Can dogs eat apricots?
Updated 7 August 2026
Only the flesh, and only with the stone removed first. Ripe apricot flesh is not toxic and a small piece is a fine occasional treat, but the stone is a genuine hazard: Pet Poison Helpline rates the seed as high risk for cyanide poisoning if it is crushed, and whole it can choke or block a small dog's gut.
The detail
An apricot is mostly water and natural sugar, at around 9g of sugar per 100g of fruit, with a good amount of vitamin A behind its orange colour. None of that is a problem for a dog in a small amount, which is why the flesh sits far more comfortably than the stone does.
The stone is where the risk sits. Inside the hard outer shell is a kernel containing cyanogenic compounds, and the ASPCA lists the stems, leaves and seeds of the apricot plant as toxic for exactly that reason, with the risk rising as the plant wilts.
Pet Poison Helpline is specific about two different dangers: swallowing a single intact stone, or a few leaves, is rated low risk, but eating the hulled kernel, the bitter seed inside once the shell is cracked, is rated high risk for cyanide poisoning. Signs of true cyanide poisoning move fast, appearing within 15 to 20 minutes.
Most UK dogs never meet a hulled kernel on its own. The more common incident is a dog snapping up whole apricots, stone included, from a fruit bowl or a garden tree, which is a choking and blockage question first and a poisoning question only if a stone gets crunched open.
Risk by part of an apricot
| Ripe flesh, stone removed | Fine in small amountsAround 9g of sugar per 100g of fruit |
| Whole stone, swallowed intact | Choking and blockage hazardPet Poison Helpline rates this low risk for cyanide specifically |
| Hulled kernel, cracked open and eaten | High risk for cyanide poisoningSigns can appear within 15 to 20 minutes |
| Wilting leaves and stems | ToxicASPCA: cyanide content rises as the plant wilts |
| Dried apricots | Skip, or offer very littleSugar is far more concentrated than in the fresh fruit |
How much is sensible
| Dog size | Sensible amount |
|---|---|
| Small (under 10kg)Chihuahua, Jack Russell | A small piece of stoned flesh, occasionally |
| Medium (10 to 25kg)Cocker spaniel, border collie | A few pieces of stoned flesh, once or twice a week |
| Large (over 25kg)Labrador, German shepherd | Half an apricot, stone out |
| Overweight or diabetic dogs | None, or a token piece; the sugar adds up quickly in a small fruit |
Apricot stones and kernels
Take the stone out before offering any apricot to a dog. Pet Poison Helpline rates a swallowed pit as low risk on its own, mainly a choking and obstruction concern in a small dog, but if the shell has cracked and the bitter kernel inside has been eaten, the risk moves to high for cyanide poisoning.
Signs of true cyanide poisoning are fast and serious: sudden gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases collapse within 15 to 20 minutes, per Pet Poison Helpline. This is not a wait-and-see situation; ring your vet straight away if you know or suspect a kernel has been crushed and eaten.
A stone swallowed whole is more often a physical problem than a poisoning one, since the shell has to break for the cyanide to be released. Even so, a stone can lodge in a small dog's gut, so any swallowed stone is worth a call to your vet.
Dried apricots
Drying concentrates the sugar in apricots substantially, so a small handful of dried apricots is a much bigger sugar dose than the fresh fruit gives for the same size portion. That makes them worth skipping for any dog that is overweight or prone to a sensitive stomach.
Some dried apricots are also treated with sulphur dioxide to keep their colour, which can cause mild stomach upset in a dog sensitive to it. Plain fresh apricot flesh, in a smaller amount, is the better choice if you want to share any at all.
Apricot jam and tinned apricots
Apricot jam is mostly sugar, and a spoonful licked off a knife is not an emergency but is not worth offering on purpose either. Check the label if it is a low-sugar or no-added-sugar variety, since some use a sweetener, and if it contains xylitol treat it as a xylitol incident, which Pet Poison Helpline lists as capable of causing life-threatening low blood sugar within 10 to 15 minutes.
Tinned apricots in syrup add sugar the fresh fruit does not carry, while tinned apricots in juice are closer to the fruit itself. Either way, drain the liquid off and offer only the fruit if you want to share a tinned apricot.
Apricot trees in the garden
An apricot tree dropping fruit through late summer puts a lot of stone fruit within reach of a dog left outside, and a dog can eat several whole apricots, stones included, faster than most owners notice. Vets Now recommends walking the garden and clearing windfalls before letting a dog out during dropping season.
Wilting leaves and stems carry a higher cyanide content than fresh growth, per the ASPCA, so a fallen branch or prunings left on the ground are also worth clearing rather than leaving for a dog to chew.
How much apricot is sensible?
Keep to the amounts in the table above, with the stone removed every time. A single stoned apricot is a reasonable treat for a large dog, but a small dog does not need anywhere near that much fruit in one go.
Too much fruit of any kind loosens stools in plenty of dogs, so a bowlful is not a kindness even without the stone. If your dog reacts badly to a small piece, there is no need to keep trying; plenty of dogs simply do better without stone fruit.
Signs to watch for
- Gagging, drooling or pawing at the mouth straight after swallowing a whole apricot
- Vomiting, straining or no stools in the days after a stone goes down
- Sudden gastrointestinal upset, laboured breathing or collapse within 15 to 20 minutes of eating a cracked kernel
Common questions
Are apricot stones poisonous to dogs?
The stone itself is mainly a choking and blockage risk if swallowed whole. It becomes genuinely dangerous only if the shell is cracked and the bitter kernel inside is eaten, which Pet Poison Helpline rates as high risk for cyanide poisoning.
My dog swallowed a whole apricot, stone and all. What should I do?
Watch for gagging, vomiting, straining or no stools over the next couple of days, and ring your vet if any of those appear. For a small dog, several stones, or a stone you know was crunched, call your vet straight away rather than waiting.
Can dogs eat dried apricots?
Only in a very small amount, if at all. Drying concentrates the sugar substantially, so a small handful is a much bigger dose than the same weight of fresh fruit.
Can dogs eat apricot jam?
A lick is not an emergency, but jam is mostly sugar and offers nothing worth sharing on purpose. Check the label if it is a low-sugar variety, since some use a sweetener that may contain xylitol.
How much apricot can I give my dog?
A small stoned piece for a small dog, up to half an apricot for a large one, is a reasonable occasional amount. Always remove the stone first, and skip it altogether for a dog that is overweight or diabetic.
Are apricot trees dangerous to have in a garden with a dog?
They can be, mainly through windfalls and wilting leaves, which the ASPCA notes carry a higher cyanide content than fresh growth. Clear fallen fruit and prunings regularly, especially through late summer when the tree drops the most fruit.
What are the signs of cyanide poisoning in dogs?
Pet Poison Helpline lists sudden severe gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing and neurological signs including collapse, with onset as fast as 15 to 20 minutes after eating a cracked kernel. This is a genuine emergency, so call your vet immediately rather than watching and waiting.