Are Apple Seeds Poisonous to Dogs?

The toxic compound in apple seeds:

• Cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin), which release hydrogen cyanide when seeds are chewed/crushed and metabolized

If your dog ate apple seeds, watch for:

• •Brick red mucous membranes
• •Dilated pupils
• •Difficulty breathing
• •Panting
• •Shock
• •Vomiting and diarrhea / GI upset (commonly seen with apple plant material ingestion)

Are apple seeds actually dangerous if my dog swallows a few?

A few whole, swallowed seeds are very unlikely to cause cyanide poisoning, because intact seeds usually pass through undigested and the cyanide-producing amygdalin stays locked inside. The danger comes when seeds are chewed or crushed, which releases hydrogen cyanide. The ASPCA lists apple seeds among the toxic parts of the plant, so the conservative approach is to treat them as toxic and not let your dog eat them.

How many apple seeds would it take to poison a dog?

It takes a large quantity of crushed seeds to reach a toxic cyanide dose, and confirmed cyanide poisoning in dogs from apple seeds is rare. However, the threshold varies with the dog's size and how thoroughly the seeds are chewed, so there is no guaranteed safe number. Because cyanide toxicity is severe and fast-acting, do not rely on the dose being too small to matter.

What should I do if my dog ate apple seeds or a whole apple core?

Watch for signs such as difficulty breathing, panting, dilated pupils, bright red gums, drooling, vomiting, or collapse. If any appear, or if your dog crunched up a large number of seeds, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately. Apple flesh itself is fine for dogs; the seeds, core, stem, and leaves are the parts to keep away.

• ASPCA - Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Apple

Last updated 2026-06-25