Can Dogs Drink Apple Juice?

If you are ever looking for a delicious fruit that you can offer your canine friend, then look no further than the apple you have sitting in your kitchen. Apples are a wonderful source of Vitamin C and antioxidants, making it the perfect treat for the dog you love most. Most dogs love the sweet crisp that apples offer, causing pet parents to wonder if their dogs can enjoy apples in juice form as well.

While apples are a safe and healthy snack for the dogs in our life, apple juice is very different. Store-bought apple juice contains additives that can make our dogs sick, so it’s important to understand why this juice should be kept away from your canine friend.

In this article we will discuss the reasons why you should not give your dog apple juice, what sets fresh apples apart from apple juice, and the safe apple juice alternatives your dog can enjoy safely. Let’s dive in!

Can Dogs Drink Apple Juice?

Unfortunately for the apple-loving pups in our home, apple juice is not safe for dogs to drink. It may not be considered toxic to dogs, but the added ingredients in store-bought apple juice can cause an upset stomach in our furry friends. Your dog will likely be just fine if they accidently get their paws on a few sips, but it is not a juice that we should add to their regular diet.

What Ingredients Are In Apple Juice?

As we mentioned above, the added ingredients in store-bought apple juice is what makes it unsafe for dogs to drink. While apple juice is typically made up of about 70-80% water, the apple juice you find in stores is spruced up with additional ingredients that make it more tasty for people.

Most bottles of apple juice contain fructose corn syrup, sodium, spices, and a variety of fruit juice concentrates. Most store-bought apple juice is made with apple juice concentrate anyways, so it may not even be made from pure apple juice. Each of the above ingredients can lead to an upset stomach in dogs, especially if it is consumed in large amounts.

Why Can Dogs Have Apples But Not Apple Juice?

So why can dogs have fresh apples, but they can’t have apple juice? This is due to the fact that while fresh apples offer a dog nutritional value, store-bought apple juice is typically filled with additives that our dogs should not consume. The high sugar and sodium content in apple juice can easily upset a dog’s stomach, but fresh apples do not contain these ingredients. This is why a few apple slices are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, but most forms of apple juice are not.

Can I Give My Dog Homemade Apple Juice?

Now that we know that the additives in apple juice are what makes it unsafe for dogs to drink, you may wonder if homemade apple juice is acceptable. Due to the fact that you can control what ingredients go into your homemade apple juice, then homemade apple juice is just fine when it is not made with any sugar, salt, or additional spices. Fresh apple slices are a healthy snack for dogs in small servings, and so is fresh apple juice without any unsafe additives. Just be sure to never offer your dog more than an ounce of fresh juice at a time, as even fresh apples contain a bit of sugar.

Can Dogs Drink Apple Cider?

If you can’t offer your dog a few sips of your apple juice, then can you give them any apple cider? The spices in apple cider may offer us a warm and fuzzy comfort, but they can be quite irritating to our canine companions. Not only can the spices in apple cider upset a dog’s stomach, but they can also be a bladder irritant for some pups. When it comes to any apple related snacks for dogs, fresh apples are the only safe option.

My Dog Drank Apple Juice, What Should I Do Now?

While we do not recommend giving your dog apple juice, it is not considered toxic to dogs. A few sips of apple juice will not likely cause your dog any harm, so you will not need to worry about rushing them to your local vet. However, if your dog accidently drinks a large amount of apple juice, then they might develop a bit of GI upset in the following 12-24 hours.

A small amount of diarrhea and stomach grumbles are not abnormal for this situation, with some dogs even vomiting a time or two. As long as their upset stomach resolves within 24 hours, then most dogs will return to their normal selves without issue. However, if their GI upset lasts for more than 24 hours, then we suggest reaching out to your veterinarian for guidance.

Final Thoughts

Apple slices might be a great snack option for the beloved pups in our home, but we do not suggest giving your dog any store-bought apple juice. Be sure to review the information we discussed above about why apple juice is not ideal for dogs, and to keep your next glass of apple juice out of your dog’s reach!

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