Content
- Can a dog eat an apple?
- Are apples good for dogs?
- Frequency and recommended dose
- Can you give apples to dogs with diarrhea?
- How to give an apple to a dog with diarrhea
Do you want to know if you can give apples to dogs? In fact, this is one of the most recommended fruits for dogs, because of the multiple benefits it offers and the different uses it can give. However, we must consider some advice when offering this delicious fruit, which we will mention below.
Continue reading this article by Animal Expert and find out if dog can eat apple, what benefits it offers and its recommended dose. Don't miss it!
Can a dog eat an apple?
Yes! The Apple it is a good and recommended fruit for dogs because of its huge amount of health benefits. Still, it is a food that dogs should consume in moderation due to its sugar content.
We can offer the apple directly, raw, as if it were a prize, although it can also be used in different homemade recipes and to prepare treats at home, such as delicious apple and carrot cookies that will serve as prizes.
Naturally, the seeds apples are very harmful to dogs, due to their amygdalin content (composed of sugar, hydrocyanic acid and benzaldehyde). It was believed that this compound could be beneficial to health, however, several studies [1] [2] [3] showed that it is a potentially toxic glycoside.
Are apples good for dogs?
Apple is one of the most popular fruits for both humans and dogs, mainly due to the multiple benefits and uses it offers. Next, in Animal Expert, we will explain the 10 benefits and uses of apples for dogs:
- It helps to hydrate your dog as it is made up mostly of water.
- It is a purifying fruit, indicated for overweight dogs or those who suffer from kidney problems. In this case, it is advisable to consult the veterinarian.
- It is rich in vitamin C, carotenoids, vitamin A and folic acid, which will ensure a much healthier coat and dermis.
- Its known antioxidant properties help prevent and delay health problems such as cancer or canine brain aging.
- It has a high potassium content, essential for neuromuscular activity, hydro-electrolyte balance and for the transmission of nerve impulses.
- It also contains other minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, essential for the proper functioning of the body.
- Unlike other foods, apples generally do not cause allergies or hypersensitivity, so it is recommended for dogs that suffer from these ailments.
- You can substitute apples for dental snacks as they strengthen and clean teeth and keep your dog entertained.
- Contains tannins, compounds with anti-inflammatory properties, which act directly on the irritated gastric mucosa.
- Offering this food at night will help your dog to rest better.
These are some of the apple properties, reasons why we may include this food in your diet or as an occasional supplement to a feed-based diet. Below we offer some tips for you to know how and how much apple to offer your dog, as well as its use in the treatment of diarrhea or constipation.
Frequency and recommended dose
Although the apple is a good fruit and beneficial to dogs, it is a food that should not be offered in excess. if we review the composition of an apple, it consists mainly of water, minerals and carbohydrates, highlighting: fructose, glucose, sucrose and sugars.
High sugar consumption can favor the onset of canine diabetes, generating the need for insulin injections, a change in diet, and the veterinarian could even suggest sterilization of the animal.
Ideally, make the apple a specific food supplement or reward that can be offered two to three times a week. A small apple, unpeeled but without seeds, is enough for your best friend to enjoy and have fun.
If your dog is not excited about fruits and vegetables, there are other options, such as potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, coconut or melon. Remember that dogs are not strict carnivores, they can also consume all varieties of beneficial fruits and vegetables.
Can you give apples to dogs with diarrhea?
Apple is one of the most popular home remedies for dog diarrhea. It is an excellent intestinal regulator due to the pectin, a type of fiber that has. However, the most surprising thing about the apple is that it is also a food suitable for constipation, in this case, it must be offered raw.
Pectin is present in many fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, beans and even spirulina, a very popular seaweed today. This fiber present in apples can absorb gastric juices, eliminating toxins and harmful cholesterol.
For these reasons, the apple is indicated in various intestinal problems such as gastritis, intestinal inflammation or colitis.
How to give an apple to a dog with diarrhea
To treat diarrhea, the most advisable is cook the apple in steam, in water or roasting, so dogs can digest and assimilate the fruit more easily.
We also recommend including the husk (as it contains vitamins), however, remove the seeds, as they are toxic. After cooking the apple, we recommend kneading it until it has a texture similar to jam.
Finally, if your dog doesn't seem to accept the apple spread, you can try mixing it with cooked chicken pieces (no salt or spices) to increase palatability and make the food more palatable.