Every time I bite into a crunchy apple, I hear the pitter-patter of eight tiny feet. That’s not some 8-legged apple monster, just my two hungry dogs.
They’ve got to know that when I eat an apple I share the joy. Of course, this means I have to then eat a second so it’s all fair and square.
However, when I mention the health benefits of fruit to clients, they always say, “I heard apple cores are toxic”.
My Dog Ate an Apple Seed: What Should I Do?
As a dog owner, you want to keep your furry friend safe and healthy But accidents happen, and sometimes your dog gets into things they shouldn’t. One common scenario is when a dog eats an apple seed or core Apple seeds contain a compound called amygdalin, which can release cyanide when metabolized. While a single apple seed likely won’t cause any issues, you may worry about potential toxicity if your dog eats multiple seeds. In this article, I’ll explore what to do if your dog eats apple seeds, what symptoms to watch for, and when to seek veterinary care.
How Many Apple Seeds Can Dogs Eat?
First let’s look at how many apple seeds it takes to potentially cause cyanide poisoning in dogs. According to veterinarians, the amount needed is quite high. A medium-sized dog would have to eat around 200 apple cores to get a toxic dose. For larger dogs it’s upwards of 300 cores. While concerning, this shows that a few stray seeds here and there are very unlikely to poison your dog. However, it’s still smart to prevent your dog from eating apple cores or seeds. Better safe than sorry when it comes to your pet’s health.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats An Apple Seed?
If you witness your dog eat an apple seed or two, don’t panic. Take the following steps:
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Check their mouth for any remaining seeds or pieces of core. Remove them if found.
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Determine approximately how many seeds they may have eaten.
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Contact your veterinarian to notify them of the incident.
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Monitor your dog closely for the next 24 hours for any symptoms or signs of distress.
While a small amount of seeds shouldn’t cause toxicity, it’s still smart to let your vet know. They may have additional guidance based on your dog’s size and health history. Closely observe your dog over the next day and don’t hesitate to call the vet if you notice anything amiss.
What Are Signs of Apple Seed Poisoning in Dogs?
Apple seeds contain trace amounts of amygdalin, which converts to cyanide during digestion. Cyanide is extremely toxic and prevents cells from utilizing oxygen properly. Signs of cyanide poisoning in dogs include:
- Increased heart and breathing rates
- Red or brown gums and tongue
- Dilated pupils
- Drooling or vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
You may also notice symptoms like diarrhea, seizures, or collapsing. Seek emergency vet care immediately if your dog shows any concerning signs after eating apple seeds. Prompt treatment is vital when dealing with cyanide toxicity.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats An Apple Core?
It’s best to avoid letting your dog eat whole apple cores. The core contains the highest concentration of seeds and poses a choking risk from the fibrous chunks. If your dog eats an apple core:
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Check their mouth for stuck pieces.
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Determine how much they ingested.
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Contact your vet.
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Monitor for signs of choking, trouble breathing, vomiting, or intestinal obstruction over the next few days. The fibrous material can get lodged and cause severe issues.
Your vet may recommend bringing your dog in for exams and X-rays to check for obstructions if they ate a whole core. Again, prompt medical care is key if you observe any concerning symptoms after your dog eats an apple core. Don’t wait it out at home if your dog seems to be in distress.
How Should I Prevent My Dog From Eating Apple Seeds?
The best way to avoid apple seed issues is to prevent access in the first place. Here are some tips:
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Core and seed apples before giving them to your dog. Only provide apple slices minus the core.
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Keep trash cans out of reach. Dogs are notorious for garbage raiding.
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Pick up fallen apples under trees in your yard. Don’t let them rot on the ground.
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Supervise your dog anytime they’re around apples to avoid opportunistic eating.
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Train your dog to “leave it” and “drop it” so you can redirect if they do pick up an apple.
It’s simply not realistic to expect dogs to perfectly ignore apples and cores they encounter. That’s why management and training is so important to avoid scenarios where they might eat seeds. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to dogs and apple seeds.
What If My Dog Shows No Symptoms After Eating Seeds?
If your dog ate a few apple seeds but shows no signs of distress within 24 hours, they will likely be just fine. The amount of cyanide within a few seeds is minuscule. However, continue monitoring for at least a few days in case an issue like intestinal obstruction develops. You know your dog best – if they seem off in any way after eating seeds, contact your vet right away. But in most cases, a small amount will pass through their system with no lasting effects. Just try to prevent it from happening again!
When To Seek Veterinary Care
As a general rule, contact your vet any time your dog eats apple seeds or cores. Describe what happened and how much they ingested, then follow your vet’s guidance about bringing your dog in based on potential toxicity. Seek emergency care immediately if your dog shows any signs of choking, respiratory distress, or cyanide poisoning. For non-emergency cases, continue monitoring your dog closely for several days for other issues like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or loss of appetite. Call your vet as soon as you notice anything abnormal. With prompt care, most dogs fully recover after eating a few stray apple seeds. Just stay vigilant in the days following the incident.
The Bottom Line
If your curious canine manages to eat an apple seed or two, try not to stress. The small amount likely won’t cause cyanide poisoning. However, continue monitoring them closely and contact your vet to be safe. Seek emergency care if they show any signs of choking or toxin exposure. Otherwise, call your vet if anything seems off over the next few days. With prompt care for any complications, most dogs fully recover after eating a few stray seeds. The best approach is always prevention – core your apples and keep trash away to set your dog up for success. But even vigilant pet parents can’t prevent every single slip-up. If an apple seed incident does occur, now you know what to watch for and when to seek veterinary care. Stay calm, monitor closely, and talk to your vet to keep your furry best friend safe and healthy.
The Myth About Apple Cores
Apple seeds contain hydrogen cyanide. Yes, cyanide is toxic. But it’s not as simple as that.
Every plant-based food contains toxins at some level. Below the harmful threshold, these are just things to keep your dog’s liver busy. No effect, no harm. Our livers don’t get enough credit for the work they do.
But are we below the harmful level?
The Toxic Dose Of Apple Seeds
A medium sized dog would need to eat 85 grams of apple seeds and completely chew them up to get a toxic dose (source: ASPCA). We did an experiment:
- I weighed the seeds from seven apples (54 seeds: average 8 seeds per apple) and reached 3 grams. That’s 0.4g per apple so the average weight of each apple seed is 0.055g.
- To poison this dog would require them to eat (and grind up) the seeds from 200 apples.
- Most webpages give the weight of an apple seed as 0.75g which only shows the authors either never bothered to check or there are some monster apples out there.
Can Dogs Eat Apples? Can Puppies Eat Apples? Are Apple Seeds Ok Too?
FAQ
Will one apple seed hurt my dog?
No, one apple seed is unlikely to cause any harm to your dog. While apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide, it would take a very large quantity of chewed seeds to be dangerous.
Is one apple seed harmful?
What to Expect: Single Seed or Few Seeds: One or two apple seeds are very unlikely to cause any harm. Your body can handle the small amount of amygdalin in a minimal quantity. Symptoms to Watch For: If you were to consume a much larger amount, symptoms could include dizziness, headache, nausea, or difficulty breathing.
What happens if a dog eats a fruit seed?
The seed does contain cyanide at minuscule levels. It is more of a problem in large animals that feed on these fruits and swallow large amounts of the pits. This amount he swallowed will not cause any problems of internal organ injury. Therefore, this is not an emergency and no immediate treatments are required.
What to do if a dog eats seeds?
I would begin feeding a bland diet and wait until the seeds are no longer being passed in his stool before moving him back over to his regular diet. I will also include information for vomiting, just in case you might see some. It won’t hurt to give him medication to keep his stomach calm, just in case, if you like.
What happens if a dog eats apple seeds?
When a dog ingests apple seeds, their body breaks down the amygdalin and releases cyanide. This toxic substance can interfere with the dog’s ability to produce energy at a cellular level, affecting the nervous system, causing respiratory distress, and potentially leading to death.
Can dogs eat apple cores?
Many people have heard that apple cores are toxic because of the seeds. This is true, albeit on a very large scale of consumption. Your dog would have to eat a lot of apple seeds to put their overall health at risk. So don’t worry! If your dog ate an apple core, odds are they will likely pass it without incident.
Can a 22 lb dog eat apple seeds?
A single apple usually contains around 8-10 seeds, so in reality, this 22lb dog would need to eat roughly 100 apple cores to be poisoned. An even bigger dog would need to eat even more apple cores before feeling any toxic effects from the cyanide in apple seeds.
Can my Dog eat apple seeds?
Although moderate amounts of the apple flesh are safe for your dog, you must use caution when giving this treat as the covering of the seeds contains minute amounts of amygdalin, a compound that contains cyanide. There’s some evidence that suggests the stems may also contain harmful substances.
What happens if a dog eats an apple?
The fibrous material in an apple core makes it difficult to chew into smaller pieces. If your dog wolfs down a large chunk, it can be large enough to lodge in the throat and block the airway. As a result, your pooch may gag, paw at his face, or become very restless. Choking is a life-threatening emergency.
Can dogs eat apples?
Yes, apples are good for dogs in moderation, but not as a full meal. You can feed your dog fresh apple slices, including the skin. Do not feed your dog apple cores, as they can become a choking hazard. Apples provide an excellent source of vitamin C, which is necessary for proper immune function.