Can French Bulldogs Eat Apples?

Yes. Apples are safe for French Bulldogs, dogs generally like them, and they’re one of the more useful treats for a breed that puts weight on easily.

Take the core out, and don’t give a whole one.

How much

A raw apple with skin runs about 57 calories per 100 grams, with around 2.4g of fibre and almost no fat or sodium (USDA FoodData Central).

A medium apple weighs roughly 180g, so a whole one is about 100 calories. An adult Frenchie eats somewhere around 500 to 700 calories a day, and treats should stay inside 10% of that, which is 50 to 70 calories.

So a whole apple is more than a day’s treat allowance, and a couple of thin slices — say 20g each, about 11 calories — sits comfortably inside it.

Two or three thin slices is a sensible daily maximum for a dog this size. That’s generous by treat standards and it’s the reason apples are worth bothering with: you get a treat your dog is pleased about for a fraction of what a piece of cheese costs. Our cheese guide makes the comparison unflattering.

Our weight guide covers body condition scoring (WSAVA), which matters a great deal in a breed where extra weight makes breathing harder.

The core comes out

Two separate reasons, and the original version of this article only gave one.

The seeds. Apple seeds contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when the seed is chewed. A few accidentally swallowed whole seeds are very unlikely to harm a dog, because intact seeds mostly pass through. But there’s no reason to find out where the line is, so take them out.

The core itself. This is the bigger practical risk for this breed. A French Bulldog has a short, crowded mouth and an airway that’s already compromised, and a hard apple core is exactly the wrong shape to get stuck. It’s also a plausible obstruction if swallowed in a lump. Cut it out and bin it.

If your dog does swallow a core, call your vet for advice rather than waiting to see what happens.

Don’t overdo the fibre

Apples are fibrous, and a dog who eats a lot at once tends to produce loose stools for a day. Start with a slice or two and see how your dog handles it, particularly with a puppy or a dog with a sensitive stomach.

The sugar is worth a thought too. Apples are naturally sugary, so they’re not an unlimited food, and dogs who are overweight or diabetic should have them only with a vet’s say-so.

Apple products are a different matter

Fresh apple is fine. Most things made from apples are not:

• Apple pie, crumble, sauce and juice are sugary, often spiced, and add up fast.
• Anything labelled sugar-free may contain xylitol, which is seriously toxic to dogs even in small amounts and causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar (FDA). It also appears as birch sugar or birch sap extract. Check the label before sharing anything sweetened.
• Dried apple concentrates the sugar and the calories into a much smaller volume.
• Apple-flavoured anything is usually neither apple nor useful.

Our toxic foods guide covers what else to keep away, and the ASPCA’s list is worth a bookmark.

How to serve them

• Wash it, since apples are among the fruits most likely to carry pesticide residue on the skin.
• Core it, then slice thinly. Thin slices are easier for a short muzzle to manage than chunks.
• Skin on is fine and is where a good share of the fibre lives, though peel it if your dog is prone to loose stools.
• Frozen slices are a good hot-weather treat for a breed that overheats easily, and they last longer.
• Stuff a KONG with a little apple and something else; our KONG recipes cover the combinations.

Introduce it as you would any new food: a small amount, then wait a day. If your Frenchie is itchy or has an unsettled stomach generally, our food allergies guide covers working out what’s causing it.

The short version

Apples are a good treat for a French Bulldog: low in calories, high in water and fibre, and most dogs enjoy them. Two or three thin slices a day, core and seeds removed, skin on unless it upsets their stomach. Skip anything made from apples rather than being one, and check sugar-free labels for xylitol.