Can Dogs Eat Applesauce?

Loved by kids and adults alike, applesauce is a sweet and tangy condiment that is a staple in several homes. Popular for its rich flavor, applesauce is considered a healthy foodstuff that is rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. While applesauce is great food for humans; however, is it good for dogs? Can dogs eat applesauce?

Is Applesauce Good for Your Dog?

Made from apples, applesauce is a pureed form of apples and can be given to your dog without any problems. Applesauce contains nutrients and fiber, which makes it good for your pet. However, this doesn’t mean that all kinds of applesauce brands are suitable for your dog.

Many store-bought brands are loaded with sugar and also contain artificial flavorings, colors, preservatives and other additives, which do not add any nutritional value and in fact can be quite harmful to your pet’s health.

Also, regular apples grown conventionally contain pesticides and herbicides that can cause inflammation and be harmful to your dog’s health.

So, if you want to add applesauce to your pooch’s diet, make sure to either feed him unsweetened homemade applesauce or organic applesauce, which does not contain any preservatives, artificial ingredients or sugar.

Do Dogs Like Applesauce?

Understanding your dog’s food preferences, likes and dislikes can be a slow process, which you will learn from your pet’s body language and reaction to a particular food. Whether your pet likes applesauce or dislikes it will be quite clear when your pet exhibits certain behaviors when you give him applesauce.

For instance, if your pet starts gobbling up the applesauce as soon as you put the bowl down means that he just loves it. This shows that your pet is excited about the food and is happy to eat it.

And, after finishing the applesauce, if your dog whines, it means that he’s asking you for more. Also, whenever your pet sees a jar of applesauce, if he begins to look excited and starts drooling, it means that he likes applesauce.

However, if your pet does not take a liking to applesauce, then he’s sure to convey his dislike for it very clearly too. If he is hesitant to eat the applesauce, it means that your dog is not attracted by the smell or if he plays with the food, snarls at it or simply walks away from his bowl, it means that your dog doesn’t like applesauce and doesn’t want to eat it.

Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Kiwi?

Health Benefits of Applesauce for Your Dog

Applesauce offers plenty of health benefits for your dog and can be a great addition to your pet’s diet. It is a low-calorie food that is low in fat, and sodium and helps your dog to get his daily vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, without the fear of him gaining weight.

Applesauce is high in soluble fiber, which supports your pet’s digestion and can be excellent food if your pet is suffering from diarrhea or constipation.

Applesauce contains vitamin A that keeps your dog’s coat and hair healthy, vitamin C that builds your pet’s bones, muscles and also boosts his immune system, phosphorus and calcium that help in maintaining strong and healthy bones, teeth and nails. The pectin in the apples helps to reduce cholesterol levels and the antioxidants help in combating free radicals.

You can easily add applesauce to your dog’s diet by mixing a teaspoon of the sauce with your pet’s soft food, raw food or kibble. If your dog is overweight or obese, applesauce is an excellent substitute for milk, oil or butter, which can help to lower the number of calories consumed by your pet.

How Much Applesauce Is Okay for My Dog?

Just like any other treat, applesauce is good as a once-in-a-while treat for your pet. Since it is high in fiber, consuming large quantities of applesauce can cause digestive problems in your pet.

Ideally, applesauce should comprise only 5% of your pet’s diet and it is better to avoid feeding it to your dog every day and keep it as a treat for special occasions.

Can I Give My Dog Cinnamon Applesauce?

Yes, you can feed your dog cinnamon applesauce. Dogs can consume both applesauce, as well as cinnamon safely. Cinnamon offers several health benefits for both humans, as well dogs alike. The spice has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to reduce symptoms of arthritis, swelling and joint pain.

It can also help to regulate insulin levels and blood sugar by slowing down the rate of sugar absorption by the body. A serving of 1/8th of a teaspoon of cinnamon per 15 lb of body weight is good and also adds a nice flavor to the applesauce.

However, before you add the cinnamon to the applesauce, make sure that it is powdered very well. Also, ensure that the cinnamon powder is mixed into the applesauce properly because the powder can irritate your dog’s mouth, throat and lungs. Avoid feeding your pet cinnamon powder or cinnamon sticks only, as this can cause digestive problems.

Can I Give My Dog Strawberry Applesauce?

While applesauce is good for your dog, adding fresh strawberries to it is a great way to add more fresh and healthy ingredients to your pet’s diet. Strawberries have healthy nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants.

They are fiber rich while being low in calories, making them great to manage your pet’s weight. However, store-bought applesauce with strawberries may not be the best option because it is usually sweetened by the addition of plenty of sugar.

So, it is best for you to make the applesauce with strawberries at home by making the applesauce and then adding blended strawberries to it in the end. You can also make other variations of the recipe by adding other berries and fruits such as peaches, pineapples, mangoes, blueberries and raspberries to the applesauce.

Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Banana Peels?

Is Applesauce Good for Diarrhea in Dogs?

If your dog is suffering from diarrhea, giving him his regular food can irritate the digestive tract. The best home remedy for dogs suffering from diarrhea is the BRAT diet, which mainly comprises bananas, rice apples or applesauce and toast.

These foods are very gentle and help your pet’s stomach to heal. If your dog is suffering from severe diarrhea, then he will need to be put on a no-food diet for 24 hours. When you’re giving your dog applesauce for diarrhea, make sure that it is unsweetened and does not have any additives or flavorings.

The rice and toast that you give along with the applesauce should also be plain. On the other hand, if your pet is suffering from constipation, then applesauce is an excellent food for this too because applesauce is rich in fiber, which can help to stimulate good bowel movement.

Can My Puppy Have Applesauce?

Yes, puppies can have applesauce. However, you must take care about the amount of applesauce you feed him because the puppy’s digestive tract is not developed fully and cannot handle large quantities of applesauce as an adult dog can. Give your puppy very small amounts of the applesauce and only as a special treat.

And, if you’re feeding applesauce to your puppy for the first time, give him a tiny amount and keep a watch for how he reacts to it. If your puppy shows any symptoms such as vomiting, stomach ache or diarrhea or if he drinks lots of water after eating applesauce, then this could mean that your puppy has had too much applesauce, he has eaten too quickly or his body is unable to digest the applesauce properly.

If your puppy breaks out into hives or has breathing difficulty, then it may mean that he is suffering from an allergic reaction to apples. And, if this occurs, then you should completely stop feeding your puppy apples or applesauce.

How to Make Applesauce at Home

Making applesauce for your dog at home is extremely easy and homemade applesauce is a healthy and safe option too.

• Choose any kind of apples you like and peel the skin off the apples.
• Deseed the apples and then cut them into cubes or slice them.
• Put the apples in a large pan with water and add half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder. You can use 1 teaspoon of honey instead of the cinnamon powder if you want.
• Cook the apples for around 20 minutes on medium heat until they are tender. Alternatively, you can cook the apples in a pressure cooker.
• Strain the apples.
• Using a blender, puree the apples.
• You can make the consistency of the applesauce as smooth or chunky as you like.
• Cool the applesauce or place it in the refrigerator in an ice tray and serve it to your furry pal.
• You can store the applesauce in the fridge for a week.

Also Read: Can Dogs Eat Sunflower Butter?

Wrapping Up

Dogs love applesauce and it is a fantastic way to ensure that your dog gets all the nutrients and fiber he needs. However, you need to be careful when purchasing applesauce. Often commercial applesauce brands contain loads of sugar and artificial ingredients that can be harmful to your pet’s health.

So, make sure you’re purchasing only organic unsweetened or low-sugar applesauce, containing natural ingredients that will provide your pet the nutrients he needs to keep him healthy and fit.