Can Dogs Eat Peaches?

The short answer to this question is yes, dogs can eat peaches. But the better question is, should you be feeding your dog peaches just because you can? Probably not. And there are some dogs that shouldn’t be eating peaches at all.

Your dog might be better off only enjoying this delicious fruit as a once-in-a-while, extra-special treat, and when it’s in season, of course, because that’s when it tastes best. Here’s the good and the bad about dogs eating peaches.

The good side of peached for dogs: Peaches have some vitamins and minerals.

Whether you already fed your dog a peach, or they helped themselves, or you’re just wondering if you can share this summertime fruit with your pup, you’ll be happy to know there are some good vitamins and minerals in there. This includes antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E, plus minerals like iron, potassium, and magnesium. There is also a lot of fiber.

But you should also know that if you feed your dog Sundays, they are already getting all the vitamins and minerals they need. On every box is the list of human-grade ingredients that provide all the necessary nutrients. Most commercial dog foods have to add synthetic vitamin and mineral packs because the ingredients alone don’t cut it. 

You’ll also see the “AAFCO” statement on every box of Sundays that the recipe is “formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for all life stages including large breed puppies (over 70 lbs as an adult).”

The bad side of peaches for dogs: Not all parts of a peach are safe for dogs.

While the actual fleshy fruit and skin of a peach are not toxic, the pits have trace amounts of cyanide. One pit won’t contain a lot of it, but the cyanide can be released if your dog ate several and chewed them up really well. The stems and leaves also contain cyanide.

Keep an eye out for these signs of poisoning, especially if your dog chewed a lot of pits or if they are a smaller dog:

• Heavy or unusual drooling 
• Rapid breathing
• Bright red gums
• Vomiting or dry heaving

Some other concerns with peach pits is that they could be choking hazards, get stuck in the stomach or intestines, tear up your dog’s throat on the way down, or even break your dog’s teeth.

Another caveat: Some dogs should not eat peaches at all.

There are also certain dogs that should definitely skip the whole peach train altogether:

• Dogs with diabetes
• Dogs that are overweight
• Dogs with sensitive stomachs

Peaches are incredibly sweet because they are full of natural sugar. The downside is that too much sugar is bad for dogs and can lead to obesity, diabetes, and stomach troubles (diarrhea, etc.) if they have a lot of it. And dogs that already have these health issues should not be given fruit like peaches.

How to serve peaches to dogs

If you do want to give your dog peaches every once in a while, remember that all of the treats you give your dog should only add up to 10% of what they eat. 

Give your dog fresh peaches, cut into small pieces, or you can freeze those pieces for later. Avoid store-bought frozen peaches unless you can confirm that the only ingredient is peaches, with no added sugars or syrups. 

You also want to avoid the cups or cans of peaches, because they usually have extra sugar or syrups also. The same goes for human foods that have peaches in them, like peach yogurt or cobbler. These have other ingredients and added sugar that are not good for dogs, and yogurts can sometimes have xylitol, which is toxic for dogs.