Can Dogs Eat Pineapple? Is It Safe or Good? When Is It Bad and Can Puppies Eat?
A balanced diet is one of the most significant things you can do for your dog. This implies that protein, carbohydrates, healthy type of fat, and other essential vitamins and micronutrients should have equal proportions. If you don’t, your dog will be sickly.
Apart from meat like lamb and fish, the other food group that will make your dog healthy are veggies and fresh fruits. Now the question is which fruits are safe and if a pineapple is one of those fruits which is safe for your four-legged baby.
In this article, we will learn if your dogs can eat pineapple, how much serving should be given, and if this sweet and juicy fruit is a safe and nutritious snack for dogs.
Can Dog Eat Pineapple? Is It Safe for Dogs?
Yes, pineapple is perfectly safe for dogs. But moderation is the key that also applies to other types of fruits and veggies. In fact, pineapple is your dog’s very nutritious snack if the serving is right for its weight. We will learn later in this article which pineapple parts are safe for them to consume and which parts should not be provided to them and how much your dog should eat.
If occasionally feed on fresh pineapple, your four-legged baby can benefit a lot. This sweet and juicy fruit, as I said earlier, comes with vitamins that are good for their tummy and good as an immune booster. Since pineapple is safe for dogs, the next issue is “if it’s good for them?”
Is Pineapple Good for Dogs?
These are the nutrients which your dog will get if you give it with the right serving of pineapple fruit:
- Vitamin C: 105% This vitamin is needed by your dog to help in the repair of tissue, ligaments, and skin.
- Manganese: 77% This is needed by your dog for protein metabolism and the production of energy.
- Vitamin B6: 11% This is needed to stabilize blood sugar and hormone balance.
- Vitamin B1: 11% This is needed for the proper functioning of the brain.
- Copper: 20% This is for the formation of red blood cells, iron absorption, and to protect the nerves.
- Folic Acid This is necessary for cell membranes.
Aside from those vitamins and minerals, pineapple can help solve some of the health problems of your dog, such as:
- Relieves Constipation: This fruit is not only sweet and juicy but also fibrous, which means it helps to digest properly. So if your dog has constipation at times, this fruit will relieve it from this health issue. And since one of the active ingredients of pineapple is bromelain, an enzyme whose role is to help in the breakdown of protein enabling the other nutrients to be absorbed by the dog’s body. Bromelain’s additional benefit is that it softens the dog’s stool from too much protein intake.
- Lessens Inflammation: Of course, dogs are naturally active. They love a rough and tumble play as a result, they sometimes injure themselves. Giving pineapple is one of the natural remedies for healing inflammation. But it is best to get a Vet’s permission for the quantity of pineapple to be provided for mild inflammation treatment.
- Assists in the Treatment of Pancreatic Disease: This tropical fruit can be used in conjunction with the primary treatments of pancreatic disease. This is because the digestive enzyme found in pineapple. But I must stress that pineapple is only a secondary form of treatment and factors like less fat in the diet must also be considered.
- Prevents Kidney Stones: Pineapple is a fruit low in oxalate which is beneficial for dogs diagnosed with calcium oxide stones. Oxalate is a natural molecule found in plants, too much oxalate can cause kidney stones. Thus, it is useful in the prevention of kidney stones in dogs.
Pineapple is a fibrous fruit and, being so, giving too much of this juicy fruit can lead to diarrhea. So the next question is “How Much Pineapple Can You Give to Your Dog?”
Give it with a limitation. A small quantity of pineapple chunks is right for them, but it must not be done every day. Since pineapple is given as a treat or a snack, then only 10% calories must occasionally come from this fruit. Here is an example as to how much is safe for your dog:
Assuming you have a small dog weighing 30 pounds, that implies a weekly average of 500 calories should be consumed the dog. So 10% of that is about 50 calories, so it should be about 8 bite-sized cubes of pineapple. If you have a bigger dog weighing about 50 pounds, giving it about 10 bite-sized fresh pineapples is safe.
It is not a good idea to serve your dog with canned pineapple because of its high sugar content. Canned pineapple has sweet syrup which may be bad for the digestive system of your four-legged baby. Add to that the preservatives which are added in canned pineapple.
When is Pineapple Bad for Dogs?
Though pineapple is safe and suitable for your dog, too much of this fruit can be bad. I have listed the possible adverse effects of feeding too much of this sweet and juicy tropical fruit to your dog:
- Tooth Decay: Fresh pineapple has sucrose. Anything sweet can cause tooth decay. To care well for your four-legged baby, it is advisable to brush its teeth regularly as part of its daily hygiene.
- Constipation: As stated a while ago, because of its fiber content, pineapple helps to relieve constipation. But, because it can also lead to constipation, too much of this fruit is also bad. How? The pineapple fiber soaks water that eventually makes the dog’s stool hard.
- Obesity: Big amount of pineapple intake can lead to weight gain. This fruit is sweet, so be careful when giving it as a snack. Obesity leads to various medical ailments like diabetes and knee and joint pains.
- Unripe pineapple: The juice from an unripe pineapple can result in vomiting. It can also cause swelling of the mouth.
Pineapple is one of the fruits that your dog can have, but just like in any food, moderation must be practiced to avoid any side-effects.
Is Pineapple A Nutritious Snack for your Dog?
This fruit is a nutritious snack for your dog if offered in a small quantity. Only once in a while should it be provided because too much of it has undesirable impacts on your dog. Stay away from canned pineapple as it has a higher amount of sugar.
Dogs, in order to be in tip-top condition, must have a balanced diet that includes vitamins and minerals from fresh fruits and vegetables. And, we all know that pineapple is rich in Vitamin C, thus, it is a good form of doggie snack.
Which Parts of A Pineapple Can Be Given to Dogs?
Take additional care in serving your pets with pineapple. Not every part of this fruit is edible. Do not allow your dog to chew on the leaves, as your dog’s mouth may be irritated by the thorny texture. The same applies to the skin of the pineapple, as it is also coarse and thorny that can cause shocking. Finally, don’t offer the core because it’s difficult to digest.
You can only give the soft parts of the pineapple which you can slice into chunks. You can serve it cold or room temperature. Later in this article, I will share with you a sumptuous pineapple recipe for your four-legged baby.
Can Puppies Eat Pineapple?
Yes, pineapple is also safe for puppies, as long as you slice it into smaller pieces. You risk the chance of choking the puppy if you offer it in large pieces. But make sure it’s no longer nursing from her mother before you give this fruit to your puppy. This implies the puppy is already beginning to eat healthy food. It’s also best to start providing pineapple after the age of 12 as puppies have special nutritional needs.
The excellent way to introduce your puppy to pineapple is to give it in a smaller amount because it is a fiber-rich fruit. Then observe the puppy if there are no stomach problems such as diarrhea or any kind of discomfort. If you don’t see any bad effects, such as diarrhea and upset stomach, then you can offer pineapple to your pup as a tasty and nutritious snack, but only in small quantities because its digestive system is still developing at this stage.
How is Pineapple Served to Your Four-Legged Baby?
- Even if you will not give the skin to your dog, it is still a good idea to wash the skin of the pineapple to remove dirt and chemicals like fertilizer. The exterior part of the pineapple is unclean and may contaminate your hands and may pass it on to your dog.
- Cut the fruit in bite-sized pieces so it will be easy for your dog or puppy to chew it.
- Begin by giving a few pieces only so you can observe if your dog’s digestive tract can accommodate a fibrous fruit like a pineapple.
- If you see that your dog does not show any discomforts like stomach pain or diarrhea, then you can increase the amount the next time you give pineapple as a snack.
What You Should Do in Case Your Dog Ate Too Much Pineapple?
It’s just going to be a wait and see if your dog has eaten more than it needs. In most cases, gas, tummy pain, flatulence, and diarrhea will affect your dog. If the condition doesn’t improve within 24 hours, it’s time to visit a Vet.
Sweets=Tooth Decay:
Do not forget to wash its teeth to avoid tooth decay after offering your four-legged baby sweet snacks like pineapple. Dental hygiene should be part of its routine of cleaning. The following amazing dog dental care products are available for purchase:
- H & H Pets Dog Toothbrush
- Vet’s Best Enzymatic Dog Toothpaste
- Arm& Hammer Dog Dental Care Tartar Control Kit For Dogs
- Oral Hygiene Chews
Yummy and Nutritious Pineapple Snack for Dogs:
This is an excellent Cookie Recipe which you can give to your four-legged baby as a snack.
- 8 ounces of crushed fresh pineapple
- 1 pc egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup olive or virgin coconut oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup of molasses or honey
Preheat oven at 375 degrees F. Then mix all the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda).
In another bowl, beat the egg. Then add the oil, molasses or honey and vanilla. Then mix this with the dry ingredients.
Form into small balls and place on greased cookie sheet.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Pineapple Smoothie Recipe for Your Four-Legged Baby:
- 8 or more pineapple chunks
- 1 cup of coconut water
- 1/2 cup of Goat’s Milk like Raw Paws Frozen Raw & Powdered Goat Milk for Dogs & Cats.
Blend everything and serve cold.
Things to Keep In Mind When Giving Pineapple to Your Dog:
- Remove the skin, the leaves, and the core prior to giving it to your dog.
- Cut into small pieces or chunks to avoid choking.
- Do not give this snack/treat every day because it is high in sugar.
- Start small and then monitor for possible digestive problems, especially in the case of puppies.
- Puppies can eat pineapple beginning 3 months of age.
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