Can Dogs Eat Pineapple? Vet-Approved Feeding Tips

Pineapple is a delicious tropical fruit, especially in summer when its juiciness offers thirst-quenching qualities. But is this tasty tropical treat something you can share with your dog? Yes! Pineapple can be a healthy treat for your dog when given in appropriate portion sizes.

Of course, this tart fruit shouldn’t be your dog's only source of nutrition. While its vitamin and mineral content offers plenty of benefits, pineapple is high in sugar, so it should only be occasionally given as a special treat.

Read on to learn more about the benefits of pineapple and how to serve it to your pup.

Is Pineapple Healthy for Dogs?

Pineapple is loaded with vitamins and minerals, and also contains several antioxidants, like flavonoids, which are known to have many health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving brain and cardiac function, fighting infection, and possibly even preventing cancer.

It’s high in fiber, which is great for digestion, but it is also high in sugar. However, if it’s a warm summer’s day and you’re wanting to offer your canine friend a juicy treat, pineapple is a great one.

How Can I Offer My Dog Pineapple?

You have several options for feeding pineapple to your pup.

1. Cut It Up Raw

The next time you bring home a pineapple from the store, cut it into ¼-inch thick pieces you can then hand feed to your pet.

2. Frozen

You can freeze fresh pineapple slices and offer them as a tasty, cold treat on a hot summer day. You can find already-frozen pineapple at your local grocery store, but just ensure there are no added ingredients or sugars before giving it to your dog.

3. Smoothie Style

Blend a small portion of fresh or frozen pineapple with other dog-friendly fruits like strawberries and bananas. Put the smoothie mixture into your pup’s favorite KONG toy and let him lick up his delicious, healthy treat. For an even longer-lasting treat, freeze this as well!

Is Canned Pineapple Okay?

Though most canned pineapple will not be toxic for your dog, we don’t recommend offering it to him this way. Canned fruits are often drowning in sugary syrups. Eating that much sugar won’t be great for your pup’s health and is likely to cause him to develop an upset stomach; stick with fresh.

Is It Possible to Give Too Much Pineapple?

Pineapple should be looked at as a special treat for your dog. It is high in sugar, which causes problems if your pup eats it too often. Any kind of treat should only make up approximately 10% of your pup’s diet. The other 90% should consist of a well-balanced life stage- and breed-appropriate dog food.

Is Pineapple Safe for All Dogs?

Because pineapple is rich in natural sugars, it may not be an appropriate snack choice for dogs with diabetes or those at risk of developing the disease.

Additionally, its high acidity can wear down your dog’s tooth enamel and speed up tooth decay if fed too regularly.

Are All Parts of the Pineapple Safe?

Only offer your dog the soft inner fruit. The spiky skin and core not only taste awful but can pose a choking hazard and even cause intestinal blockage.

Pineapple for Poop Eaters - True or False?

If your dog has developed a taste for their excrement, you might be searching for solutions to this unsavory habit. One trick that you might see come up is to feed them pineapple. The theory is that the acidic pineapple makes the poop taste bitter (of course, this is all just conjecture!), deterring your pup from enjoying a mouthful of their creation.

However, there is nothing scientific to support this claim, only anecdotal evidence. Plus, it won’t stop your dog from eating the poop of other dogs (unless you can get them to eat pineapple too!).

So the conclusion is that it might work, or it might not. Either way, it’s worth a try!

Conclusion

Pineapple can be a delicious treat for your dog, provided it's served the right way and just a small part of a nutritious diet. Remember that treats should only make up 10% of your dog’s daily caloric intake. Only offer the juicy flesh of the pineapple and never the spiky exterior or hard inner core.

• See also: Can Dogs Eat Dragon Fruit? Is It Safe?

Featured Image Credit: Hans, Pixabay