Good thing you came to the right page. We are here to give you the lowdown about pineapples and their effects on the health of your dog (good and bad). And if you think that’s good enough, think again.
As pet lovers and dog owners, we here at Dog Food Guide want to keep your dogs’ tail wagging like crazy. Thus, we prepared something special for you and your lovable dog.
If you want to feed your dog a delectable snack, we have here a list of yummy and healthy dog treat recipes that your pooch will surely love and enjoy. So, sit back, relax and keep on scrolling.
A Quick Look At Pineapples
Scientific name: Ananas comosus Fun fact: Pineapple is composed of a group of berries that is combined together to make a collective fruit Nutrition facts: A cup of pineapple chunks (equivalent to 165 grams) contain: Total Fat: 0.2 grams Total Carbohydrates: 22 grams Dietary Fiber: 2.3 grams Sugar: 16 grams Protein: 0.9 grams Dangerous Compounds: Bromelain (low toxicity) Possible Side Effects: Diarrhea, Vomiting, Stomach Pain
If you’re a pet parent concerned about your dogs’ health, by now, you should already know that you can’t feed them anything they want.
Not all human foods can be safely consumed by your pet dog. What is healthy to us human beings may be toxic to your dog.
When it comes to fruits, pineapple has been known for its immune system boosting nutrients and its ability to reduce the risk of serious diseases like diabetes, heart conditions, and even certain types of cancers.
In fact, many have recommended this juicy, golden fruit treat to be part of one’s daily diet since it is packed with vitamins and minerals.
Given all the health benefits pineapple provides to humans, as pet parents, it’s normal to think that this tropical fruit won’t pose any health problems to dogs.
You’ve probably fed your dog a slice of pineapple as a treat thinking that one bite won’t hurt. Luckily, YOU’RE RIGHT.
So, can dogs eat pineapple? The short answer is a big YES.
The fact is you can safely feed your dog pineapple as long as it is given in moderation.
Health Benefits of Pineapple
Now that we’ve answered your question: “Can dogs eat pineapple?” and “Is pineapple safe for dogs?” you’re probably wondering what you’ll reap if you give your dog or pup a pineapple treat.
As mentioned previously, pineapple contains loads of vitamins and minerals. Thus, people and dogs alike have a lot to gain from this nutrient-filled fruit snack. Ripe, fresh pineapple, in particular, is rich in nutrients that are vital in boosting your dogs’ digestive system and immune system.
Want to know what valuable benefits your dog will get from eating pineapples? Check out the list below. We’re sure you’d like your dog to eat pineapple after skimming through it.
Fresh pineapple is packed with Vitamin C. An important antioxidant; Vitamin C helps inhibit the degeneration of tissue and collagen. It also helps alleviate inflammation and reduce cognitive aging.
A cup of pineapple chunks contains 2.3 grams of dietary fiber. Fiber aids digestion and speeds up elimination. Since your dog’s exposure to carcinogens is reduced, their risk of having colon cancer is also minimized.
The raw, extra sweet variety of pineapples contain Vitamin B6. This one helps keep your pup physically fit by maintaining water balance, promoting healthy production of red blood cells, and nervous system function, and a lot more.
100 grams of pineapple contain at least 12 mg of Magnesium. According to PetMD, Magnesium is an essential macromineral that must be included in a dog’s diet in large quantities. This particular mineral assists in energy and protein production, supports the immune system, maintains muscle and nerve function, and keeps bones strong.
Pineapple contains Bromelain. Yes, we mentioned that this is a dangerous compound, but note that this only becomes toxic if taken in large quantities. Bromelain, in fact, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Dog owners find this helpful in treating inflammation caused by chronic illnesses as well as injuries.
Apart from all the benefits mentioned above, pineapples also contain small amounts of Calcium, folate, niacin, thiamine, zinc, and the list goes on. All of which play a vital role in your dog’s health.
FAQ’s on Feeding Pineapple to Dogs
Yes, dogs can eat pineapple, and pineapple is safe for dogs, but the discussion about feeding pineapple to dogs does not end here. We know that you probably still have a lot more questions in mind. Fortunately, we’re here to answer all your pineapple-related queries.
Here are all the possible questions you might have about feeding pineapple to your pooch and their corresponding answers.
1. What parts of the pineapple can dogs eat?
Obviously, you can give your pooch the soft, juicy flesh of the pineapple. If you want to know the answer to: “Can dogs eat pineapple skin?” and “Can dogs eat pineapple core?” The answer to these 2 questions is NO.
The tough central core and the scaly, spiny skin are parts of the pineapple that are considered a choking hazard. So, it’s best to keep the skin and the core of the pineapple out of your dog’s reach.
Also, the skin and the core of the pineapple contain more Bromelain. This enzyme has very low toxicity. Ingesting this compound in appropriate amounts will not cause any problems. However, taking this in large doses can cause allergic reactions, diarrhea, vomiting, and tummy aches.
2. What pineapple products are safe for dogs?
Fresh pineapple is already high in sugar content. While it contains 87% water, a cup of raw pineapple chunks contains 16 grams of sugar. Since too much sugar can cause weight gain and even diabetes, dog owners are advised to give dogs one to two slices of pineapple if they want their dogs to eat pineapple as a fruit snack.
Canned pineapple, on the other hand, contains more sugar than raw pineapple because of the syrup. Even if the label says “light syrup,” the sugar content levels on these are still too much for your dog’s digestive tract. Thus, it’s best if your dogs steer clear of canned pineapples.
Apart from having more sugar, the canning process also destroys heat-sensitive vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients like Vitamin C. In case you only have canned pineapple available and your dog comes up with his googly eyes, we suggest rinsing the pineapple before feeding this to your dog to remove some of its sugar. However, fresh pineapples are always a better fruit snack option for your dog.
Feeding unripe pineapples to dogs is a NO-NO. Unriped pineapples are loaded with Bromelain. The amounts of which pose significant risks.
You’ve probably heard about the myth that pineapples eat flesh and that they can burn your mouth. This is partly true because of Bromelain’s ability to break down proteins (which makes it a good meat tenderizer option). Due to this, eating unripe pineapple can cause vomiting, nausea, skin rashes, and diarrhea. Some also report swelling in the dog’s mouth area.
Dried pineapples are among our favorite pineapple products since there’s no prep required to eat this. But just like canned pineapple, this one is also filled with sugar. The amount of sugar is retained during the drying process. So, small portions of these have higher sugar levels. Portion control is recommended in case you want to give in to your dog’s nagging.
Giving your dog pineapple juice is also a no-go. Like canned and dried pineapple, this also contains a lot of sugar. You can probably let your dog have a sip but make sure to do this in moderation.
3. How much pineapple can your dog eat?
Yes, dogs can eat pineapple but make sure to feed only the recommended amount.
Fruits, in general, are considered a dog treat. So, if you plan to give your dogs pineapple treats, make sure to give small bite-size chunks. This makes portion control easier.
Also, keep in mind that the recommended amount of dog treats in a dog’s diet should not go beyond 10%.
NOTE: If in case you’re feeding this fruit for the first time to your dog, make sure to give just a few bites. Some dogs have highly sensitive tummies and may experience vomiting, diarrhea, or gas after eating fruits because of the high amounts of fiber. If this happens to your dog, then it’s better if you find another snack.
4. Can pineapple stop dogs from eating their poop?
Poop eating, aka “Coprophagia,” is a typical behavior seen in dogs. We know this is a repulsive behavior that makes your cute furballs look less appealing. Stopping this act is something many (if not all) of us want.
Letting your dog eat pineapple, apparently, can stop your dog’s poop-eating habit. While there are no studies available to confirm this, some say that the bromelain in pineapple fruits gives poop a foul taste.
In case this doesn’t work (since this peculiar behavior is ingrained in a dog’s DNA), one sure-fire and practical way to stop this is by cleaning the poop up immediately. This way, you can prevent your dog from doing the disgusting deed.
Healthy Homemade Pineapple Recipes for your Dog
As a pet parent, sometimes you want to surprise your dog by adding a special treat to the menu. Ice cream is out of the question since pet care is always a priority.
You can probably whip up a healthy fruit salad, but if you have extra time to spare to make a delectable pineapple treat, you might just find the dog treat recipe you’re looking for in our list below.
We made sure that the recipes are packed with vitamins and minerals since your pet’s health is also our priority.
2tbspflaxseed, ground (a clean coffee grinder is perfect for this)
4tbspwarm water
2 tbspmelted coconut oil
1cupcrushed pineapple
1/2cupOptional: dog friendly dried fruit(no sugar added)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350º and adjust the racks so you can easily manipulate 2 baking trays.
Pulverize flaxseed in a clean coffee grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Pop the flax in a small bowl and add warm water, stir, and set aside.
Blitz 4 cups of oats in the food processor until you get a nice flour consistency. Remove the oat flour to a large bowl and set aside.
Add the pineapple, flax, and melted coconut oil to the food processor and pulse lightly to combine. Add the flour by cupful until dough ball forms.
Transfer the dough ball to your floured work surface. Flatten the ball out with your hands and sprinkle your chopped dried fruit over top. Knead the dough, splitting and folding as necessary to spread the fruit out evenly.
Roll your dough, adding flour as necessary to keep it workable. Cut out shapes and place onto cookie sheets.
Bake the cookies for 20 minutes, then pull out, brush with either milk or a beaten egg for some shine, and rotate trays.
Bake another 20 minutes or until most of the way crisp, then turn off the oven and leave cookies inside to dry out a bit more.
Ground enough rolled oats in a food processor to make 3 cup of coarse flour. Set aside.
Puree 1 cup of chopped pineapple in the same food processor, this will yield just over ¾ cup.
Add pureed pineapple, egg, and coconut oil to a medium mixing bowl. Mix with a whisk until smooth.
Add oat flour to the mixture and use a spatula or mixing spoon to combine.
The finished dough should be something between pie and bread dough, not too sticky and easy to handle.
Sprinkle some oat flour on a cutting board or counter and turn the dough out, knead and shape into a disk.
Roll dough out to about ¼" thick. Cut out shapes with cookie cutters, and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet about ½” apart.
Reshape scraps and roll out again to ¼” thick and continue cutting out treats until finished.
Dip the cookie cutter in some oat flour each time you cut so the cutter doesn’t get sticky.
Bake for 20 minutes, rotate pan and flip treats upside down so they can brown evenly. Bake for another 20 minutes.
Turn off the heat, and allow treats to further dry out in the oven.
Store cool treats in an air tight container.
Is Pineapple safe for dogs to eat?
Yes. Raw pineapple, in small amounts, is an excellent snack for dogs. Canned pineapple, on the other hand, should be avoided. The syrup in canned fruits contains too much sugar for most dogs' digestive tracts to handle.
Can pineapple make dogs sick?
Yes! Fresh pineapple, in small quantities, can be an excellent and delicious snack for your dog. Chunks of raw pineapple, relative to your dog's body weight, either fresh or frozen, are a healthy snack. Pineapple is not toxic, dangerous or harmful for dogs.
Does pineapple make dogs not eat poop?
The pineapple chunks should be given as snacks between meals and not as a staple diet for maximum benefit. Pineapples have a tendency to make dog poop less tempting and pleasant, which inhibits their appetite. Therefore, pineapple can help dogs stop eating their poop.
What fruit is bad for dogs?
Steer clear of: Cherries are toxic to cats and dogs, and grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage. Citrus fruits like lemons, limes, and grapefruit as well as persimmons can cause an upset stomach.
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An individual with a profound affection for animals, who was brought up in an environment surrounded by dogs, cats, and chickens. A self-taught enthusiast in the realm of pet care. At present, the proud caretaker of two rescued felines and two lovely mixed-breed canines.
