Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?

Pineapples are one of the most delicious and tangy fruits loved by humans. Whenever any human being consumes pineapple, they have been able to digest this fruit quite easily. Does it go the same way for dogs? Can dogs eat pineapple with their human pals?

Pineapple is easily digestible, thus making it an edible option for dogs. While feeding the pineapples, a dog owner must take care of all the ifs and buts else he/she may risk its dog’s life. There are many things to consider while feeding pineapples to your dogs. It must be kept in mind that they must be cut into very small pieces as bigger pieces of pineapple can cause choking in the windpipe which might result in the immediate death of the dog. Way too much consumption of pineapple can affect and bring drastic changes to your dog’s regular diet. So, pineapple should be given to the dogs not more than 2-3 days a week. And there are a lot more to talk about on this topic. So let’s continue to find out what more you can do about feeding your dogs pineapple. Also, read Can Dogs Have Apples?

can dogs eat pineapple

Can dogs eat pineapple Image Source@ akc.org

Is Pineapple Safe for Dogs? 

Pineapples are devoid of any harmful substances which makes them edible and completely safe for dogs of any breed. Pineapple consists of natural sugar instead of processed sugar which is good for the dogs’ digestive system. You can give your dogs some pineapple pieces but as with most human food, you have to feed it in moderation and by following all sorts of safety precautions. And more importantly, pineapples should not replace any of their regular meal with themselves. Such fruits, which are mainly eaten by humans, should be fed occasionally and not often, more appropriately, only 10% of your dog’s daily diet. 

Benefits of feeding your dogs pineapples: 

You just went through the answers to the question, “Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?” Now it’s time to understand what makes pineapple so safe and healthy for your dogs. Let’s read to find it out. 

1) Keeps Hydrated: 

Pineapple consists of 82% of water, so it helps the dog stay hydrated for the whole day. It is advisable that before taking the dog out for a long walk, the dog should eat a certain and considerable amount of pineapple. Consumption of pineapple would not let the dog get dehydrated and its energy level would be up to the mark.

2) Full of antioxidants: 

Pineapple consists of antioxidants that would help the dog repair the damaged cells and tissues. A dog does a lot of physical activity throughout the day and they are bound to get injured. Hence, in that scenario, a pineapple can be the most preferred fruit without thinking of any urgent medications.

3) Vitamin C:

Pineapple consists of Vitamin C which would make the immunity system strong for the dogs. There have been cases where some dogs get sick very often while others hardly fall sick. It’s all due to the difference in intake of Vitamin C, which the pineapple can provide to your furry pals.

4) Vitamin B6: 

This coenzyme present in the pineapple will help your dogs with proper regulation of fluids in their body, building proteins, and supporting the regulation of hormones. 

5) Increases the Metabolism Rate: 

Dogs, when they are awake, roam around the area full of energy and also perform various playful activities for which their metabolism rate needs to be high throughout the day. Pineapples give the dog the required metabolism rate which they may or may not get from the food they consume. 

6) Bromelain: 

The biggest benefit of the consumption of pineapple is that the fruit contains bromelain. Bromelain helps the dogs from dealing with various skin diseases. It has been seen that many dogs as they get old, the fur from their body doesn’t remain intact and shed heavily, which is mainly due to less bromelain. Hence, this fruit can be a great addition to their treat chart. 

Things to Keep In Mind Before Serving Pineapple To a Dog: 

1) No Uncut Pineapple: 

Uncut pineapple, if being given to the dogs, can harm them. The exterior of the pineapple consists of sticky thorns and a certain amount of poisonous acid too. So while consuming the uncut pineapple, the thorns might get stuck in the neck of the dog which might result in serious throat problems, and difficulties in swallowing can cause choking hazards. 

2) Mix with Yoghurt: 

Many dogs don’t like the taste of pineapple, as a result, they just eat bits and pieces of the pineapple or just waste the pineapple. The proven technique is that if some pieces of pineapple are mixed with yogurt, then dogs generally consume it. A mixture of pineapple and yogurt makes the yogurt tastier. 

3) No cooked pineapple: 

The dog can get the full nutrients from the pineapple if they are given raw pineapple. Instead, if the dogs get cooked pineapple, they might not consume it because raw pineapples are tastier than cooked ones. Secondly, the nutrient portion becomes half of its original composition. So even if the dog consumes the cooked pineapple, then it would get only half the percentage of the nutrients present in the pineapple. 

Should we force our dogs to eat pineapple just because of its high nutritional value? 

The dog should not be forced to eat pineapple, no matter how much nutrients and healthy contents are present in a pineapple. If your dog refuses to eat it on the first go, this means one of the two things is that either the previous meal consumed was not digested properly or the dog is not finding the pineapple tasty enough to eat. 

When a dog consumes pineapple with a heavy stomach, then chances are that it might vomit after eating. Hence, as a dog owner, you need to keep a watch on their eating habits and should not force them to eat something new. With passing days, they themselves will get habituated with the taste of it and you can then add to its diet. Also, read Can Dogs Eat Peaches?

Final Thoughts: 

Pineapples are not good for a dog’s health if they are given every day, especially when a dog is 1-2 years of age. But again, it contains so many vital nutrients that it will help your adult dog to grab the majority of its required nutrition from the pineapple itself.

Make pineapples an occasional treat for them and not the regular one and if this instruction is followed sincerely, chances are you wouldn’t encounter any health hazards when you feed pineapple to your dog. I hope this article has helped you out in figuring out all the answers related to the question, “Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?”.