Can dogs eat applesauce?

The ideal ingredient list reads simply apples, sometimes with ascorbic acid (vitamin C) as a preservative. Avoid jars listing sugar, glucose syrup, corn syrup, honey, sucralose, stevia blends or xylitol. Xylitol can appear under names such as birch sugar or E967.

Apple and cinnamon versions are common; cinnamon in small amounts is not toxic but adds nothing.

Peel and core two apples, chop them, and simmer with a splash of water for 10 to 15 minutes until soft. Mash with a fork and let it cool. Store in the fridge for up to three days or freeze in an ice cube tray. No sugar is needed; dogs enjoy the natural sweetness.

You can blend in a spoonful of plain cooked pumpkin or a few blueberries for variety, but keep onions, raisins and sweeteners well away from the pan.

A thin layer of applesauce on a lick mat keeps a dog occupied during grooming or nail trims. A spoonful mixed into a frozen toy makes it last longer. Some owners use a small amount to encourage an older dog to eat, but a dog that has lost its appetite should see a vet rather than rely on toppers.

A tablespoon of unsweetened applesauce has about 10 to 12 calories. Small dogs under 10 kg (22 lb) need only a teaspoon. Medium dogs can have one or two teaspoons, and large dogs up to a tablespoon. Too much can cause loose stools.