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Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce?

Can Bearded Dragons Eat Applesauce?

You’ve had your bearded dragon’s pet friend for some time now, and you’re thinking of spicing up their meals with a bit of applesauce. Are you allowed to do that?

Let’s say that stranger pets have even more stranger diets. Some of them can consume most of the food that we, humans, consume on a daily basis. What about bearded dragons and their diet, are there any specifics, like – can bearded dragons eat applesauce? As luck would have it, you can share this ingredient with your pet

However, there ought to be some measures in consuming ingredients like this and preventing harm from happening to your pet. So, if you’re a caring owner, you might want to stick around a bit longer. 

Applesauce – A Tasty Treat

There are some treats that you and your pet can enjoy together, and one of them happens to be applesauce. Yes, it sounds a bit strange at first, but your bearded dragon would love to get its “hands” on this from time to time.

Sharing a sweet tooth with your pet requires following some ground rules. But before we lay them down, let’s learn a couple of basic facts about applesauce. 

First and most important – the nutrients it’s composed of.

Calories51
Protein0.2 gr
Fat0.1 gr
Carbs1.37 gr
Fiber1.3 gr
Sugar11.5 gr
Sodium1%
Copper4%
Iron2%
Magnesium1%

Applesauce is also rich in vitamins like:

  • Vitamin B6 – immune system function, brain development, serotonin, and dopamine, creating hemoglobin
  • Vitamin C – growth and repair of all types of body tissues, formates collagen, proper function of the immune system, maintenance of bones and teeth
  • Vitamin E – a powerful antioxidant, helps repair damage more quickly, promotes longer cell life, contributes to better eyesight

Consuming applesauce has many benefits, including:

  • Promoting a healthy diet – You hear all about how healthy applesauce can be on TV – and it’s true. This ingredient has a well-distributed composition that improves nutrition.
  • Prevents chronic diseases – Doctors have praised apples for being a natural cure against chronic diseases. Including applesauce in meals can avoid the risk of diabetes, heart disease, even cancer. 
  • Soothes an upset stomach – Applesauce can act as a natural probiotic, and it is commonly consumed to soothe an upset stomach – this works both for animals and humans.

When it comes to the frequency of feeding applesauce to your bearded dragon, it would be best if you made an in-between break day.

To put it precisely, stick to the three-day rule. Here’s how it goes:

  1. Day – salads, greens, veggies, and fruits
  2. Day – insects
  3. Day – commercial food + applesauce (treat)

Then do it all again.

Although you might think about serving applesauce alone to your bearded dragon pet, this is not a good idea. Applesauce might be a healthy treat, but its consumption should be monitored.

Especially when it comes to small-sized pets. 

You are left with two options: you can make or buy applesauce.

Let’s mention the homemade version first. It’s actually very easy.

Here’s what you need:

  • 1.4 kg of apples
  • 177 ml of water
  • 30 ml of lemon juice
  • 1.2 gr of ground cinnamon (by choice)

The good thing about homemade applesauce is that it contains a lot fewer sugars than a store-bought version. So, if you’re buying it – you need to be extra careful.

Now, the making process. Here’s how you make delicious homemade applesauce:

  1. Wash the apples thoroughly and remove all of the stickers from them
  2. Peel the apples.
  3. Take a large bowl and place all the ingredients in it. 
  4. Boil the mixture on medium heat.
  5. After a couple of minutes of boiling, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  6. Once you notice that the apples seem cooked, remove the mixture from the stove.
  7. Allow the mixture to cool for a couple of minutes.
  8. Put the mixture into a puré. (using a mixer, potato masher, etc.)

Adding ingredients like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, or vanilla are just choices to add some flavor. 

This homemade recipe serves ½ cups -122 grams.

Now, the store-bought versions. 

As we said, pets can’t digest something that’s packed with sugar, so you might need to narrow down your choices when shopping for applesauce. 

Here are some alternatives:

Mott’ssince 1842, no sugar added, multiple flavors (peach, cinnamon, kiwi, strawberry)
GoGo squeezoriginated from France, excellent sales history, makes organic applesauce
Musselman’scooperates with farms, includes apple juice, butter unsweetened applesauce
Santa Cruzproduces more than 50 items, certified organic products, jars depend on flavors
North Coast Organicoriginates from California, produces apple cider and juice, uses organic fruits and veggies
Eden Organicproducing since 1960s, produces beans and soy, food largest natural foods company
White Housestarted by producing vinegar, based in Winchester, all natural ingredients
Mullen’sstarted with a homemade recipe, all-natural chunky applesauce, no sugar added

Here is a short tutorial on how to make all-organic applesauce in just 25 minutes!

This little kitchen endeavor lasts less than 30 minutes, and both you and your bearded dragon will be enjoying the treat. 

Good luck!

Lastly, it would be wise to mention some drawbacks of applesauce. Although the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, you should still be aware of some possible dangers. 

Many apples are infected by pests and fungicides.

This is for the people that opted for making a homemade treat for their pet and them. Be careful before you use your apples, finally. Inspect and wash them first. 

Be aware of GMO apples. 

When making a healthy treat like all-natural applesauce, you should look out for GMO apples. They might alter your recipe and upset both your and your pet’s stomach.

There are some ingredients you should look out for:

  • BPA
  • High fructose levels
  • Artificial flavors
  • Artificial colors

Going to the store and grabbing the most affordable applesauce is a big NO. Look closer at the composition.

Brumation Period

One crucial aspect that can affect your bearded dragon’s diet is the brumation period. 

For those who are not entirely familiar with this yet, it’s kind of like a state of hibernation. Bearded dragons enter into this period, usually somewhere around winter.

Reptiles have been doing this for thousands of years, so it’s nothing unusual. Here are the signs that your bearded pet dragons are entering the brumation stage:

  • He is sleeping more than usual
  • His appetite decreased significantly
  • He’s been hiding in the shade

The most common sign is refusing food. The closer the total shut-down is, the more it will refuse food. 

With periods like this, it’s always wise to visit a vet. In some cases, it might be too early for your bearded dragon to enter the brumation period. 

Your vet will need to do some tests on him, like a fecal test, for example. He would also have to check the nutrition plan. 

There is no specific time period at which all bearded dragons enter the brumation stage. It depends on the overall development and growth of the bearded dragons.

While some start showing signs after 2 years, others can enter the brumation period at 8 months. This will last for about 2-3 weeks

What About Food During The Brumation Period?

Since everything else is on off-mode, feeding fits into this category as well. You don’t want your bearded dragon waking up with an oversized belly. 

Some owners continue to feed their bearded dragons during the brumation period. They even leave them treats (applesauce included). 

This is a huge mistake – animals find it harder to digest food during this period, and feeding them strong nutrients only makes it more challenging. 

What About Plain Apples?

If bearded dragons can eat applesauce in moderate quantities, what about plain apples?

The answer is yes – your bearded dragon can nibble on some apples, but there are some things you need to pay attention to. 

Apples can be considered nature’s medicine. They are extremely healthy and tasty.

Calories52
Water86%
Protein0.3 gr
Carbs13.8 gr
Sugar10.4 gr
Fiber2.4 gr
Fat0.2 gr

The most crucial feature of apples is their vitamin.

Apples are abundant in vitamin C. As we said earlier, this is a very powerful antioxidant.

Back to your bearded dragons: they can eat apples on a weekly basis. This fruit is actually among the safer choices, even though the primary source of nutrition for your adult bearded dragon should come from insects.

Statistically, your bearded dragon’s vegetable and fruit intake should be around 20% a week

It would be best if you did not go overboard with feeding them apples. Although they are “a health bomb,” the side effects are the same for animals and humans. 

Your bearded dragon can start experiencing tooth decay, nausea, obesity, fatty liver disease, etc. If you feed your pet apples every single day, heart failure is inevitable.

As you can see, even the healthiest fruits have boundaries.

And, is there a difference between red and green apples?

Generally, your bearded dragon can eat both green and red apples. If you concentrate on the details between these two, the green apples might stand out a bit better. 

Here are some instances that set aside green apples as healthier. 

  • Green apples have 22% more fiber in them than red apples
  • Green apples contain less sugar
  • Green apples contain more protein (63%)
  • Green apples provide more iron, potassium. vitamin A, vitamin B6
  • Green apples have a more stable macronutrient balance

If you made up your mind and finally decided what apples you will feed your bearded dragon, you need to remember one more thing.

Never feed your bearded dragon apples with peels on them! 

Apple peels are toxic to many animals, and bearded dragons are certainly one of them. So, before you give your bearded dragon an apple, make sure that you peeled them. 

Apple peels are dangerous because they can cause choking, they are extremely hard to digest, and they contain a lot of sprays and pesticides on them. 

It would be best if you could supply your bearded dragon with organic fruit from the market. 

One other thing, watch out for the seeds. Your bearded dragon will digest them, but it can still provoke some stomach issues. 

So, how do you feed your bearded dragon apples after everything you’ve read?

Easy, just follow these steps.

  1. Wash the apple and remove any stickers.
  2. Peel the apple entirely.
  3. Slice the apple into smaller pieces – but not too small! (this can cause choking)
  4. Check for any seeds or stems. Please remove all of them before giving them to your bearded dragon.
  5. Serve the apple pieces alone or as a side snack, and watch your pet enjoy them!

Read the full article here: Can Bearded Dragons Eat Apples?

All in all, apples are good for your bearded dragon for numerous reasons:

  • An abundance of vitamin A and C improves their immune system, reproduction, and vision
  • High levels of fibers that promote regular digestion and prevent constipation (reduced bowel movements and problems with the stool)
  • Potassium which regulates their blood pressure improves muscle function and prevents kidney failure
  • Large amounts of iron that helps oxygen pass through the organism better 

And most importantly, water in apples that keep your pet hydrated and healthy!

The one thing you need to do is actually head down to the market and buy the apples, and when’s the best time to do this?

Apples are at their peak in the fall. The best time to buy any apple products would be somewhere around September. Around this time, the chances of them being infected with pesticides are the lowest. Of course, we recommend visiting the market rather than the grocery store.