Can Dogs Eat Green Apples? A Vet’s Opinion
Green apples are medium-sized apples. The green apple’s flesh has a crispy and juicy taste. This apple is also known as the Granny Smith Variety, as Marie Ann Smith in Australia made it. This sour apple offers many benefits and nutritional value, but can you feed Green Apples to your dog?
Yes, dogs can definitely eat green apples in their diet. You can give them this apple in a variety of ways. However, it would be best to remove the seeds and slice up the apples so that your furry friend can eat them safely since the seeds are a choking hazard. The sliced-up apple can also be helpful for oral hygiene and clean-up of your dog.
Let’s dive in:
Benefits Of Green Apples For Dogs
There are many benefits of giving your dog green apples. These Granny Smith apples are a rich source of Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Fiber, Calcium, Phosphorus, and Antioxidants. Apples are low calorie; hence they are great as a source of snacks for your dog. They can even work as treats and be used to train your dogs. Moreover, if you think your dog has bad breath, get him to get a couple of apple slices every day; this will make his breath fresh and clean his teeth as well. Apples are great for dental hygiene.
Vitamin C, present in these green apples, is a powerful antioxidant that can help your body get rid of free radicals. Free radicals disturb the normal functioning of lipids and proteins. One apple is enough to provide a human with 10% of their daily ascorbic acid recommended dose. It would be even lesser for your dogs! Moreover, additional antioxidants like quercetin, catechin, and chlorogenic acid are vital for supporting brain and heart function. Moreover, antioxidants are known to have anti-inflammatory qualities. The skin is an excellent source of fiber for dogs. The fiber helps to lower blood sugar level levels while providing food to the good bacteria in your dog’s gut to help maintain their gut health. Fiber is also essential for good bowl movements for your puppy. The carbs and potassium present in these green apples are essential as sources of energy and transfer of energy for your pets. If you want your dog to be as excited to see you play, make sure to provide his body with enough carbs and potassium as recommended in his daily dosage. However, apples also contain a lot of sugar per serving, so it’s vital to keep an eye on the servings your dog has!
How To Safely Give Green Apples To Dogs
Dogs can eat the skin and the fleshy part of the apple. The Green apples have a very crispy and hard skin, which your dog will like to chew on, and it is entirely safe for him to do so. Moreover, green apples are sourer and tarter. Hence, your dog might not like it, but that doesn’t mean you can chop off some green apples to add to his diet for its tremendous health benefits.
You can slice up the apple for your dog and give it to them to make sure that they do not choke on any large pieces. Ensure to wash the apples before serving them, especially if you have bought them from a supermarket. Organic apples do not have to be cleaned like that since they are free from additional chemicals. Moreover, remove the stem, seeds, and cores.
Moreover, sliced apples can work wonders for their dental hygiene and cleanliness. It would be best if you watched for any signs of discomfort after giving your dog apples. It would be best if you looked for any vomiting, loose stool, bloating, or any signs of gastric distress. Additionally, make sure to avoid giving your dogs any apple sauce to go along with the apples. For reference, a quarter of an apple for a 10-pound dog is like 2-3 apples for a human. Hence, make sure to feed your dog according to his body weight and diet chart recommended by his vet.
Will Green Apples Make A dog sick?
Yes, green apples can, in fact, make your dogs sick. However, this can happen if your dog eats a lot of green apples. You should always ensure that you remove the core and seeds from the apples you give to your dog and not let them munch on a lot of whole apples since the seeds can be dangerous.
The reason we say that the seeds can be dangerous is due to the presence of cyanide in the seeds. Seeds contain a tiny amount of cyanide. However, the chemical is still poisonous to both humans and dogs. This lethal chemical works by blocking the cells in the body from receiving oxygen, causing irreparable damage. Cyanide, when it acts upon the cells in the heart and brain, can be life-threatening. When brain cells do not get enough oxygen, they begin to die. Moreover, this condition can get serious quickly, and hence if you notice any of the signs of cyanide poisoning after your dog has eaten apples, it is wise to call your vet as soon as you can. Moreover, cyanide poisoning can occur over time as well if your dog regularly feeds on whole apples every day. Hence, it is vital to look for the following cyanide poisoning signs in your dog, difficulty in breathing, dilated pupils, deep red tinted mucus membranes in mouth or nose, nausea/vomiting, convulsions, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. Cyanide poisoning is the leading factor of death due to eating too many green apples.
Vet’s Summary
Green apples are a great source of nutrients and vitamins for your dogs. Hence you must make sure to add them to your dog’s daily food. Green apples contain a lot of different vitamins and nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fiber, Calcium, Phosphorus, and Antioxidants. All of these things play an essential role in protecting your dog from diseases and keeping him fit and healthy. You should, however, not feed your dog too many green apples and take some precautions when feeding your dog. You should slice the apples and remove the stem, seeds, and core before giving them to your dog. The stem and the core can be choking hazards. The seeds contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs; ensure that you remove it. Some symptoms of cyanide poisoning in dogs are difficulty breathing, dilated pupils, deep red-tinted mucus membranes in the mouth or nose, nausea/vomiting, convulsions, irregular heartbeat, and loss of consciousness. If something like this happens, make sure to call the vet. Additionally, you should also give your dog probiotics in their diet! Probiotics are essentially healthy bacteria that are responsible for a healthy gut! You should add some probiotics to your dogs’ diet to help them clear off any gut problems or digestive issues they might face with age! Probiotics can also help fight digestive issues, such as diarrhea and constipation, and reduce the risk of infections. However, you should always consult your local veterinarian in deciding which supplements and probiotics will be beneficial for your pet friend!
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