Can Dogs Eat Apples? Seeds, Skin, Cores and How Much

Apples are a crunchy, cheap treat that most dogs are happy to work for. They're also one of the few fruits where the part you throw away matters as much as the part you share, because the seeds, core and stem are where the problems are.

Yes, dogs can eat apples. Plain apple slices, with or without the skin, are a safe treat for most dogs in small amounts. Always remove the core, seeds and stem first: the seeds contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide, and the core is a choking hazard.

Are apples good for dogs?

Apple flesh is low in fat and protein and contains fiber, vitamin C and some vitamin A. The AKC lists apples among the fruits dogs can eat and suggests them as a low-calorie treat, especially for dogs that need to lose a little weight.

Where apples shine:

• Crunch without the calories. A thin slice of apple has only a few calories, so you can give several where you'd only give one biscuit.
• Fiber. Most of it is in and just under the skin.
• Something to chew. The crunch keeps dogs busy for a few seconds and may help scrape a little plaque, but it is no replacement for brushing. If that's a struggle, see how to brush a dog's teeth that hates being brushed.

A dog on a complete and balanced food doesn't need apples for nutrition. They're a better treat, not a supplement. Our list of fruits dogs can eat puts them in the plain "yes" group, with the core and seeds as the catch.

Risks of feeding apples to dogs

Seeds. Apple seeds contain amygdalin, a compound that releases cyanide when the seed is crushed or chewed and digested. The amount in a few seeds is small, and a dog that swallows one or two by accident is very unlikely to be harmed. The risk comes from chewed seeds in larger amounts or eaten regularly, and the ASPCA lists the seeds, stems and leaves of the apple plant as toxic to dogs. Since there's no benefit to seeds, remove them every time.

The core and stem. The core is tough and fibrous. A dog that gulps a whole core, or a whole small apple, can choke, and a core can get stuck in the intestines of a small dog. The stem also contains the same cyanide-releasing compounds.

Sugar and calories. Apples are lower in sugar than bananas, but a whole medium apple is still around 95 calories. That's a big share of a small dog's treat budget.

Stomach upset. Too much apple at once can cause gas or loose stool, mostly from the fiber.

Fallen and rotting apples. Windfall apples in the yard can ferment and grow mold. A dog gorging on them can end up with vomiting and diarrhea, and moldy food can contain toxins that cause tremors. If you have an apple tree, rake up the fallen fruit.

Apple products. Apple pie, caramel apples, sweetened applesauce and apple-flavored snacks bring sugar, fat, spices and sometimes xylitol. More on those below.

How much apple can a dog eat?

Treats should stay under 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the rest coming from a complete and balanced food. UC Davis lists 1/4 cup of raw apple with skin at about 14 to 16 calories.

These are rough guides for a healthy adult dog, using thin slices of about 1/16 of a medium apple (roughly 6 calories each):

Count apple alongside everything else your dog gets between meals. For a number based on your dog's weight and activity, try the dog treat calculator.

How to prepare apples for dogs

1. Wash it to remove dirt and surface residue.
2. Core it. Cut the apple into quarters and slice out the whole core, seeds and stem.
3. Slice to size. Thin slices or small cubes for most dogs, tiny cubes for toy breeds.
4. Serve raw. Raw is fine and keeps the crunch. Plain cooked or baked apple (no sugar, butter or spices) is also safe and softer for senior dogs.

Frozen apple cubes or slices make a good summer treat, and you can freeze small cubes in water or plain low-sodium broth for an ice treat. Keep the pieces small enough that they can't be swallowed whole.

Skin on or off? The skin is safe and holds much of the fiber. Peel it for dogs with sensitive stomachs or very small dogs if it seems to cause gas, but most dogs do fine with it.

Can puppies eat apples?

Yes, small pieces of cored, seedless apple are fine for puppies eating solid food. Keep it to a tiny extra on top of a complete and balanced puppy food, and cut the pieces small, since puppies tend to gulp. Teething puppies often like a chilled apple slice. Ask your vet if your puppy has a sensitive stomach.

Dogs with health conditions. Ask your vet before adding apple if your dog has:

• Diabetes: apples contain natural sugar that counts toward blood glucose control.
• Obesity: apple is a good low-calorie swap for richer treats, but only if you cut back elsewhere.
• Pancreatitis or a sensitive gut: apple is low in fat, but these dogs often do best on a strict diet with no extras.
• Kidney disease: many of these dogs are on a prescription diet; check before adding anything.

Apples in other forms

Can dogs eat apple seeds?

No. One or two swallowed whole are unlikely to cause harm, but seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed. Remove them every time.

Can dogs eat apple cores?

No. Besides the seeds, the core is a choking and blockage risk, especially for small dogs.

Can dogs eat apple skin?

Yes. The skin is safe and contains much of the fiber. Wash the apple first.

Can dogs eat applesauce?

Only plain, unsweetened applesauce with no added ingredients. Check the label: many brands add sugar or corn syrup, and some "no sugar added" or "light" products may use sweeteners. Xylitol (also sold as birch sugar) is dangerous for dogs, even in small amounts. A teaspoon to a tablespoon of plain applesauce, depending on size, is plenty. If your dog ate a product with xylitol, use the xylitol toxicity calculator and call your vet right away.

Green apples or red apples?

Both are fine. Green apples like Granny Smith are a little more tart and slightly lower in sugar, but the difference is small. Pick whichever your dog likes, and core it either way.

Can dogs eat dried apples, apple juice or apple pie?

• Dried apple: plain, unsweetened dried apple is OK in very small amounts, but it is concentrated, so one chip has the sugar of a much bigger fresh piece.
• Apple juice: skip it. It's mostly sugar without the fiber.
• Apple pie and baked goods: no. They're high in sugar and fat, and spices like nutmeg are not recommended for dogs.

What to do if your dog ate an apple core or a lot of seeds

Swallowed one core or a few seeds. A medium or large dog will usually pass it without trouble. Watch for the next day or two.

Small dog ate a whole core, or any dog ate a lot of fallen or rotting apples. Call your vet, especially if you see:

• vomiting or retching
• not eating
• belly pain or straining with no stool
• drooling or tremors

Signs of cyanide poisoning are an emergency: trouble breathing, bright red gums, dilated pupils, weakness or collapse. They are rare with apple seeds, but go straight to a vet or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). You can also check other ingredients in our toxic to dogs checker.

FAQ

Can dogs eat apples with the skin on?

Yes. Apple skin is safe for dogs and holds much of the fiber. Wash the apple and remove the core and seeds.

How many apple seeds are toxic to a dog?

There's no reliable safe number to quote. A few swallowed whole are very unlikely to harm a dog, but chewed seeds release cyanide, so remove them every time rather than counting.

Can dogs eat apples every day?

A few thin slices a day is fine for most healthy dogs, as long as all treats stay under 10% of daily calories.

Is applesauce good for dogs with an upset stomach?

Plain, unsweetened applesauce is safe in small amounts, but it isn't a treatment. Ask your vet about mild stomach upset, and see a vet if it lasts more than a day.

Can dogs eat apple slices with peanut butter?

Yes, if the peanut butter is plain and free of xylitol. Use a thin smear, because peanut butter is high in calories.

The bottom line

Apples are one of the best fruit treats for dogs: crunchy, low in fat and easy to portion. Wash, core and slice them, leave the skin on if your dog tolerates it, and never share the seeds, core or stem. Skip apple pie, juice and sweetened applesauce, and ask your vet first if your dog has diabetes or another condition that needs a strict diet.