Are Apples & Oranges Pawsome Vitamin Sources For Dogs?

If you’ve ever wondered if the saying of “an apple a day keeps the doc away” applies to our canine friends, today you’ll get that one answered.

Apples can actually be really healthy for your dog and some like chewing them (although my Rottie would like her apples without skin – she’s a toddler after all).

Benefits of Apples

A quick overview of what’s inside an apple and why you may want your dog to eat them:

Low in sodium, fat and calories
Full of antioxidants
High in soluble fiber (great for digestion)
Vitamin C (can help with degenerative conditions like joint disease)

Does your dog have a soft stool? Feed him apple skin.

Does your dog have a hard stool? For dogs with constipation and a harder stool, the apple skin would be your best bet.

Vitamin C isn’t absolutely necessary if your dog has a balanced diet but it makes for a nice treat nonetheless, right?

How to Serve Apples

You cannot serve your dog a whole apple. The apples should be properly washed, cut into slices, cored and have stem and seeds removed.

The seeds of apples have cyanide in them. A few seeds won’t kill your dog though and the liver will sort the toxic substance out, assuming the lethal threshold has not been reached.

If your dog is not a fan of his greens and fruits, then try this little recipe:

Drizzle a bit of honey over the apple slices
puree them into apple juice (might add other ingredients for a healthy shake)
add cinnamon to the apple juice
store it in the freezer for yummy ice cube treats

Here is an awesome recipe for apple treats I have used plenty of times for my own dog.

Can Dogs Eat Apple Cores?

As I said above, the core and seeds contain hydrogen cyanide which is poisonous to dogs and cats.

But despite the myth that they are hazardous to dogs, your dog would have to eat lots and lots of apples to actually get killed by them.

So don’t get scared if he accidentally bit into one.

A medium-sized dog would need to eat 85 grams of apple seeds and completely chew them up to get a toxic dose.
ASPCA

To get 85 grams of apple seeds your dog would need to eat around 200 apples which means that before the seeds would become dangerous to your dog, you will have to worry about the high level of sugar.

No dog would willingly eat that much. Or maybe some would but that’s a debate for another day.

Can Puppies Eat Apples?

Yes, definitely. But you will have to watch your puppy so he doesn’t choke on a big bite.

Start with a small piece and gradually increase the amount to see if your dog’s stomach tolerates the food.

How Much Apple Can a Dog Eat?

Although apples are generally healthy, feeding too many causes some issues. The sugar in the apples is critical for dogs with cancer or diabetes.

They can also cause diarrhea and nausea when not fed in moderation.

A slice a day won’t harm any dog but if you are concerned, you can always ask your vet any question regarding your dog’s diet.

We’re feeding raw with fruits and have seen only positives sides like more energy, a shinier coat, etc.

Can Dogs Eat Apple Cider Vinegar?

Do not feed apple cider vinegar to your dog. The high amount of sodium is very unhealthy and increases blood pressure.

But do not throw away the idea to use apple cider vinegar on your dog. You have probably heard about the health benefits for humans but they are also amazing for dogs.

Apple cider vinegar is my favorite thing to use on my dog. We mostly use it for flea, tick and mite prevention.

Every few months we will wash our dog as usual with her doggy shampoo and we will then pour a 1:1 mixture of water and apple cider vinegar over her body and rub it in.

The smell is not that strong and will go away after a day or two but your dog’s coat will be so soft.

Once a week we will spray the same mixture on her coat and let it try. This is our all-time favorite alternative to chemical flea and tick prevention.

We will also occasionally clean our dog’s ear with vinegar to prevent mite infections.

If your dog is currently infected with ear mites, then dip a clean cloth in apple cider vinegar and gently rub it into your dog’s ear twice a day.

Can Dogs Eat Dried Apples?

Yes, your dog can eat dried apples but only in small amounts. The apples have lost their containing water which makes them more potent than fresh apples.

The dog will want to eat more of it but they contain much more sugar than normal apples.

Check the packaging and avoid any added sugars, salt, or flavors. They can be a yummy occasional snack but should not be fed daily.

Fresh apples will remain a healthier choice.

Feeding Apples Against Doggy Breath

Apples are actually natural toothbrushes. Chewing on the skin and flesh stimulates the gums which reduces bacteria in your dog’s mouth.

Apples can also remove plaque between teeth, leading to healthier teeth and a better-smelling breath.

Studies on the health benefits of apples for dog teeth found out that they can resolve many mouth problems and can help decrease panting.

Let me know what your experiences with apples are and if you have any secret homemade tip or recipe.

Oranges – Health Benefits

Oranges are full of fibers and natural sugars. They are high in Vitamin C and fortunately, citric acid is not toxic for dogs.

Although vitamin C is not essential to supplement your dog’s diet, it can be really beneficial to their immune system. Just like humans.

If the dog is hyperactive or under stress, he might require an increased amount of Vitamin C.

Can Dogs Eat Orange Peels?

No, dogs should not eat orange peels.

If you want to feed your dog some oranges, you will have to remove the peel and any patch of skin as they contain toxins.

How to Feed Your Dog Oranges

The only thing you should be looking out for is that your dog doesn’t eat too much because the sugar can hurt the digestive system and your dog is at risk of gaining weight and getting diabetes.

But you can safely feed a small dog one segment of an orange a day and larger dogs should be fine with two to three segments.

You can start with smaller amounts to see if your dog can digest it properly.

Before feeding oranges to your dog, be sure to remove the orange peel and white skin as they can be toxic.

Best to use are navel oranges because they contain no seeds, if they are out of season you will have to remove any seeds from other oranges.

Do Dogs Need Vitamin C?

Dogs do not require additional Vitamin C as their metabolic system can produce it.

However, dogs that are physically or emotionally stressed (pregnancy, hunting, illness, moving, etc.) might need another source of Vitamin C as their bodies are depleted when it comes to vitamin C.

Researchers can actually measure the level of stress in a dog by examining the amount of Vitamin C in the blood.

One study has shown that dogs that were supplemented with Vitamin C would be overall more healthy and had a stronger immune system.

Can Dogs Drink Orange Juice?

Do not feed orange juice or any other type of fruit juice to your dog as it only contains high amounts of sugar and citric acids.

Dogs do not require the vitamins in fruit juice, so water is the best drink for a dog.

Is Citrus Bad for Dogs?

Oranges, clementines, and tangerines are not bad for dogs and neither are lemons or limes.

That goes for small amounts. In larger quantities, feeding them too much can cause a gastronomical upset.

Especially lemons and limes contain limonene, linalool, and psoralens and should only be fed in moderation.

Orange Dog Treat Recipe

If your dog seems to love the taste of oranges then why not surprise him with some yummy homemade orange dog treats?

I have tried this recipe for my own dog and she just loved it. They are so simple but so yummy.

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Disclaimer: This blog post does not substitute veterinary attention and does not intend to do so. I am not a veterinarian or pet nutritionist. If your dog shows any sign of illness, call your vet.