Can dogs eat apple?
Updated 5 August 2026
Yes. Apple flesh is safe for dogs, and slices make a cheap, crunchy treat. Remove the core and the pips first: the core can choke a dog or block the gut, and the pips contain traces of amygdalin. Washed slices with the skin on suit most dogs.
The detail
Apple is one of the easiest fruits to share. The flesh carries nothing toxic, most dogs like the crunch, and a slice has a fraction of the calories of a shop-bought dog biscuit.
The two rules both concern the middle of the fruit. The core is firm enough to lodge in the throat or gut of a smaller dog, and the pips contain amygdalin, a compound that releases small amounts of cyanide when chewed and digested.
Quantity keeps the pip question in perspective. A couple of pips swallowed with a stolen slice are nothing to panic about, and the full section below explains where the real line sits.
Sugar sets the portion size. A medium apple carries around 19g of it, so small and overweight dogs get slices, never halves.
What is in a medium apple
| Sugar | Around 19gThe reason portions stay small |
| Fibre | Around 4gMuch of it in the skin |
| Calories | Around 95 kcal |
| Anything toxic to dogs | Traces of amygdalin in the pipsThe flesh and skin carry nothing harmful |
How much is sensible
| Dog size | Sensible amount |
|---|---|
| Small (under 10kg)Chihuahua, Jack Russell | One or two thin slices, a couple of times a week |
| Medium (10 to 25kg)Cocker spaniel, border collie | A quarter of an apple, sliced |
| Large (over 25kg)Labrador, German shepherd | Up to half an apple, sliced |
| Overweight or diabetic dogs | Skip it. Cucumber or carrot gives the crunch without the sugar |
Can dogs eat apple cores and seeds?
Not on purpose, but be sensible about accidents. Apple pips contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when the pip is chewed and digested. The Pet Poison Helpline's position is that a pet would need to eat a very large number of pips before that matters.
So a dog that swallows a few pips with a stolen slice needs no treatment. Whole pips mostly pass straight through, and one apple's worth sits far below a harmful dose. The situation worth a vet call is a dog chewing through many apples' worth, for example working through windfalls under a garden tree.
The core is the bigger everyday risk. It is firm, awkwardly shaped and a known cause of choking and gut blockages, especially in small dogs and gulpers. If your dog steals a core, watch for vomiting, a hunched posture or refusing food over the next day or two, and ring your vet if any of those appear.
Can dogs eat apple skin?
Yes. The skin is safe, holds a good share of the fruit's fibre, and needs nothing more than a wash to deal with any spray residue on the surface.
A lot of peel in one go can loosen stools, so bin the long ribbons if you are peeling apples for a crumble. Dogs with sensitive stomachs do better with peeled slices.
Dried apple
Plain dried apple rings are safe, but drying removes the water and leaves the sugar, so one ring counts for several fresh slices. Halve the portions from the table above.
The label matters more than the apple. Mixed dried-fruit packs often include raisins or sultanas, which are toxic to dogs, so only share from a pack that lists apple and nothing else.
Apple sauce and stewed apple
Plain stewed apple with nothing added is fine as an occasional spoonful over dinner. It is the same fruit, just softer.
Shop-bought apple sauce usually carries added sugar, and any sugar-free version needs a label check for xylitol, a sweetener that is extremely toxic to dogs. If the ingredients list says anything beyond apple, keep it back.
Common questions
My dog ate an apple core. What should I do?
Most cores pass without trouble, and the few pips inside are not a poisoning risk. Watch for vomiting, straining or refusing food over the next day or two, and ring your vet if any of those show up, sooner for a small dog.
Are apple seeds poisonous to dogs?
Technically yes, practically rarely. The pips contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed, but a dog would need to chew through a very large number for a harmful dose. Remove them anyway, because the core they sit in is a genuine choking risk.
Can puppies eat apple?
Yes, in smaller amounts than the table above. A thin slice or two with the skin, core and pips removed makes a fine soft-crunch reward during training.
Can dogs eat cooking apples like Bramleys?
Cooked plain, yes. Raw Bramleys are sharp enough to upset some stomachs, so stick to sweeter eating apples for raw slices.
Can dogs drink apple juice?
Better not. Juice keeps the sugar and drops the fibre, and shop-bought cartons often add more. Water and the occasional apple slice do the same job properly.
Can dogs eat apple crumble?
A stolen mouthful is no emergency, but do not serve it. Crumble adds butter and a lot of sugar, and any version with dried fruit in the filling would mean a vet call because raisins and sultanas are toxic to dogs.