My daughters are both living with us at the moment and both really love apples. They eat at least one per day.
We all know the old saying “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” but I looked up the benefits below.
Benefits of Eating Apples
Apples contain the following:
- Vitamin C – a powerful natural antioxidant which may block some of the damage caused by free radicals, as well as boost the body’s resistance against infectious agents, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
- B-complex vitamins (riboflavin, thiamin, and vitamin B-6) – these vitamins are key for the health of the body, brain and nervous system. B-6 helps the body make new red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body. It also helps keep the immune system strong.
- Dietary fiber – diets high in fiber may help prevent the development of certain diseases and maintain lower bad cholesterol levels in your blood.
- Phytonutrients – apples are rich in polyphenolic compounds. These phytonutrients may help protect the body from the detrimental effects of free radicals. They include flavanols (catechin, epicatechin and procyanidins), phenolic acids (mainly chlorogenic acid), dihydrochalcones (phloretin glycosides), flavonols (quercetin glycosides) and anthocyanins (cyanidin) source: US National Library of Medicine
- Essential Minerals such as calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.
- Apples contain almost no fat, sodium or cholesterol.
Kilo the Pug and Apples
Kilo lthe Pug ikes eating just about anything and we are all guilty of sharing food with him. He looks at us with those big brown puppy dog eyes pretending he hasn’t eaten for weeks. When we give in, he is so happy with a teeny taste and even happier with a bigger bite.
He has also stolen food off the dining room table a few times including chocolate brownies and onion quiche. Both required vet calls and in the case of the chocolate, an injection, vomiting and hydration so we are all wary about human foods dogs can and can’t eat.
My older daughter asked me last week “Can dogs eat apple?”
The answer is yes according to my research. Dogs can benefit from the fiber, minerals and vitamins in apples, just like humans.
Apple slices can also help clean the residue off a dog’s teeth and lead to better breath.
Just don’t give them the whole apple. Remove the core and seeds as they could be choking hazards or poisonous (the seeds contain very small amounts of cyanide).
Can Dogs Eat Apple Pie?
As it is apple pie season here in Ontario, you may be wondering if dogs can eat apple pie. There is probably nothing in a small amount of traditional apple pie that would hurt a dog, if you give them a bite or they accidentally ingest some. However apple pies do usually contain sugar and carbs.
We try to avoid giving Kilo the Pug sugar and carbs as he is small and can put on weight quite easily. We prefer to share plain raw fruit, raw or cooked vegies or grilled meat, fish and chicken without sauces. If he was getting apple pie as a treat, I would probably make it myself.
Homemade Apple Treat Ideas for Dogs
Kilo and my kids enjoyed the super cute homemade Baked Apple Dog Treats perfect for fall and Thanksgiving. You can cut down on the maple syrup if preferred.
Thin slices of cored organic apples with a thin layer of 100% Organic/Non GMO peanut butter, (just peanuts, nothing else) makes a treat both the dogs and I love. My dog Poobah loves to chew a crisp apple slice, and does so slowly, maybe that helps clean the teeth. Make sure the peanut butter contains nothing but peanuts. Beware of xylitol found in many peanut butter spreads, very bad for dogs.
Yes- thank you!
Your article is both entertaining and informative. Apples are safe for dogs to consume. Apples are high in fibre and have similar tooth-brushing properties to humans, but they must be properly prepared or the dog may choke or react negatively.