Using apples for dogs in homemade dog treats is a good way to improve your dogs diet while giving him dog biscuits that are yummy!
Remember the old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”? Well, it is not just an old wives tale. Apples are high in nutrition, and they are used as natural remedies for many canine conditions.
In fact, just one apple contains as much fiber as 2 slices of whole wheat bread—about 4.3 grams of dietary fiber!
When you are making dog biscuits or bones for your dog, you can add apples to your dog treats recipes in a couple of ways.
Try chopping fresh apples into little chunks. Limit the amount of chopped apples that you add to a recipe – to about ½ cup of chopped apples.
That way you won’t have to make any adjustments to the recipe.
This German Shepherd dog is enjoying his fresh apple.
Another way to get apples into your dog cookies is to simply use applesauce—which is a whole lot easier.
For applesauce, substitute an equal amount of applesauce for the liquid (vegetable oil or water) in a recipe, and you won’t have to change anything else.
If you’d like to try an apple dog treat recipe, here are several recipes:
Benefits of Apples for Dogs
The American Pharmaceutical Association recognizes apples as being a healing food. And folk healers all the way back to ancient India and Egypt used apples to encourage good digestion.
In modern times, we recognize apples for their ability to:
- Aid digestion
- Prevent and control constipation
- Get rid of diarrhea
- Clean the teeth
- Lower fevers
- Help with such conditions as rheumatic joint stiffness, heart disease and even diabetes.
Apples contain lots of pectin, and pectin lowers cholesterol levels.
Apples are also low in sodium, making them acceptable for people and dogs with high blood pressure–and they are high in potassium, protecting against strokes.
Can Apples Hurt your Dog?
Apples are healthy and harmless, and they are good for your dog—with one exception. Apple seeds can be harmful. They contain cyanide, which is a deadly poison to dogs.
Swallowing just a few apple seeds can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, or constipation in a large dog. A few seeds can be fatal to a smaller dog.
When a dog swallows apple seeds, the symptoms are likely to appear several hours later, as cyanide takes a while to be absorbed into the system.
If you suspect that your dog has eaten apple seeds, watch him carefully. Of course, if he shows any symptoms, take him to the vet immediately.
With a smaller dog, I would not wait to see symptoms–err on the side of caution! Take him to the vet right away.
Add Apples to Dog Treats for Added Nutrition
Consider using apples in your healthy dog treat recipes. Apples for dogs are a healthy addition to dog biscuits and cookies.
And dogs love apples, whether raw or in their homemade dog treats!
