For nice skin and immunity, apricots can be a boon for us. Thanks to its vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants that keep us healthy. If you want your dog to have the same benefits, you must know if can dogs have apricots.
Luckily, dogs can eat apricots and get the best nutrients from them. Apart from the seed, stem, and pit, apricot is completely safe for dogs. Sometimes it can cause choking hazards for them. For them, cut the flesh of this fruit into small pieces to deliver only the positive effects to our paw friends.
This article will tell you how you need to offer apricots to your dog safely and how it can do good for him.
Can Dogs Have Apricots?
Apricots are safe for dogs as they don’t contain any toxic compounds but are loaded with nutrients. It is their deeds, stems, and pits that have toxic chemicals that can damage a dog’s body. If you want your paw friend to have the utmost nutrients from an apricot, offer him the flesh only, not its seeds or stems.
Dogs should eat apricots or any human food in small quantities. If he is a small breed, his quantity should be less; if he is a large breed, his quantity should be moderate. We will dig into it later.
Benefits Of Having Apricots For Dogs
Apricots can provide many health benefits to dogs when they are taken in the right amounts. For example, apricots contain vitamin A and beta-carotene. This can provide dogs with good vision, along with boosting skin health and immunity. Again, it contains vitamin C and antioxidant properties. Vitamin C will aid your dog with wound healing and bone development and prevent osteoarthritis. On the other hand, its antioxidant properties can protect dogs from getting hurt by free radicals.
With vitamin E, apricots will maintain your dog’s skin, coat, and immunity. Again, its potassium levels will promote his cell growth, and copper will boost his energy levels. It also plays a great role in maintaining red blood cells and preventing dogs from developing several health issues.
Apricots have an anti-inflammatory property called lutein. This will support your dog’s eye health and prevent him from developing age-related diseases.
Since this fruit is rich in dietary fibre, your dog can have good bowel movements from having it. Many vets even suggest apricots for curing constipation in dogs.
Risks Of Having Apricots For Dogs
Whenever we eat apricots, we remove the seeds and eat their flesh. But dogs don’t understand us. If they see an apricot, they will gulp it without thinking about the seed. Unfortunately, this seed can pose health hazards.
Apricots’ seeds have cyanide. This chemical compound is also present in their stems and pits. It means dogs will get the same health problems from eating apricots’ stems and pits as they would from the seeds. This can lead to cyanide poisoning or apricot poisoning. The symptoms could be vomiting, fatigue, uncomfortable breathing, seizures, etc. Along with poisoning, the seeds, stems, and pits of apricots can cause intestinal blockages in dogs.
As said earlier, apricots have high amounts of dietary fibre, which is good for constipation. Eating this fruit too much will lead to a maximum fibre intake for dogs, resulting in an upset stomach and diarrhoea.
Sometimes the dry apricots can be risky for our canine friends. This is because some brands include artificial sweeteners and sulphur dioxide in dried apricots. These ingredients can be toxic to dogs and cause them to have damaged body organs.
How To Offer Apricots To Dogs?
It is important to offer apricots to dogs safely so that they reap their benefits, not their downsides. Make sure the apricot that you are feeding your dog is fresh, ripe, and organic. Then remove the seed, stem, leaves, and pit from the fruit. Then wash the flesh thoroughly and cut it into small pieces. This will eliminate the bacterial risk of checking hazards. You may add the pieces of the apricot with the dog food or with other fruits.
It would be better if you avoided dried apricots found with dry fruits or any apricot-based foods. They can contain artificial sweeteners, additives, and preservatives. To avoid the potential risks, offer fresh organic fruit to your dog.
How Many Apricots Can Dogs Have?
As we know, dogs shouldn’t eat the apricot’s seed. When we say how many apricots a dog can have, we mean the apricot’s flesh, not its seeds or stems.
As per veterinarians, a dog should eat human foods within 10% of their daily calorie intake. It means the amount of apricots for dogs to consume should be less.
First, you need to offer one bite-sized piece of apricot’s flesh to your canine friend. If he gulps and wants to eat some more, maybe he is comfortable eating apricots. In this way, you can introduce this fruit to them.
Anyway, the maximum amount of apricot for a small breed should be ¼ of it. For medium dogs, a ½ apricot is fine. Again, for large breeds, one apricot is safe for them.
When Can Dogs Have Apricots?
No doubt, apricots provide health benefits to humans and mammals. But we need to know when this fruit can be good for dogs. We know this fruit is rich in vitamins, which a dog doesn’t need much of. He mainly needs animal protein. The vitamins and minerals should be less in his diet. If his daily meals already include ample amounts of vitamins and minerals, there is no need to offer him apricots. Well, you can interchange this fruit with any nutrient-rich food for your dog.
Because of the high fibre content in apricots, they worsen the condition of dogs dealing with upset stomachs. That’s why you should let your paw friend eat this fruit when he is suffering from constipation, not diarrhoea.
Apart from all these, dogs should only eat apricots or any human foods under their vets’ guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Apricots?
Can dogs eat apricots every day?
Dogs should not eat apricots every day, as they don’t fall under the category of human foods. You can offer it to them twice or three times a week in smaller amounts.
Is apricot jam safe for dogs?
Apricot jams are safe for dogs unless they contain any sweeteners, additives, or preservatives. They must eat them in small quantities to avoid potential side effects.
Are dried apricots safe for dogs?
If apricots are safe for dogs, so are the dried apricots. They give almost the same nutrients that a fresh and ripe apricot would.
Why can’t dogs eat apricot seeds?
Apricot seeds have cyanide, a toxic compound that can lead dogs to cyanide poisoning. Besides, they can cause choking hazards for them.
Final Verdict
Since apricots can pose potential health threats, we may wonder, Can dogs have apricots? The answer is yes; they can have the flesh of the apricot, not its seed, stem, or pit. Also, they should be free from allergies and upset stomachs and have their vets’ approval.
This fruit is sweet, so make sure your dog doesn’t have an excess of it. Because sometimes the sweetness that comes from the sugar in this fruit can increase fat in dogs. If he ever eats apricots more than necessary, observe his symptoms and tell his vet about the situation.