Can dogs eat apricots?
Yes, dogs can eat a small piece of ripe apricot flesh, and most find the taste appealing, but the stone needs to be removed completely before it goes anywhere near your dog. The stone is both a genuine choking and blockage risk and contains a compound that can release cyanide, so the fruit itself is fine and the stone is the part that actually matters.
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Why the flesh is fine in small amounts
Apricot flesh isn't dangerous for dogs and carries some fibre and vitamins, similar to other stone fruit shared occasionally as a treat. Most dogs enjoy the taste, and a small piece now and then is a reasonable way to vary a treat routine without introducing anything genuinely risky.
The sugar content is worth being sensible about, the same as with any fruit — a couple of small pieces occasionally is a treat, and a dog who eats several whole apricots in one sitting is likely to end up with an upset stomach from the sugar and fibre alone, not from anything toxic in the flesh.
Buying apricots specifically for your dog isn't necessary either — sharing a piece from your own fruit bowl occasionally, once the stone is out, is a perfectly reasonable way to offer this particular treat without needing to plan ahead for it.
Why the stone has to come out
Apricot stones contain amygdalin, a compound that breaks down into a small amount of cyanide, and while a single accidentally swallowed stone is unlikely to deliver a dangerous dose, there's no reason to feed one deliberately or take that chance. The stone is hard and awkward to chew through in any case.
The bigger everyday risk is actually mechanical rather than toxic — an apricot stone is exactly the sort of size and shape that can lodge in a dog's throat or cause a blockage further down if swallowed whole, particularly in a smaller dog. Always remove it before offering any apricot at all.
When to hold off, or get it checked
Skip apricots for a dog with diabetes or a known sensitive stomach, since the sugar content isn't doing either any favours. A dog who's never had apricot before should get one small piece first, watched for any reaction, rather than a handful straight away.
If your dog manages to eat a stone, or several whole apricots including the stones, watch for vomiting, straining, lethargy, or signs of discomfort, and ring your vet promptly rather than waiting to see whether it passes through on its own.
What to feed instead
A treat from our dog treats range is a more consistent option if you want to reward your dog regularly, without the preparation each apricot needs or the risk of a stone being missed in a hurry.
If it's the texture your dog seems to enjoy, a natural chew from our natural dog chews range gives a similar satisfying bite without any fruit stone anywhere in the equation.
Whatever you choose, keep it as an addition to a normal diet rather than a replacement for any part of a meal, the same rule that applies to apricot flesh itself.
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Common questions
- Can dogs eat dried apricots?
- It's better to avoid them, or offer only a very small piece occasionally. Dried apricots are far more concentrated in sugar than fresh fruit, and some contain sulphites as a preservative, which aren't something to give a dog regularly.
- What happens if my dog swallows an apricot stone?
- It's a genuine choking and blockage risk regardless of the small amount of toxin inside it. Watch for vomiting, straining, or discomfort, and ring your vet promptly rather than waiting to see if it passes through on its own.
- Can puppies eat apricot?
- In a very small amount, once weaned and settled onto solid food, and always with the stone removed completely. A puppy's stomach is more easily upset than an adult dog's, so start with less than you would for a grown dog.
- How many apricots can a dog eat?
- A couple of small pieces of flesh, offered occasionally rather than regularly, is enough for most adult dogs. There's no benefit to giving more, and a dog who eats several in one sitting is more likely to end up with an upset stomach.
- Can dogs eat tinned or stewed apricots?
- It's better to avoid them. Tinned apricots are usually in a sugary syrup, and stewed versions often have added sugar too, both of which are worse for a dog than a piece of the fresh fruit with the stone removed.
Related
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.