Can Dogs Eat Pineapple? Or Is It Dangerous ?

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Pineapple is like nature’s candy. Sweet, juicy, and heavenly in fruit salads, cocktails, and on pizza (your opinion may differ on the pizza thing!). But can dogs eat pineapple? What if they sneak some pizza while you’re not looking. Or eat a slice of pineapple that you drop on the floor? Should you panic, or will your pup be okay? Here’s what you need to know about how to feed your dog pineapple safely, plus the health benefits and risks.

Can dogs eat pineapple? Is it safe?

The good news is that fresh, raw pineapple is totally okay if you want to feed your dog some tasty human foods.

It’s a healthy, refreshing tropical treat that can aid hydration on hot days – plus it contains benefits like Vitamin C and other vitamins and minerals which are beneficial to your dog’s health.

As a dog owner, you might never have thought to give your dog a pineapple snack, but it’s an excellent treat and can give your pup a good boost of enzymes and vitamins.

Just make sure to feed your dog the appropriate chunks for their size, and feed them in moderation to avoid the sugars and acids in the fresh fruit upsetting their stomach

Does pineapple have too much sugar for my dog?

Most fresh fruit has a high natural sugar content, which is why fruit is so delicious and sweet. Pineapple has 10% sugars, so avoid feeding your dog too much pineapple can spike their blood sugar levels.

If your dog has existing diabetes or obesity, it’s best to only give them a tiny amount of pineapple on rare occasions – or not at all. Check with your vet if you have any questions about feeding pineapple to your pup.

Can dogs eat fresh pineapple?

Fresh pineapple is the best choice if you want to give your dog a healthy treat. Remove the skin and pineapple core, and cut the fruit into small chunks. If it’s a hot day, you can pop the pineapple chunks into the freezer before feeding them to your dog, for an instant pineapple pupsicle treat.

To be on the safe side, make sure that small dogs in your house are only given small quantities of pineapple. Larger dogs can generally tolerate more pineapple, but you should start all your dogs off on this new food gradually in case they have any adverse reactions to the fresh fruit.

Can dogs eat canned pineapple?

If you’re wondering if dogs can eat canned pineapple, the answer is – not really. Canned pineapple often contains added sugar and fruit syrups that can skyrocket the existing sugar levels of this fruit. For this reason, you should avoid giving your dog canned pineapple.

Excess sugar can upset their stomachs, and can also lead to loose stools, obesity, dental problems, and diabetic complications.

Tinned pineapple can also lose the natural nutrients and enzymes contained in the fresh fruit when it goes through the canning process. If your pup really wants a pineapple treat, make sure you choose canned, unsweetened pineapple in natural juice, and rinse the pieces under running water before you give them to your dog.

So when it comes to feeding your dog – remember that fresh pineapple is always best

Can dogs drink pineapple juice?

Freshly juiced pineapple is safe for your dog to drink in very small amounts. Store bought juice can technically be okay if the juice has no additives, preservatives, or extra sugar added.

While dogs can eat the juice, fresh pineapple for dogs is a better choice. The juice has a higher concentration of natural sugars, so it can lead your dog’s digestive system becoming upset if they have too much. Again, you should avoid giving your dog pineapple juice if they’re overweight, older, or diabetic.

Can dogs eat pineapple skin and cores?

The hard core, skin, and leaves (crown) of pineapples are a big NO for your dog. Just like us, dogs shouldn’t eat these parts of this tropical fruit as it’s too hard on their digestive system, can cause an upset stomach, and can be a dangerous choking hazard.

We’ve all seen our furry friends woofing their food down without swallowing, and if they do this wil pineapple skin, leaves, or cores, this can cause internal blockages or other injuries for your dog. Make sure you always remove the hard, spiky skin before serving, and only give your dog the best part of the pineapple that you’d eat yourself – the juicy, sweet flesh!

Can dogs eat dried pineapple?

Dehydrated pineapple can pack a huge, sugary punch that’s bad for your dog’s health. Because the water content is removed, the dried pineapple pieces are left with a large quantity of sugar, so it’s easy to feed your dog too much.

In addition, many dehydrated pineapples are also candied, so have even more sugar in them. It’s best to stick to raw pineapple and avoid other processed forms of this fruit to give the most health benefits to your pup.

Can dogs eat frozen pineapple?

Frozen pineapple is an tasty treat for hot days, and totally safe for your dog to eat. Simply cut some raw pineapple into small fruit portions and pop them into your freezer. It’s a great choice for dogs that love icy treats, and it’s better for their teeth than giving them ice cubes.

Bagged frozen pineapple from the supermarket is okay too, as long as it’s all natural with no additives or extra sugar.

What are the benefits of pineapple for dogs?

Pineapple is one of nature’s superfoods. They’re as good for dogs as they are for us, and can provide your dog with an added boost of vitamins, enzymes, minerals, fiber, and water that are beneficial for their immunity, joints, and overall health. Pineapples contain four out of the six essential nutrients that dogs need to thrive. You can read more about the nutritional content of pineapples here.

Hydration

Pineapples contain 82% water, so are perfect to feed your dog on those sweltering summer days when a little more hydration is needed.

Bromelain

Bromelain is a digestive enzyme which assists your dog to metabolize proteins and absorb more nutrients. As your dog needs a lot of protein in their daily diet, pineapple can assist with breaking this down and improving the digestive process.

Fun fact: pineapple is sometimes used to treat coprophagia (poop-eating problems) in dogs. This is because coprophagia is often caused by nutrient deficiency which the bromelain in pineapples can help overcome by increasing the absorption of nutrients from your dog’s daily meals.

Manganese

This is an essential nutrient that boosts digestive function and helps your dog absorb more proteins and carbohydrates. It also helps your pup to process more of the good fatty acids that they eat, while promoting healthy hormones and bones.

Thiamin

Also known as vitamin B1, Thiamin has anti-inflammatory benefits, and is essential for a healthy brain and nervous system in your dog. It helps turn all your dog’s carbs into energy, which is great for active dogs!

Vitamin C

Vitamin C helps to support your dog’s immune system. It can also relieve oxidative stress and fight harmful free radicals in your dog’s system.

Pineapple has one of the highest vitamin C levels out of all fruits, so even a small amount can benefit your dog.

Vitamin B6

Pineapple contains high levels of vitamin B6. This is a vitamin that’s essential for metabolizing fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, while keeping your dog’s coat shiny and healthy, and keeping their nails strong.

In addition, B6 assists with healthy heart and blood, and mood elevation. It’s found in most commercial dry dog foods as it’s one of the core essential vitamins for optimum canine health.

Niacin

Niacin is more commonly known as vitamin B3. This vitamin regulates your dog’s cholesterol levels and can also improve brain and cognitive function.

Riboflavin

Also known as vitamin B2, riboflavin helps with the production of red blood cells in your dog’s body, and keeps them healthy. This is an essential nutrient because it helps with the production of red blood cells throughout the body.

Additional nutrients

Feeding your dog pineapple can also give them trace elements of vitamin A and K, pantothenic acid, folate, copper, iron, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and potassium, which can all help your dog get a healthy and balanced dietary intake.

How much pineapple can dogs eat?

Ideally, fruit and vegetables should make up around 10% of your dog’s diet. And your dog shouldn’t have more than 10% of their diet made up of treats. As pineapple is very sugary, it should be considered a treat food, and only given in small amounts.

Pineapple should not be used to replace any part of your dog’s existing balanced diet, but instead it should be used as a healthy addition to your dog’s diet, and considered as a vitamin-rich, delicious treat. So when it comes to asking how much pineapple can dogs eat – it depends on their size, age, and daily exercise levels.

Recommended serving guidelines:

• 10 pound dogs: up to 2 tablespoons of pineapple flesh cut into small pieces
• 30 pound dogs: up to 1/4 cup of pineapple flesh cut into small chunks
• 70 pound dogs: up to 1/2 cup of pineapple flesh cut into chunks

Homemade pineapple dog treats

Now we’ve answered all the questions around “can dogs eat pineapple?” – let’s take a look at how you can get creative with serving pineapples to your furry friend.

Mix pieces of pineapple with plain yoghurt

Make a delicious dog treat dessert by adding a few chunks of pineapple, plus other dog-safe fruits such as bananas, blueberries, and watermelon, to a small bowl of natural or Greek yoghurt. And make a bowl for yourself too – yum!

Pineapple puree

For hot summer days, puree fresh pineapple and freeze it in ice cube trays as a healthy, cool alternative to plain ice cubes.

Doggy smoothies

Blend pineapple with natural yoghurt and other dog-friendly fruits and vegetables as a delicious smoothie that your dog will love you for. You can also freeze this to make pineapple ice cream for your pup.

Pupsicles

Blend 2 cups of fresh, raw pineapple with 1/4 cup of natural or Greek yogurt until smooth. Pour the mix into your dog’s favorite silicone dog treat molds or kids popsicle molds and freeze for around 3-4 hours, or until solid.

Add these to your dog’s diet to give them some relief from the sun and heat, and keep them hydrated and nourished at the same time.

Natural yogurt is high in calcium and probiotics which are great for your dog. Just make sure any yogurt you buy is totally natural with no added sugar, preservatives, or artificial sweeteners!

Risks to feeding a dog pineapple

As with any new food additions to your pet’s diet, pineapple can cause your dog stomach upsets and vomiting if you give them too much. It’s high in fiber, and acidic too – so too much might send your dog running to the toilet more than usual!

Don’t feed pineapple to your dog if they don’t tolerate sugary or acidic fruits, as they might not be able to handle the sugar levels in this fruit. If your dog eats this, it could trigger an upset stomach.

You should consult with your vet if your dog has any existing health conditions that might be exacerbated by eating sugary pineapple, such as diabetes, dental issues, tooth decay, or weight problems.

In summary – can dogs eat pineapple?

So – can dogs eat pineapple? Yep! Just like us, dogs can get a lot of healthy benefits from the Vitamin C and other minerals in pineapples, if they eat the fruit in moderation.

Feel free to feed pineapple to your dog, and remember that fresh fruit is always best – whether it’s freshly cut or frozen pineapple chunks. Canned, juiced, and dried pineapple contain way too much sugar for your pup, so it’s not ideal as a treat.

Raw pineapple chunks are a great alternative to processed, packaged dog treats, and pack a healthy punch full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals and hydration for your dog. Plus – most dogs will love the tangy taste!

Things to remember:

• Feed your dog only the fleshy parts of the pineapple that you would eat yourself – the skin is a choking hazard
• Only give your dog small amounts of pineapple in moderation
• Seek veterinary advice before feeding pineapple if your dog is overweight or diabetic
• Start slow in case your dog has an upset stomach after eating pineapple
• Treat pineapple as a healthy snack or training reward for your dog
• As with other human foods – consult your vet if you’re unsure whether you should feed your dog pineapple!

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