Can dogs eat pineapple?

Pineapple is a highly nutritious tropical food with its tart, sweet, and tangy flavor. Nothing can beat the exceedingly refreshing taste of a piece of cold, juicy pineapple on a hot summer day. It’s obvious to think about giving a slice of ripening pineapple to your dog.

As a veterinarian, I’ve got questions from dog owners asking me if pineapple is ok for dogs.

The answer is “Yes”. Like many other fruits and vegetables, pineapple is not only safe for dogs but also provides various nutrients to them. This article will answer some common questions of pet owners about giving pineapple to their dogs. Let’s start…

Can dogs have pineapple?

In general, yes, dogs can easily consume a moderate amount of pineapple. This fruit contains a whole lot of vitamins and has no toxic or dangerous minerals which make it an excellent fruit snack for dogs. But pineapple is one variety of fruit that should not be fed regularly or in excess. A large amount of pineapple may produce some digestive disturbance such as stomach upset if your dog is having it for the first time.

The health benefits of pineapple for dogs

Besides its sweet and tangy taste, pineapple contains a bunch of nutrients which are quite good for your dog. Some health benefits of pineapple may include:

• Hydration: Pineapple contains almost 80% of water, which helps your dog to stay cool and hydrated. During a sunny hot day, this could be an excellent refreshing treat for your dog.
• Low sugar: Fresh pineapple contains low sugar which makes the food healthier for your furry friends.
• Bromelain: This enzyme has strong anti-inflammatory properties and helps the body to fight against various diseases.
• Vitamins: Ripe and raw pineapple comprises a bunch of vitamins like vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and folic acid. Vitamin C boosts the immune system of your dog and exerts anti-inflammatory actions. Also, Vitamin B6 acts as an essential coenzyme to regulate fluid balance, helps in building proteins, and regulated various hormonal mechanisms in your dog’s body.
• Minerals and antioxidants: Fresh pineapple contains minerals like potassium, iron, manganese, copper, magnesium, etc. that promote healthy joints, bone, skin, and tissues. The antioxidant helps to repair the damaged cells in your dog’s body.

Can dogs eat pineapple chunks?

Yes, you can provide a few chunks of raw pineapple to your dog. But don’t overfeed it. Fresh ripe pineapple has some non-edible parts like spiky skin and a hard inner core that should be avoided.

Only offer it the inner soft chunks to your canine friend. Otherwise, the non-edible parts can cause an intestinal blockage or a choking issue. Please keep in mind the dog’s size to offer the right amount of pineapple chunks.

Can dogs eat canned pineapple?

Canned pineapple contains a high level of sugar because of having fruit syrup. This syrup helps to keep the pineapple fresh but leads to various health problems in your dog like overweight, digestive problems, etc.

As a conscious pet owner, avoid the canned version of pineapple for your dog’s good. If in doubt, consult with your veterinarian before introducing a new food for your dog. Always read the label of dog’s food (canned pineapple) and avoid the syrupy ones.

How much pineapple should a dog eat?

Moderation is the key while serving any food to your dog. So, as it is with pineapple. Consider the size and age of your dog while serving pineapple chunks. A cup of pineapple usually contains 74 calories of energy and 14 grams of sugar.

A small breed of dog like a Pug, a Chihuahua, etc. will need smaller servings than a large dog like a German Shepherd, Bulldog, etc. It is useful to remember that if you decide to give your dog pineapple, be sure to peel and slice it into bite-sized pieces.

During summer, frozen pieces of fresh pineapple can be a refreshing treat for your dog. But if your dog does not like it, try other fruit options like watermelon, strawberry, etc. that are safe for them.

Can dogs eat all the parts of a pineapple?

No. The outer skin is spiky and the inner core is very hard, which remains inedible for not only dogs but also humans. These parts can easily cause choking to your pet and require immediate veterinary assistance. You need to remove these portions and offer your dog the inner soft and juicy part.

How can I feed pineapple to my dog?

When it comes to offering pineapple to your dog, you can find various options available for it. By remembering moderation is the key, you can try the following options to turn the fruit into a dog treat:

• Frozen pineapple

You can try freezing a few pineapple chunks and offer it to your dog during the hot summer months. This cool hydrating treat will give an immediate refreshment to your dog. Keep the chunks small to avoid choking.

• Fresh Pineapple

Undoubtedly, this is a better option than the canned version which contains high sugar. Just peel the spiky skin and remove the hard core prior to offering your dog the fresh small chunks of pineapple. Smaller shape sizes are preferable to avoid choking issues.

• Dried pineapple

Some veterinarians and pet nutritionists don’t suggest this because of having a higher amount of sugar per serving. Dried pineapple is usually made by removing the amount of water, but the sugar quantity remains the same.

Homemade pineapple recipes for dogs

You can be a little creative while including pineapple in your dog’s diet :

• Pineapple ice cream: You can blend some fresh pineapple chunks with pure yogurt, pureed sweet potatoes, and freeze to make a creamy and delicious ice cream snack on a hot day.
• Pineapple smoothies: Blending pineapple with other fresh vegetables and yogurt can produce a healthy smoothie for your dog in these summer days.
• Fruit salad: You can easily mix yogurt with other fresh fruits like pineapple, watermelon, strawberries, banana, blueberries, etc. to produce a healthy fruit salad for your lovely dog.
• Slicing pineapples thinly and adding them to the top of the regular diet of your dog can give him extra hydration.

Finally, you can easily offer a small cube of fresh pineapple to your dog as a healthy alternative to packaged treats. If your dog does not like fresh pineapple, you can offer it a delicious smoothie or ice cream of pineapple.