Can Dogs Have Apple Juice?

Apple juice is known for its mild sweetness and refreshing taste, which is hard to resist, especially on a hot summer day. It’s a fantastic and readily available product that can excite your dog’s palate. But before indulging your furbaby with this refreshing drink, let’s ask the important question first: can dogs have apple juice?

As fur parents, we only give what is beneficial to your pets’ health. And this might be one of the reasons why you’re searching up if apple juice is safe for dog consumption. We did the homework to find out if you can safely share this drink with your furbabies.

What’s In Apple Juice?

Commercial apple juice products are often made via the extraction process called “maceration,” the same process that grapes undergo to make wine.

In this process, the fruit fibers are softened by soaking the fruit to trigger oxidation. Mechanical bits would then press the apples to remove any starch or pectin via filtration.

The juice will then receive more processing, such as pasteurization, to ensure safe human consumption before it gets bottled up and delivered commercially.

Bottled apple juice products often consist of more than 80% water and less than 20% other stuff that makes the product more palatable. Most of these 20% other stuff are sodium, carbohydrates, sugar, and corn syrup.

Unfortunately, these extras are not healthy for both furbabies and parents alike. Sugar alone can cause terrible stomach aches and stool movements for dogs in the short term.

Benefits And Risks Of Giving Apple Juice To dogs

That’s not to say that apple juice doesn’t have any benefits for your dog’s health. For instance, ascorbic acid is often added as an antibrowning agent. This often compliments the natural Vitamin C, which is already abundant in apples.

Unfortunately, the risks outweigh the benefits in this case. Sugar on commercial apple juice products is just too much that the small bodies of canines could not handle the excessive amounts.

Some potential adverse effects of excessive sugar consumption are obesity, gastrointestinal stress, and diabetes. Beware of the brands that use the artificial sweetener xylitol because it is toxic to dogs.

What About Organic Apple Juice?

If you have a juicer at home, making organic apple juice is a great option. You can put the organic juice in your ice cube tray and give frozen popsicles to your pup during summer days. This way, fur parents can easily portion the juice while helping their pets cool down.

Don’t add sugar or other sweeteners. Let the natural sweetness of the apples flavor the drink.
Wash your apples thoroughly and remove the seeds because it is a choking hazard and toxic. Apple seeds have cyanide on them, which can be harmful if eaten in large amounts.

Can Dogs Try Apple Cider?

Apple cider is also a product of pressing apples to get a liquified product. The main difference between them is that the juice version is often filtered and pasteurized while the cider version isn’t. This gives apple ciders more polyphenol content, which helps prevent cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, and diabetes.

However, the main concern here is the stronger taste and acidity content. Apple cider might not be as appetizing and refreshing to your dog. It is also more concentrated and should be handled with moderation.

You should also be aware of spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg added to soft ciders. Most spices that humans use are not safe for dog consumption.

And lastly, high alcohol content can be lethal to canines due to potentially harmful effects like respiratory depression and low body temperature. A few gulps of apple cider won’t hurt, but it’s better if you give them organic apple juice instead.

What about Apple Cider Vinegar? Putting a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in your dog’s water bowl will help stabilize your dog’s digestion.

The Best Option To Feed Apples To Your Dog

Fresh apple slices are the best way for dogs to consume apples. Giving 1-3 apple slices is the safest option and is proven not to trigger any bad reactions. You don’t have to worry about sugar content if the fruit is given this way.

Apple slices are also known for their fibrous content and lovely texture for chewing. These slices are a delight to chew on for dogs due to the firm crunch and explosive taste. Regular apple feeding can also prevent bad breath in dogs because of its cleaning effects when chewing.

Natural nutrients and vitamins are also easier to absorb when the fruit is given unprocessed and with no additives. Some of the most beneficial contents in apples include nutrients like Vitamin C, A, Fiber, Calcium, and Phosphorus.

Antioxidants are also present in apples and are known to prevent cell damage and lessen the impact of chronic conditions. Like other food items, discuss any addition to your dog’s diet with your trustworthy vet.