is why you should purchase organic apples if you plan to give your dog one but you have to wash the apples off first to get rid of anything that may have been injected in the apple to make it last longer.
Conclusion
While it may be trivial to some people but dogs can be allergic to some foods just like humans. If your dog is allergic and you still feed him an apple then they may throw up or have trouble breathing just minutes after eating that apple.
If the allergies of your dog start reacting after eating an apple, then don’t feed them any more parts of the apple and bring your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
Apples may sound like they are healthy for your dog but there could be drawbacks to giving your dog an apple. It’s always best to check with your vet first. You don’t want to give your dog something that could risk harming them.
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