Can Dogs Eat Pineapple

Pineapple is a fun snack and a fantastic treat on a hot day. After a hot day at the dog park and a thirsty dog breathing fast, you’re not the only one that’s craving something cool. So you wonder if it’d be alright to give your dog a refreshing piece of fruit.

While it’s tempting to give your dog new foods to try, you want to be sure dogs can eat pineapple safely. Pineapple is a fruit, and while it’s probably okay for your dog to eat it’s best to know potential risks just in case.

This article will dive into the nutritional benefits of pineapples and explain everything you need to know about safely feeding the delicious, tropical fruit to dogs.

Can Dogs Have Pineapple?

Yes. But not all pineapple is created equal. There are a few types of pineapple you shouldn’t feed dogs. Canned pineapple, for instance, due to the sugary syrup it’s typically in, should not be given to dogs. With some exceptions, the best pineapple to feed your dog is fresh pineapple.

Moreover, dogs may have pineapple in small portions. A general rule to remember about giving your pup tasty treats like pineapple is the 10% rule. Try not to exceed 10% of your dog’s total caloric intake with treats. Because dogs usually get all their necessary nutrients through dog food, pineapple is considered a treat.

So go ahead and give your dog a juicy taste of pineapple because you can!

Is Pineapple Good For Dogs?

Yes, pineapple has health benefits for dogs when it’s given to them in fresh chunks and in small portions. In addition to being full of flavor, pineapple is full of nutrients that are not only good for you but healthy for your dog as well.

Health-boosting vitamins dogs get from pineapples include:

1. Vitamin C
2. Manganese
3. Antioxidants
4. B6
5. Copper
6. Thiamine
7. Folate
8. Potassium
9. Magnesium
10. Iron
11. Fibre
12. Bromelain

In addition to at least 12 vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, dogs get a boost of hydration from this thirst-quenching fruit. Pineapple is 82% water, so it makes a great doggy snack with an added boost of extra hydration. And speaking of hydrating fruits, can dogs eat watermelon? Absolutely! So why not make a mini fruit cocktail for your pooch?

The most abundant vitamins found in pineapple are vitamin C and Manganese.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent dog sneezing and runny nose with a boost to the dog’s immune system. Also, the anti-inflammatory properties of antioxidants like vitamin C help reduce the risk of cognitive issues related to aging and may help repair cell damage caused by free radicals (unstable atoms in the body linked to diseases).

What Types Of Pineapple Can Dogs Eat?

Overall the best type of pineapple to give dogs is the kind that’s raw, fresh, and fully ripened. Of course, you must feed pineapple to your dog without any rind, and be sure to remove the core. Simply cut a fresh pineapple into bite-sized cubes or pieces and feed your dog about 3 or 4.

Natural/Raw

Fresh, ripe pineapple has the lowest sugar content. One cup (165 g) contains about 16 grams of sugar which translates to about 63 calories. It’s the best pineapple option for dogs.

Fresh

Fresh, natural pineapple is best. While there are many varieties, choose the ones with the least natural sugar.

Dried

Dried pineapple has a concentrated sugar content compared to fresh pineapple. While the amount of sugar is the same technically, ½ cup of fresh, chunks of pineapple will contain less sugar than ½ cup of dried pineapple. Therefore, it may be best to avoid it altogether. But if you’re still keen, you can give your dog a minuscule amount of dried pineapple.

In Moderation

Dogs can eat pineapple every day! As long as you practice portion control, fresh pineapple is safe for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Pineapple That’s Pink?

Yep! But whether it’s worth shelling out $49 for pineapple is questionable. It’s called Pinkglow pineapple and while it looks like a yellow pineapple on the outside, inside it’s a light, floral pink. Pink pineapples have lycopene which is what creates the cotton-candy-like color. Pink pineapples are less acidic and like cotton candy, they’re sweeter too.

What are the Best and Worst Types of Pineapple for Dogs? Compare your options below.

When Is Pineapple Bad For Dogs?

As it goes, in life, too much of a good thing can make you sick. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that pineapple can be bad for dogs when it’s given in large portions, too frequently, or prepared incorrectly.

When feeding dogs pineapple it’s best to avoid the following to minimize health risks:

• Feeding too much
• Unripe pineapple
• Pieces that are too big
• Giving dogs rind or core
• Ignoring allergy symptoms

Canned Pineapple?

Canned pineapple has a high sugar content due to its marinating in a can of sugary syrup, right? Ah. But what about the healthier canned pineapple options that swapped the syrup for 100% fruit juice?

Unfortunately, the pineapple soaking in 100% fruit juice is often still higher in sugar than fresh pineapple slices of an equal portion. However, there are exceptions. So, if you’re okay about taking the time to read labels then it’s possible to find canned pineapple with no added sugar.

Pineapple Core

Avoid feeding your dog any part of the spiny outer part of the pineapple as well as the core. The tough outer layer and core are hard for dogs to chew. But they aren’t so hard that biting a piece off would be impossible, especially for larger dogs. So, if my dog sounds like he has a hairball, I need to know what’s up.

The problem is that hard pieces may become lodged in a dog’s digestive tract and cause blockage which often requires a trip to the veterinarian. Avoid this risk by throwing the hard parts of the fruit away (and out of reach!).

Can Dogs Eat Pineapple Pizza?

Pineapple pizza features many more ingredients than pineapple, canned or otherwise, ever will. In short, a dog’s stomach may not agree with pizza so it’s best to skip it. Pizza is full of dairy, spices, and garlic-seasoned crust. The ingredients may cause stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting. Furthermore, garlic is very toxic to dogs. Skip the pineapple pizza and stick to giving your dog the fresh fruit instead.

Too Much Pineapple For Dogs

Because of its high sugar content, high acidity, and lots of fibre, too much pineapple can cause problems for your dog. Additionally, a dog may consume more vitamins than its body needs if it consumes pineapple in excess. Some vitamins may cause adverse reactions or toxicity in high amounts.

Issues your dog may experience from overeating on pineapple include:

1. Diabetes
2. Weight gain or obesity
3. Constipation
4. Gum disease
5. Vitamin C toxicity

The high amount of sugar in pineapple can create an upset stomach in dogs.

Dogs that eat too much sugar can get sick and present with the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Gas
• Bloating
• Diarrhea

Also, you may be aware that too many dogs suffer from gum disease. So, excessive sugar consumption can wreak more havoc on a dog’s oral health if they’re not brushing regularly. Dental problems may include:

• Cavities
• Periodontal disease
• Tooth decay
• Disruption of good mouth bacteria that puts dogs at risk for all of the above

Furthermore, if you have a diabetic dog it’s best to avoid feeding them fruits that are particularly high in sugar, such as pineapple. Or, to be sure, plan a trip to see a veterinarian beforehand who can provide information about any potential risks involved.

Pineapple contains a lot of fibre, too.

Overfeeding dogs with high-fibre foods like pineapple may cause constipation when they consume more fibre-rich food than water. Fibre is good for digestion but in order to do good, make sure your dog receives adequate amounts of hydrating water with it.

Vitamin C is a double-edged sword when it comes to health benefits for dogs.

The right amount of vitamin C keeps dogs healthy but too much vitamin C can change the pH levels of a dog’s urine, causing it to become too acidic. Too much acidity in the urine increases the chance of bladder stones or urinary blockage. A urinary blockage can be fatal if left untreated.

So how much pineapple should you feed your dog?

It really depends on the size of your dog and its individual daily caloric needs. Dogs’ daily caloric needs vary, but usually, the amount of pineapple you can safely feed them will be around 10% of their daily intake.

Finally, keep track of the vitamins and minerals your dog is already getting from commercial dog food to avoid toxicity.

Can Dogs Have Pineapple Juice?

You’d think that pineapple juice would be a no-go for dogs considering concentrated juice is what makes canned pineapple so sugary. While pineapple juice is not the forbidden fruit, giving it to dogs instead of fresh, raw pineapple may be more trouble than it’s worth.

To make the same amount of juice requires squeezing more pineapples than your dog should consume. And because the juice is a concentrated version of the fruit from which it comes, the nutrients it packs will be as well.

• ½ cup of pineapple chunks contains about 8 g of sugar.
• ½ cup of pineapple juice contains about 13 g of sugar.

But the amount of raw pineapple chunks dogs can safely eat per day is about ½ cup with a little wiggle room depending on the dog’s size. So, let’s say you want to give your dog pineapple juice instead. How much pineapple juice do you think you can squeeze from ½ cup of fresh pineapple chunks? Not a lot.

• ½ cup of raw pineapple chunks = about 5 Tbsp of juice

Still, maybe you just want to give your dog a taste of pineapple juice. In that case, choose juice that is au-natural. Give your dog juice that’s unsweetened and doesn’t contain any extra additives, sugars, or colorings.

But why not skip the juice and make a snazzy mutt mocktail instead? It takes about 15 minutes to prepare.

To make a delicious smoothie with pineapple for dogs, see below!

How To Stop Dog From Eating Poop Pineapple

Dogs love to eat poop and it’s not charming.

Seriously, why?! It’s a good thing researchers grew tired of guessing as poop-eating dogs inspired scientific research. Apparently, dogs eating poop is as common as it is official. It’s called coprophagy and it’s the popular dog practice of eating poop.

If only dogs could talk and explain themselves, right?

Still, the behavior, as gross as it is, is natural for dogs. More often than not, dogs eat poop because they like it (not that it should be encouraged). We may not like it, but ultimately, dogs eating poop evolved from living in the wild. According to research, if you’ve caught your dog eating poop five or more times then you might have a poop addict.

In other words, it’s important to figure out why your dog is eating poop to rule out possible underlying health issues before cracking down on their coping mechanism.

So, before you replace fresh poop with fresh pineapple in hopes of ending your dog’s unpleasant behavior, find out if deeper issues are causing it in the first place. Since your dog can’t tell you what’s up, you must observe its behavior to get the scoop on their poop eating habit. Ask yourself, is your dog a “serious” poop eater?

As many as 1 in 6 dogs are serious [poop] eaters. Other health-related causes that can cause dogs to eat poop include:

• Nutrient deficiency
• Parasites
• Diseases that cause an unusual appetite
• Malabsorption syndrome
• Steroid drugs

Additionally, dogs may have a stress-related poop eating habit caused by something in their environment. Emotional issues that can trigger dogs’ poop cravings include:

• Feelings of isolation
• Negative association with confined living space
• Anxiety
• Starving for attention

However, other dogs may be perfectly healthy and happy. Rather, those dogs see poop as just another snack option. In that case, you’ll likely want to discourage the behavior as much as possible. While there are several promising remedies to curb poop-eating behavior in dogs, one free and easy method is by feeding them pineapple.

So, can dogs eat pineapple and then scarf down poop? We’d like to believe the pineapple remedy actually works.

Unfortunately, there’s a lack of hard evidence to suggest pineapple is an effective way to keep dogs from eating poop, but there’s no harm in trying.

Some theories about the method suggest:

1. The bitter taste of pineapple causes anything consumed afterward to taste acidic and unpleasant.
2. An enzyme found in pineapple alters the waste in a dog’s digestive system and thereby, alters the smell and taste of the dog’s poop.

The hope is, that dogs that eat pineapple won’t want to eat their poop –they still might eat other dogs’ poop, though. This enzyme is known as bromelain. And while it’s uncertain what it can do for dogs that eat poop, it does help to aid dogs’ digestion.

But, if you want to try using pineapple as a poop-eating deterrent for your dog, here’s how to do it.

Step #1

Cut up fresh pineapple into small chunks or cubes.

Step #2

Add about 5 small pineapple chunks to your dog’s food every other day to keep them from eating their own poop.

Step #3

Keep in mind that pineapple will not magically stop your dog from eating poop after it’s consumed. It will merely stop your dog from eating its own poop because it no longer tastes delicious due to the added pineapple flavor. If your dog eats the poop of other dogs then proceed with following steps one and two for each dog involved.

FAQ

Are Dogs Allergic To Pineapple?

While it isn’t common, dogs may develop a fruit allergy. A dog may be allergic to fruit without showing any indication until they consume it and react negatively. What signs should you look for? Dogs with fruit allergies may show mild or severe signs of an allergic reaction after consuming fruit, such as:

• Itching
• Red gums
• Strained breathing
• Vomiting
• Inflamed skin
• Fur loss
• Dilated pupils
• Shock
• Swelling

It’s best to consult your vet asap if you suspect your dog is reacting to a fruit allergy no matter how mild your dog’s symptoms may seem.

Is Pineapple Toxic To Dogs?

Have you ever thought, “hmmm, can dogs have tomatoes?” Was it concerning to learn some tomatoes may be toxic to dogs and even humans? Well fortunately that’s not the case when it comes to pineapples! Unlike a tomato, a pineapple’s nutrients are completely non-toxic.

Can Dogs Eat Frozen Pineapple?

Yes, absolutely! Dogs may eat all sorts of frozen goodies. What’s important to keep in mind is that frozen fruits, like frozen pureed pineapple cubes, for instance, harden, and therefore become an instant choking hazard. Play it safe by using a mold that makes pieces small enough to go down easily if accidentally swallowed.

Outro

It’s fun to eat pineapple but it’s even better when you can share it with your best four-legged friend. But you want to make sure that your dog can eat human treats, like pineapple, safely. Always check with your vet if you aren’t sure. In the meantime, use this guide as a reference tool.