Imagine this, you’re outside enjoying your walk in the park with your dog, and somehow your dog has found an apple and has started to eat it. You freak out and frantically take the apple away from him. Now you wonder, “What do I do?” and “Can Dogs Eat Apples?”
Well thankfully you’re in luck because dogs can eat apples. However, there are parts of the apple that dogs can’t eat. The leaves and stem as well as the seeds of the apple are all toxic to dogs if consumed. They all contain a substance called cyanogenic glycosides which can cause cyanide poisoning if ingested. The most poisonous substance is in the seeds so be sure to prevent your dog from ingesting those or chewing on them.
A few things to watch out for if your dog has eaten all parts of the apple are vomiting and diarrhea – typical of gastrointestinal upset. Also, there are more serious effects starting with coordination problems, breathing problems and the most serious being coma or shock. These rare, but serious effects can result in death so it is important to be aware of the parts of the apple that your dog can safely eat. If your dog shows any of these signs of distress, be sure to contact your veterinarian immediately.
Now that you know the dangerous parts of the apple, you can safely allow your dog to enjoy the healthy benefits of eating this fruit. The apple provides many good vitamins and minerals as well as fiber for your dog. A lot of dogs enjoy eating fresh fruits and vegetables, so it is great to provide them as a supplement to their normal dog food or as a healthy treat. Just be sure to ask your veterinarian if there are any particular dangers with the specific fruit or vegetable before feeding them to your dog.