Sugar apple, also known as sweet sop, apropos or custard apple, typically grows in tropical climates. Its shape varies from heart shaped, oblong, to spherical. It can be green, brown or yellow with a knobby exterior. The interior is a white sweet flesh the consistency of custard with seeds. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Is this sweet treat something you can offer your pup?

No. Sugar apples should never be offered to dogs. 

While the flesh alone is nontoxic to dogs, the skin, seeds, stems, leaves and roots all contain alkaloids and hydrocyanic acid. If your dog eats a bite of just the sugar apple flesh it is likely fine, but is not advised.

If your dog eats a whole sugar apple or the seeds, you should contact a vet immediately. If you are unsure if your dog has eaten sugar apple, monitor your pup for signs of tremors, seizures, labored breathing, blood in diarrhea, dilated pupils, and smell of bitter almonds in mouth. If you see any of these symptoms, get to a vet immediately. These are signs of cyanide poisoning.

To ensure your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance. Preparing for the unexpected guarantees money is never an issue in keeping your pup healthy.