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Apples are hardier than many other fruits, so they are often available no matter the season, making them great healthy snacks throughout the year. Multiple varieties are consistently available, including Red Delicious, Gala, and Fuji, which are considered red apples. Green apples are commonly known as Granny Smith apples.
Green apples are typically the tartest of all apple varieties available in supermarkets, and many people feel quite strongly about them. If you’re a fan, you might have them in your house regularly, so you may be wondering if you can share your tasty, tart apple with your pup. Here’s what you need to know about feeding green apples to canines.
Can Dogs Eat Green Apples?
Dogs can absolutely eat green apples and all other supermarket apple varieties. In fact, green apples are slightly healthier for dogs due to their lower sugar and overall carbohydrate content than red apple varieties, including tart red apples.
Green apples are also higher in vitamin A than red apples, which is a nutrient that supports immunity, vision health, reproduction, and overall growth.
However, dogs cannot eat apple cores, especially the seeds,1 as these parts can be toxic for canines.
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Can Dogs Eat Applesauce?
Dogs can indeed eat applesauce, including applesauce made from green apples. However, it’s important to stick to unsweetened applesauce, since the added sugar in other applesauce can lead to digestive problems and other health problems. Ensure that the applesauce that you choose isn’t sweetened with xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that is toxic and deadly to dogs.
Considerations When Feeding Green Apples to Dogs
There are a couple of considerations you must make before feeding apples of any kind to your dog. The first is to avoid allowing your dog to eat the seeds of the apple. The seeds contain cyanide, which can be dangerous. The cyanide does occur in low concentrations, so it would take a lot of apple seeds to make your dog sick, but it’s best to avoid them completely. You also should avoid allowing your dog to consume the apple core, since there is a risk of the core leading to an intestinal obstruction.
It’s important to wash apples well before feeding them to your dog. Pesticides and bacteria can end up on fresh produce, so washing well before serving will reduce any risks posed by these things.
Chewing on crunchy apples can help keep your dog’s teeth clean. Unfortunately, small bits of apple, especially the peels, can become wedged between their teeth. This means you will still need to provide dental care at home. Feeding apples as treats doesn’t eliminate the need for proper dental care.
How Much Green Apple Can My Dog Have?
While green apples are healthy treats for dogs, it is important to avoid overfeeding them. This may lead to stomach upset due to their sugar and fiber content.
How much green apple your dog can eat depends on their size. Small dogs should only be given one or two small apple slices. Medium dogs can have up to six small apple slices, while large and extra-large dogs can have a handful of small apple pieces. Most dogs are too small to receive an entire apple in one day.
Conclusion
Green apples can be healthy and tasty treats for your dog. They are healthier for dogs than red apples, but they still should be fed sparingly to prevent stomach upset due to the sugar and fiber content. Apples should be fed as part of a balanced diet for your dog, and they are best given as treats and not as daily food offerings.
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