If you enjoy eating applesauce, you may have wondered whether or not you can share this tasty snack with your dog. After all, many foods safe for human consumption (such as chocolate) contain chemicals that are either poisonous for dogs or cause indigestion.

So Can Dogs Have Applesauce?

Yes, dogs can consume apples and products such as applesauce. It’s a fun treat for them after they’ve come home from a long walk or playtime. However, as with any other food, it’s important to feed applesauce in moderation, and it can not replace any element of your dog’s balanced and healthy diet.

Moreover, be sure that your dog doesn’t have an allergy to apples; otherwise, applesauce can cause health problems like nausea, indigestion, etc. And although rare, allergies to food coloring and preservatives may occur if you’re feeding your pup store-bought applesauce.

Commercial applesauce with high sugar content is also bad for dogs, especially if they have diabetes. Many breeds of dogs are predisposed to diabetes. Your vet can make a diagnosis if you see signs of diabetes such as recurring infections, increased urination, and excessive water drinking. Store-bought applesauce can be terrible for obese dogs as well. Feeding homemade or unsweetened organic applesauce is the way to go.

Benefits of Applesauce

Applesauce isn’t just a tasty treat for your dog, but it can offer some health benefits as well (as long as your dog’s not allergic).

Good for Gastrointestinal Distress

For starters, unsweetened applesauce is great for dogs with digestive issues. Plain applesauce is part of the BRAT diet for dogs who are having gastrointestinal distress such as diarrhea and vomiting. This diet involves feeding your dog bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.

Even if you don’t follow the BRAT diet, you can feed applesauce with other foods such as sweet potato, boiled rice, boiled chicken, etc. when your dog’s sick. Applesauce has several nutrients and adds flavor to an otherwise bland meal plan. Be sure to feed your dog plain organic applesauce without additives, preservatives, and extra sugar when it is sick. If the diarrhea is severe, you shouldn’t give your dog anything to eat for 24 hours.

Moreover, applesauce is a great option for dogs with constipation. It has insoluble fiber and can be easily digested, stimulating better bowel movement for your pup. Applesauce can prevent diarrhea and constipation from growing worse.

Important Minerals

Other benefits of applesauce include its low sodium content, tiny fat percentage, and fewer calories than other fruit products.

Your dog can also get calcium and phosphorus from applesauce. Even though it’s in a small amount, these are great for healthy teeth, nails, and bones. However, know that applesauce can’t replace calcium and phosphorus sources in diet or supplements your vet has recommended. Other than that, the fiber content is good for prebiotic effects and can improve gut health.

Provides Vitamins

As for vitamins and antioxidants, applesauce delivers vitamin A for a healthy, shiny coat and skin. Vitamin A is good for eyesight and immune responses as well.

Vitamin C is also present in applesauce, which lowers the risk of joint diseases and promotes healthy aging. Vitamin C also reduces the free radical formation, which lowers your dog’s immunity to diseases. These vitamins are also excellent at providing relief to dogs suffering from UTIs. So not only is applesauce safe for dogs with UTIs, but it offers some curative properties too.

Easy to Add to Diet Plans

Applesauce is easy to add to your dog’s diet plans. If your applesauce is unprocessed and organic or homemade, it can promote weight loss and reduce the chances of diabetes. Diabetic dogs can have a bit of applesauce too if there’s no added sugar. Furthermore, applesauce contains pectin, a compound that can help keep cholesterol levels down in senior dogs.

Overall, feeding your dog applesauce has many benefits, making it a great healthy snack.

How Much Applesauce Can Dogs Have?

After the “can dogs eat applesauce” question, the next question in any dog owner’s mind is “how much applesauce is safe to eat?” Well, as with most snacks and fruits, applesauce can do more harm than good if fed excessively.

As a general rule, applesauce shouldn’t contribute to more than 5% of your dog’s diet. Occasionally giving your dog a little more applesauce should be fine. It’s better to keep this treat as a reward, especially if you’re training your puppy or teaching it new tricks. Too much applesauce in a dog’s diet can lead to weight gain or bellyache.

How to Make Homemade Applesauce

Many dogs have trouble eating store-bought applesauce due to its high sugar content and added preservatives. This applesauce isn’t good for the BRAT diet, nor is it healthy for overweight or diabetic dogs.

If you’re having trouble finding unsweetened organic applesauce, you can make some at home. You’ll need around three pounds of apples, half a cup of water, and half a teaspoon of cinnamon (optional for added flavor). Slice up the apples, remove the cores, get rid of all the seeds, and cook them over medium heat in the water for about 20 minutes. When done, puree using a blender.

You can give this applesauce as a frozen treat on hot summer days by freezing it in ice cube trays. Blending yogurt and applesauce together also makes a tasty treat. You can add one teaspoon of honey to this recipe to make the treat naturally sweeter.

Is Cinnamon Applesauce Okay for Dogs?

Cinnamon is a healthy spice with some anti-inflammatory properties. It’s totally safe for dogs to consume and can even help regulate blood sugar. However, store-bought cinnamon applesauce products often have a high amount of sugar, which can be a detriment. Moreover, some applesauce may have nutmeg. Avoid these. Nutmeg is toxic, and trace amounts can cause an upset stomach.

If you want to add cinnamon to your homemade applesauce when serving, follow the guideline of one-eighth of a teaspoon per 15 pounds of body weight. This means that you need to add a pinch or two. Be sure to stir the cinnamon well. Excessive cinnamon can cause mouth or lung irritation. Don’t add cinnamon sticks, as they can disrupt the digestion process.

Can Dogs Have Applesauce with Other Fruits?

Dogs can enjoy many other fruits besides apples, and you can serve cut-up fruits with applesauce occasionally. You can also blend berries and fruits in your homemade applesauce, or mix two purees together.

Strawberries are one of the best fruits for dogs. They’re as rich in antioxidants as apples, low in calories, and provide a good amount of fiber. Dogs can enjoy blueberries, bananas, pineapples, cantaloupes, peaches, oranges, mangoes, and pears. But remember to follow the occasional treat rule. Two small slices of fruit a day for an average-sized dog are more than enough.

Conclusion

To sum it up, dogs can eat applesauce in moderation — around 5% of their total diet, including when mixed with fruits and other purees. Organic, homemade applesauce is packed with beneficial antioxidants too. It is a fun treat that can be served frozen along with honey, yogurt, or berries, though you should avoid giving your dog apple pie or applesauce with nutmeg.