Do you remember how often your dog has stared at you expectantly while you were eating dessert? In that case, your dog is in luck if you happen to be snacking on an apple pie.
Most apple pies are fine for Fido to eat, at least in small portions. In this quick guide, we’ll cover the basics of apple pie for dogs, including its nutritional value and safe serving size.
Can Dogs Eat Apple Pie
The dog is welcome to some apple pie. Keep in mind that the high sugar content of some apple pies makes them unhealthy for your dog to eat. When a dog consumes an excessive amount of sugar, it can have negative effects on their cardiovascular system, renal system, hepatic system, and pancreas.
The low-sugar apple pie will still satisfy your dog’s sweet tooth. For those looking for a low-sugar apple pie option, there are many available online.
Apple pies with less sugar are also sold in grocery stores. If you can’t find them in the bakery, check the frozen desserts aisle.
If you’re trying to cut down on the sugar in your diet but still have a craving for apple pie, watch out for xylitol, also known as “birch sugar.”
When reducing the sugar content of a food, some manufacturers will use a sugar substitute, such as xylitol (also called “birch sugar”) to maintain the food’s sweetness.
You should avoid buying any pies or desserts that contain xylitol because it is poisonous to dogs.
What about Apples and Dogs?
Apples are a healthy and appetizing snack for canines. Sliced apples are a popular reward and training treat for canine companions. Apple slices can be dehydrated or fed to your dog raw.
Apples have a ton of healthful nutrients. They contain a lot of healthy things like fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants. They satisfy hunger without adding unnecessary calories. Apples contain a type of fiber called pectin, which is both soluble and insoluble.
Apples’ high fiber content makes you feel full faster. It’s also been shown to aid in glucose regulation and digestion.
The apple’s skin and flesh are safe for canine consumption, but the stem, core, and seeds should be eliminated first.
The tiny seeds can be found in the apple’s core. Amygdalin, in extremely minute quantities, can be found within the seeds. Amygdalin is harmless in its natural form but turns into a cyanide compound when crushed or chewed.
It’s potentially fatal at high doses. Anxiety, headaches, dizziness, and confusion are all mild symptoms. This is why it’s important to cut the apple in half and remove the seeds before feeding it to your dog.
Apples are fine for most dogs (and humans), but they can cause diarrhea in dogs with sensitive stomachs.
They have FODMAPs in them. There are some people who experience discomfort digesting this type of fiber.
Apple Pie Nutrition
Since the time of Chaucer in the 14th century, apple pies have been a staple in English cuisine.th century. Similar to how the French, Dutch, and Swedes all had their own take on apple pies during the Middle Ages.
The 17th-century influx of Europeans who shared a passion for apple pie brought with them a wealth of recipes.th and 18th century.
These days, you can get your apple pie a la mode, with ice cream, with whipped cream, or even with a side of Cheddar.
Per 100 grams (3.5 ounces), a commercially prepared apple pie has 11 grams of fat, 34 grams of carbohydrates, and 1.9 grams of protein.
There are 15.65g of sugar and 1.6g of fiber per serving. There are 201 milligrams of sodium in the serving. Other vitamins and minerals are present, but in negligible amounts.
This is just an illustration. The nutritional value of apple pies varies widely, depending on both the ingredients and the baking skills of the baker.
Compared to this store-bought apple pie, the one your grandma makes probably has more fat and calories because she uses butter or lard in the crust.
Fat, sugar, and calorie counts will all rise when whipped toppings and ice cream are factored in.
Depending on the recipe, the USDA estimates that a single serving of apple pie (1/8 of a pie, 155 grams) contains 54% carbohydrates, 42% fats, and 4% protein.
There are 411 calories and 57.5 grams of carbs in one serving of this pie. The protein content would be 3.7%, while the fat content would be 19.4%.
Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, iron, sodium, manganese, and selenium would all be abundant in a home-cooked apple pie using this recipe.
You can see how the source and ingredients play a major role in determining an apple pie’s nutrient content.
Apple pie may not be on the recommended diets of doctors or fitness experts. Not unless you drastically cut back on the amount of sugar and fat called for in the recipe. (So where is the excitement in that?) However, apple pie is actually quite healthy when compared to other desserts.
Apple pie’s iron content is great for keeping temperatures stable. Further, it is useful in the treatment of circulatory system disorders that have persisted for a long time. Thiamin aids in digestion and is thus crucial. Furthermore, it benefits the nervous system and memory.
Niacin has the potential to decrease LDL cholesterol while raising HDL levels. The formation of red blood cells is critically dependent on riboflavin. The antioxidant properties of manganese make it useful for combating the damage caused by free radicals.
In general, apple pie can be a healthy dessert, though it’s probably best to limit your intake of the more fatty varieties. If you’re an appalling fan,
What about Other Ingredients in Apple Pie?
Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger might make an appearance in an apple pie alongside the sugar and possibly some of the fatty ingredients.
Small amounts of cinnamon, like those found in an apple pie, are safe for dogs to consume.
Dogs won’t get sick from eating this. However, there could be consequences if your dog ingests too much cinnamon, whether in the form of cinnamon oil, cinnamon sticks, or ground cinnamon.
Cinnamon can irritate the skin and the digestive tract in large doses, which is why it is not recommended for humans or animals. A dog’s mouth can become inflamed if it chews on something spicy like a cinnamon stick.
If your dog inhales powdered cinnamon, it may experience difficulty breathing and develop a cough. Toxic levels of cinnamon can have a greater effect on small dogs than larger ones.
Vomiting, diarrhea, a change in heart rate, low blood sugar, and liver disease are just some of the symptoms you might see if your dog ingests too much cinnamon.
Your dog won’t die if it eats cinnamon, but he or she may feel ill. If you suspect that your dog has ingested too much cinnamon, please take him or her to the vet immediately.
Apple pie can be flavored with nutmeg. The neurotoxin myristicin is present in this product.
A piece of pie contains only a trace amount of nutmeg, which is safe for your dog to consume. But if your dog gets into a container of nutmeg spice, you should get in touch with your vet or a pet poison control center immediately.
Hallucinations, accelerated heart rate, disorientation, high blood pressure, abdominal pain, dry mouth, and even seizures are all signs of nutmeg poisoning. Nutmeg poisoning can be fatal in extreme cases.
Apple pie is famous for its ginger topping. A dog’s digestive system can handle ginger just fine. Gingersnaps are a common remedy for motion sickness in dogs, which is why many pet owners give them to their canine companions. Ginger is a common ingredient in canine treats like cookies and cakes.
Benefits of Apple Pies to Your Dog
Read on to find out all the benefits an apple pie can bring your dog.
Smooth Digestion
Apples are good for a dog’s digestion because they help keep things moving along.
In order to keep the digestive organs in good working order, apples’ high fiber and Vitamin A content come in handy.
Antioxidant
Apple pies are a great choice if your dog has stomach acid issues.
They contain a lot of vitamin C, which is great for keeping the dog’s stomach acid levels in check.
In addition, it improves the health of your dog’s immune system as a whole.
The vitamin also aids in the speedy recovery of damaged dog tissues.
Lowers Cholesterol Levels
An unhealthy amount of fat in the blood, known as hyperlipidemia, is disastrous in dogs with high cholesterol levels.
In this case, the apples in the pie come to the rescue, as pectin in apples is known to reduce cholesterol.
Improved Vision and Bone Formation
To help improve your dog’s eyesight, bake them an apple pie, which is rich in vitamin A.
The bone- and teeth-fortifying effect is a bonus.
Therefore, if you want your dog to shine and be robust, feeding it some apple pie will help you get there faster.
The pie’s apples provide these health benefits, but the pie’s other ingredients should make you wary of giving it to your dog in large quantities.
Risks of Feeding Apple Pie to Your Dog
Listed below are some of the drawbacks of giving your dog too many apple pies:
Gastrointestinal Problems
Excessive sugar in an apple pie can cause diarrhea in your dog.
Overly sweet foods are bad for a dog’s digestive system.
Your dog may experience stomach churning and pain if it consumes too much sugar.
Poisoning
Keep an eye out for nutmeg-spiked apple pies.
Nutmeg, a spice often used in apple pies, is actually poisonous due to the presence of myristicin.
Consuming toxic levels of these substances can be fatal for your dog.
What to expect when your dog gets poisoned by nutmeg:
- Rapid heartbeat
- Hallucinations
- Seizures
- Xerostomia
- Twitching
That’s why you need to make sure you know everything that went into making the apple pie your dog ate.
Toxicity
If you’re planning on feeding your dog some apple pie, you should probably take out the raisins and grapes first.
Your dog will suffer because these parts are toxic to canine digestive systems.
Instead of taking the huge risk of buying an apple pie for your dog, you should probably just make one yourself.
Apple Pie for Dogs Recipe
Ingredients
This dog-friendly apple pie crust is made with:
- 2 measuring cups of wheat flour
- 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk
- 1/2 cup oil for cooking
Combine the ingredients to form a dough that is slightly tacky, then roll it out to a thickness of 14 inch.
Apple pie filling for your dog includes:
- 2-tablespoons of cornstarch
- Apples, sliced, to the tune of 2 cups
- Half a cup of apple juice (sweetened).
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
Directions
- Make sure the apple slices don’t brown by soaking them in lemon juice.
- Cook the apples for a few minutes over low heat with two tablespoons of apple juice. The apple slices should be pliable after this process.
- In a different bowl, combine the remaining apple juice, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
- Pour the smooth mixture into the apples. Prepare to wait 15 minutes while it simmers.
- After they are done, give them 30 minutes to cool before trying to remove the crusts.
The apple pies can now be served either traditionally or with the “faces” cut out.
When you’re ready to bake the latter, sprinkle the remaining crust on top and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
Don’t give it to your dog until it’s cooled down.
Because of its lower sugar content, a homemade pie is a better choice for your dog than store-bought treats.
How Often Can You Give Your Dog Apple Pie?
In my opinion, this is a very simple question to answer. If you like apple pie, you should probably share it with your dog.
If you can find a version of apple pie with less sugar, you might be able to give it to your dog once a week.
Due to the high levels of sugar, fat, and calories in the traditional apple pie, it is not recommended to feed it to your dog on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can apple pie make my dog sick?
Apple pie won’t make your dog sick in small doses, but artificial sweeteners added to the recipe can be dangerous.
Watch your dog closely for signs of hallucination or other unusual behavior after eating apple pie for the first time.
If so, consult a veterinarian immediately.
Can a dog eat apple pie and custard?
Apple pie and custard? Why, yes, your dog can have both.
The one caveat is that it needs to be done moderately.
The best way to get your dog used to the idea of eating apple pie and custard is to talk to your vet about it.
The vet will go over the risks and potential outcomes with you based on your dog’s medical history.
The veterinarian can also advise you on whether or not any of the ingredients in the dog food you plan to feed him contain any of the common allergens.
Conclusion
Those of us who share our lives with canines are all too familiar with the feeling of having pitiful eyes gaze at us while we eat.
You can feed your dog apple pie, but it’s better for everyone if you can find a low-fat or no-butter recipe.
If you’re worried about your dog’s health, maybe you should save the healthy apple pie for him and eat the unhealthy one yourself.