If you have ever owned a golden retriever, you might know that they are always hungry and ready for a treat at any time of the day. Not just the golden retriever, dogs in general love whatever food we humans eat. The Labrador retriever I had long back used to eat bananas, peanuts, and basically anything he could get his hands on. I used to give him a bite of every snack I had until the vet explained to me how too much of our food can cause serious health issues to the dog.
That being said, there are indeed some food items that can be fed to your canine friend as a nutritional boost. For instance, yogurt, flaxseed, pumpkin seed, peanuts, green beans, and sweet potatoes are healthy food for dogs. But what about apples?
Can golden retrievers eat apples? Yes, golden retrievers can eat apples and it is good for them too. Apples have high fiber and carbohydrate content that is highly beneficial golden retrievers.
In this article we will have a look at the benefits of feeding apples to golden retrievers, how frequently should you feed them apples, how to feed them, and other important things you should know before feeding apples to golden retrievers.
Contents
Is it safe for golden retrievers to eat apples?
Yeah, not just for the golden retrievers it is safe for all dog breeds to eat apples. But that doesn’t mean that you can feed them as a staple diet. Ideally speaking apples shouldn’t constitute more than 10% of the dog’s regular calorie intake.
As a pet owner, you need to see apples as a low cost and nutritionally beneficial snack to treat your dogs with. This can come in handy especially when you are training your golden retriever. Instead of giving them random snacks as rewards, you can rather give them one or two slices of apples.
It is also interesting to note that apples can be fed to dogs irrespective of the diet pattern they are under. This can be beneficial for those having senior dogs who have to be put under a low protein diet or a low-fat diet owing to their age. Apples are rich in fibers and low in carbohydrates can make a great substitute for these dogs.
All these being said, if your dog has any medical condition it is advised to contact your veterinarian before giving your dog apples. For instance, apples shouldn’t be fed to dogs having diabetes owing to the high sugar content in apples.
What are the health benefits of feeding apples to golden retrievers?
Looking from a nutritional point of view, apples aren’t of much benefits to dogs in general. That being said, it is important to understand that there are many indirect benefits of feeding apples to dogs.
Among the many benefits, the most important one is that apples are a low cost and nutritionally beneficial snack to treat your dogs with.
Dogs in general love human food and they would die to get a bite from your snack. But it is important to understand that too much human food can cause severe health issues in dogs. For instance, chocolates are found to be a major cause of heart attacks in dogs.
Similarly, spicy and oily food can cause abnormal digestive functions in dogs. Considering these health implications apples are a safer alternative.
Looking from a nutritional point of view, apples are rich in Vitamin-C, Vitamin-D, and fibers while having low carbohydrate content. If you have already kept your dog in a complete and balanced diet, apples can’t give them any more nutritional help. But as said earlier, they can be a healthy snack.
How many apples can a dog have?
As mentioned in the previous section, though it is safe for dogs to eat apples, you shouldn’t feed them apples as a staple diet. Ideally speaking apples should only constitute less than 10% of the regular diet of the retriever.
Feeding them apples in excess can cause digestive issues. It is advised not to feed them more than 2 or 3 slices of apples at a time.
The best way to go about safely feeding apples to dogs is to cut the apple into a chewable size before feeding them. Similarly, you also need to avoid giving them the core including the stem as there are chances for choking.
Can I feed apples to puppies?
Yes, you can feed apples to puppies but it is the best that you don’t. You should refrain from feeding them apples until they are 3 months old. By the end of 3 months, you can slowly start to introduce small pieces of apples to them. By doing this you are giving its digestive system to get acquainted with the new food items.
Similarly, always cut the apple down into small pieces before feeding them to the pups. You also need to remove the stem and the core of apple as it can cause choking.
Is it okay for my golden retriever to eat apple seeds?
The reason why most veterinarians suggest removing seeds from apples before feeding them to dogs is to avoid the risk of choking and digestive issues. A dog’s digestive system is very different from that of ours and it can be difficult for them to digest the seeds.
When it comes to apple seeds, the most commonly asked question is about the cyanide content in the seeds. Yeah, it is true that apple seeds can produce hydrogen cyanide and it can be harmful to your dogs too. But the question is what quantity of seeds would be harmful?
Before we proceed further you must understand the fact that apple seeds do not contain cyanide as such. There is a chemical called amygdalin in the seeds which is more like a protection to the seeds.
When the seed is punctured amygdalin decays and forms hydrogen cyanide in a negligible amount. For an average-sized dog, unless it eats about 3 pounds of apple seeds in one go there is no risk of cyanide poisoning.
What are the other fruits which I can feed my golden retriever?
As mentioned in the previous section, you should never feed fruits as a staple diet to golden retrievers owing to the high sugar content in them. Excessive sugar can cause diabetes and obesity which increases the chance of heart attacks in dogs.
Similarly, before feeding them fruits you need to wash them thoroughly to remove the insecticides and pesticides that might have been sprayed on to the fruit. These chemicals can pose serious health threats to your canine friend. Also, remove the seeds and branches from the fruit if any to avoid the risk of choking.
You can safely feed your dogs the following fruits:
- Apples
- Apricot
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Cranberries
- Orange
- Pineapple
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
What are the fruits which I shouldn’t feed my golden retriever?
Not just to the golden retrievers, dogs, in general, shouldn’t be fed fruits like cherries, grapes, and resins that can cause damage to the kidneys. Similarly, you should also refrain yourself from feeding them citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and grapefruit that can cause an upset stomach.
The other fruits which you shouldn’t feed your golden retrievers are:
- Avocado
- Cherries
- Grapes
- Lemons
- Lime
- Plums
- Tomatoes
Other articles on Golden Retrievers
Can Golden Retrievers Eat Strawberries?
Can Golden Retrievers Eat Bread?