You prepared a warm apple pie for yourself and want to have it with some ice cream on the side. You head on to get some ice cream only to come back to your dog licking all the pie off the plate. That’s when you question yourself, “Can dogs eat apple pie?”

The answer to “Can dogs eat apple pie?” is yes. They can. Luckily for both you and your dog, apple pie is totally safe for dogs but only in small amounts.  Apple pie, as the name suggests, is made of apples that are highly beneficial for the dog’s health. They contain antioxidants, vitamins, and a range of other nutrients. However, apple pie also contains a lot of sugar, cream, and butter that can be risky to dogs if fed in large amounts. So, dogs must be served apple pie in small amounts only. Continue reading to learn all about feeding this delicious treat to your dog.

Benefits of Feeding Apple Pie to Dogs

All the benefits of an apple pie lie in the nutritional contents of apples. Apples are super-packed with nutrients that can benefit the overall health of your pooch. Apples can aid with their digestion since they’re rich in antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins A and C.  They are also high in pectin, which helps lower your dog’s cholesterol levels.

Ingredients to Watch Out For

There is no component in a conventional apple pie that is potentially harmful to canines. However, there is also no nutritional value in any of the ingredients apart from apples.

Additionally, an apple pie is dripping in sugar as a lot of sugar is used to bake one. Dogs aren’t equipped to handle the consumption of such large amounts of sugar. It might upset their stomach and can result in diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems.

Some apple pies also contain raisins and nutmeg, both of which are highly toxic to dogs. Scientists are not entirely sure as to what makes raisins toxic to dogs. But raisins, along with fresh grapes, must be avoided at all costs. On the other hand, nutmeg contains Myristicin, a toxin that causes dangerous poisoning in dogs if ingested in large amounts. Some of the signs of nutmeg poisoning in dogs are:

1. Dry mouth
2. A rapid increase in heart rate
3. Hallucinations
4. Seizure

Nutmeg poisoning is a life threatening condition. If you see your dog showing any of the above signs, contact your veterinary immediately. Also, if you are buying an apple pie from a store, make sure you read the list of ingredients carefully.

You might also be interested in ‘Can dogs eat applesauce?’

Homemade Apple Pie for Dogs

The safest and the healthiest way for your pooch to enjoy apple pie is by feeding them the homemade ones. Apple pie is fairly easy to bake. Also, you can avoid excess sugar and anything that doesn’t go well with your dog’s body and still prepare a yummy apple pie. Here is a recipe for DIY apple pie from Gone To The Snow dogs for your dog:

Step 1: Pie Crust

Ingredients:

1. 2 and a quarter Cup Wheat Pastry Flour
2. 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
3. 1/2 cup coconut cooking oil

Directions:

1. Mix all of your ingredients until a nice dough is formed.  Make sure it’s not very sticky.
2. Roll out your dough to 1/4 inch thick
3. Arrange it into your pie pans.
4. Set the pie pan aside.

Step 2: Pie Filling

Ingredients

1. 3 cups of peeled, sliced, and cored apples
2. 2/3 cup unsweetened apple juice
3. 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
4. 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon

Directions

1. Take your sliced apples and toss them in a bit of lemon juice so they don’t turn brown.
2. In a saucepan, place apples, and around 2 tablespoons of unsweetened apple juice.
3. Cook on a low heat until the apples are softened.

Step 3: Apple pie

1. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch, cinnamon, and the rest of the unsweetened apple juice. Whisk the mixture together.
2. Pour this into pie filling mixture, and simmer for around 10 minutes until your pie filling thickens.
3. Pull off the heat and let cool for 15 – 30 minutes. Scoop this into the pie crusts that you set aside in step 1.
4. Bake the pies at 350 degrees for 25 – 45 minutes, or until the tops start to turn slightly brown.
5. If you find the pies cooked, let it cool before you give it to your dog.

Conclusion

Apple pie can be an occasional change in your dog’s diet. Although very tasty, there are no health benefits of this sweet desert for your dog’s health.

Apples are good for dogs, so it’s better if you feed them this fruit in its most natural form.  Find out all about it in “Can Dogs Eat Apples?”

If you really want to feed apple pie to your dog, bake an unsweetened version of this dessert at home without using sugar, raisin, or nutmeg and keep the serving size small.