Does anybody know if dogs can safely eat crab apples? I assume they can. I know people say they cause upset stomach, etc. but I ate them all the time growing up without issue. I still do on occasion if I happen to pass them while hiking in the woods. Deer love them as well.
Discussion
No, dogs cannot eat crab apples due to the trace amounts of cyanide in the crab apple seeds, leaves, and stems.
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So, if you want to kill a dog, it is one way to do it. Don’t! 🐶🐾🫡
That applies to all apples, not just crab apples. It applies to humans and other mammals as well. Deer are able to eat piles of them very often will no ill effects. Now, a deer is obviously not a dog but the amount of seeds you would need to consume (and crush before consumption) for levels to be lethal are insane. I've researched this before giving my dog normal apples. She gets the occasional whole apple and eats it, core and all. That's not to say crab apples could theoretically have higher concentrations but from the little bit of research I've just done, I don't see why there would be an issue if a dog were to consume just the flesh of crab apples with the core and seeds removed. I'm going to look into this more and will still consult my veterinarian before allowing it. I'm mostly curious because make batches of food topper with brown rice, chicken gizzards with hearts & livers, carrots, green beans and wild Maine blueberries. I also make her biscuits at home with rice flour, pumpkin, eggs, natural peanut butter and a dash of cinnamon. I'm curious if I could safely incorporate the apples into her diet, as they grow everywhere in the State of Maine.
P.S. thank you for mentioning that cores amd seeds of apples have the potential to become problematic if consumed in high enough quantities. Not a lot of people are aware of that.
Flesh is fine as far as I could find 🐶🐾🫡
That's what I gathered as well but I'll still double check, better safe than sorry. A lot of people think that crab apples are toxic fpr people to eat, which actually is not true. They're usually very tart on their own but can be good used in cooking things like pies, apple crisp, jams, etc. Apparently cider as well but I've personally not had a cider made with them.
Understandable. Also do know that tolerance for certain foods by different breeds is different. 🐶🐾🫡
Yes, as well as each individual dog. I have to avoid feeding wheat to my dog otherwise she itches nonstop. I do feed a grain inclusive diet (rice and/or oatmeal) because science shows grains are beneficial to dogs, regardless of what the internet says. People seem to not realize 20,000 years of living alongside humans and eating the same foods as us has changed domesticated dogs, they are not wolves.
Shibas and Japanese breeds are slightly different though, but rice is fine, grain not as much. 🐶🐾🫡