Can dogs eat pears?
Updated 5 August 2026
Yes. Ripe pear flesh is safe for dogs in small chunks. Bin the core, pips and stalk first: the core can choke a dog or block the gut, and the pips carry traces of amygdalin, as apple pips do. Tinned pears in syrup are best left on the shelf.
The detail
Ripe pear is a soft, sweet share that suits most dogs. The Pet Poison Helpline describes pears as one of the more easily digested fruits, which makes them a decent pick for dogs that find harder treats a struggle.
The middle of the fruit is the part to remove. The core and stalk can choke a dog or sit in the gut, and the pips contain amygdalin, the same compound found in apple pips.
Sugar sets the ceiling, at around 17g in a medium pear. Serve chunks rather than halves, and give overweight or diabetic dogs a vegetable instead.
What is in a medium pear
| Sugar | Around 17gThe reason portions stay small |
| Fibre | Around 5gMuch of it in the skin |
| Calories | Around 100 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 small chunks, a couple of times a week |
| Medium (10 to 25kg)Cocker spaniel, border collie | A quarter of a pear, in chunks |
| Large (over 25kg)Labrador, German shepherd | Up to half a pear, in chunks |
| Overweight or diabetic dogs | Skip it. The sugar is the whole of the downside here |
Can dogs eat pear core and seeds?
Not deliberately, but keep accidents in proportion. Pear pips carry traces of amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed, and the honest context is the same as for apples: a dog would need to chew through a great many pips for a harmful dose.
A few pips swallowed whole with a stolen chunk need no treatment. The core itself is the bigger risk, since it can choke a dog or block the gut, so watch a core thief for vomiting, straining or refusing food and ring your vet if any appear.
Can dogs eat pear skin?
Yes. Pear skin is thin, safe and holds a share of the fibre, so a wash is all it needs.
Dogs with sensitive stomachs may do better with peeled chunks, since the skin is where most of the roughage sits. Either way the portion table stays the same.
Tinned pears in syrup
Skip these. The syrup is sugar solution, and it undoes the point of choosing fruit over biscuits in the first place.
Pears tinned in juice are the lesser problem: a rinsed chunk on a special occasion is fine, but fresh ripe pear beats both. Check any tin's label for sweeteners before sharing anything.
Hard or ripe pears?
Ripe is better. A soft, ripe pear chews easily and digests well, which is the quality the Pet Poison Helpline credits pears with in the first place.
A rock-hard Conference pear is a different object, and chunks of it are a choking hazard for dogs that gulp. Let hard pears ripen in the bowl, and bin fermenting windfalls from a garden tree rather than letting a dog scavenge them.
Common questions
My dog ate a whole pear, core and all. What should I do?
The flesh is harmless and the few pips inside are not a poisoning risk. The core can block the gut of a smaller dog, so watch for vomiting, straining or refusing food over the next day or two and ring your vet if any appear.
Are pear seeds poisonous to dogs?
They carry traces of amygdalin, which releases cyanide when chewed, but a dog would need to chew a very large number for a harmful dose. Remove them anyway, because the core around them is a genuine choking risk.
Can puppies eat pear?
Yes, in smaller amounts than the table above. Soft ripe pear cut into pea-sized pieces suits a puppy's mouth, and one or two pieces is plenty.
Can dogs eat tinned pears?
Pears in syrup, no, since the syrup is sugar solution. Pears in juice are acceptable rinsed and occasional, but fresh ripe pear is better on every count.
How often can I give my dog pear?
A couple of times a week fits most dogs, rotated with lower-sugar options like cucumber or carrot. Daily pear is a daily sugar dose your dog does not need.
Can dogs eat pear drops?
No. Pear drops are boiled sugar sweets with no fruit in them, and sugar-free sweets can contain xylitol, which is extremely toxic to dogs. Keep sweets out of reach altogether.