When it comes to human foods, there is always a great deal of confusion about what we can and can’t feed are dogs. When feeding your dog something like applesauce for example, you have to ensure that you remove all of the potentially toxic substances that could be harmful for your pet. With these details in mind, can dogs eat applesauce?
It is not a good idea to give your dog applesauce to eat, as the jars that are sold in local stores often contain far too much sugar. Homemade or unsweetened shop bought applesauce, however, is generally okay for a dog’s diet, since these type of applesauces do not contain sugars.
As doggy parents, we are pretty strict about what Rosie can and can’t consume, over and above the nutritious pre-made dog food that we feed her for breakfast and dinner. However, we are big lovers of a roast dinner and when dividing up the leftovers, we are often curious as to whether she can eat applesauce?
Read on to find out if feeding applesauce to your dog is dangerous and whether it is ok for dogs to eat apples in general. We will also explore if there are any health benefits for our dogs in consuming applesauce.
Can dogs eat store bought applesauce?
There are no potentially deadly ingredients in store bought applesauce for dogs, but most brands do contain a great deal of added sugar. Sugar is bad for dogs and has no nutritional value; in fact it can have the opposite effect as it raises a dog’s blood sugar, weakens the immune system and can cause digestive upset.
Sugar can also lead to obesity in dogs – just like it does with us humans when we ingest a lot of sugar. The same rule of thumb applies when dogs eat strawberry applesauce or honey crisp applesauce, as these all contain extra sugar.
Can dogs eat applesauce with cinnamon?
Cinnamon is also an ingredient that is not considered to be toxic for dogs. With that said, cinnamon when combined with the sugary compounds in applesauce could possibly be bad for the sensitive digestive systems of dogs.
If you feed your dog applesauce of the unsweetened variety, with just a bit of cinnamon mixed through, this would likely not cause digestive issues if given as an occasional treat. But there are also other concerns such as food coloring that can sometimes be overused in specialty items like applesauce with cinnamon.
How much applesauce can I give my dog?
We already know that human food does not have many nutritional benefits when feeding your dog things like applesauce. And although applesauce itself is not necessarily good for dogs, it isn’t all that bad either.
A good rule of thumb to remember, is to avoid feeding too many acidic fruits like apples to your dog. When you do feed apples to your dog in this way, only give them a spoonful at a time, sort of like peanut butter or other healthy snack options out there.
Too much vitamin c is not good for dogs, and things like dietary fiber and soluble fiber should primarily come from a dog’s food as not to cause digestive system issues.
Many dogs only enjoy a low calorie treat if it is some sort of protein or is sugary, which of course is not good for them, which makes applesauce a bad food choice for your pet.
When feeding dogs applesauce, opt for plain applesauce ideally using homemade recipes. Homemade applesauce allows you to use fresh apples, such as red delicious, and you can control the sweetness of the dog’s applesauce.
If you want to use store bought applesauce to give to your canine companion, limit servings to one or not more than two spoonful’s per day.
Can dogs eat Mott’s unsweetened applesauce?
It doesn’t necessarily have to be a homemade simple recipe, you can also give your dog unsweetened brands of applesauce like Mott’s. But due to an abundance of vitamin c that can come from eating applesauce, it is important that you stick to the recommended amount.
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Will applesauce make my dog poop?
Due to the fiber content in applesauce or even from eating apples alone, applesauce can make your dog poop more than usual.
Apples are packed with fiber, and just like people, fiber has the same function in dogs in terms of the digestive system.
With this in mind, you can expect your dog to poop a few times more than usual after eating apples.
Applesauce for dogs recipe
If you would like to have your dog eat applesauce without any harmful ingredients, it is best to make it at home. We recommend this simple but tasty recipe:
- Peel and core out the apple seeds of between 10-15 apples.
- Cut the fruit into slices and place the apples in a pot or pan with water, lemon juice, and a cinnamon stick.
- Let the pot simmer for about 30 minutes until the apples are soft. Then strain the pot and place the fruit into a blender until pureed.
- Chill the sauce for about 3 hours for a nice cool treat. As tempting as it is, make sure you do not add any sweeteners or sugary compounds to the applesauce.
FAQs
Can dogs eat green apples?
Green apples can be delicious sweet treats for dogs, granted your dog does not have an allergic reaction to this fruit. It is important to mash or puree apples for dogs to reduce the risk of giving your dog a choking hazard.
Green apples are packed with calcium, which can improve your dog’s bone health and as mentioned, soluble fiber in apples, called pectin, reduces the amount of sugars and calories that’s absorbed into the bloodstream after a meal.
That’s good news for those who want to prevent type 2 diabetes in canines, but it also makes apples one of the best snacks for slimming your dog down.
Apple pectin prevents spikes in blood sugars that lead to increased fat storage. Just be mindful of your dog’s fruit intake so that he/she is not ingesting too much sugary foods.
Our kids adore fruit, so it is not uncommon for Rosie to be gifted a piece of apple as a daily treat.
Can dogs eat cinnamon applesauce?
Apart from applesauce that is sprinkled with cinnamon, there is also applesauce sold in the store that is packed with cinnamon.
As mentioned, you have to be careful with these types of store bought goods, since the sweet content of the snacks can be far too much for canines.
Are there any homemade dog treats for dogs like applesauce?
If you are worried about the small risks associated with giving your dog applesauce, then you can make even safer snacks for your pooch at home.
Peanut buttery snacks are great for canines, and this nutty mixture can be spread over carrot sticks or even lean pieces of meat with no preservatives.
Summary
So, can dogs eat applesauce? Yes, as long as it is unsweetened applesauce. Due to the sugary nature of applesauce, it is always best to feed your dog commercial dog food and if possible, dog safe or homemade applesauce.
Is applesauce good for dogs? It’s certainly not dangerous, but you should be aware of sugar content within it. That said, providing it is given as a treat on the odd occasion and not as part of you dog’s daily diet, then you should not have to worry about your pooch’s health when you feed them a mouthful of applesauce. Feeding this to your dog everyday due to the sweetness of the food could cause serious harm.