I still remember the day when I gave my dog some pineapple bits for the first time. My quest was to find out that ‘can dogs eat pineapple’ or not.
Apparently, dogs can eat pineapple because they are soft to chew and tangy in taste. Pineapple for dogs can be served as snacks to them and they would love to chomp it away. However, not all dogs have the same love for it and some might resist it depending on their preference. Generally, dogs would like to eat the juicy chunks of pineapple.
So, let me tell you what exactly happened.
One day, I stopped at a grocery store to pick up some fruits and snacks. The sight of a fresh pineapple caught my eye, and I irresistibly added it into my cart.
As I reached home, I was devouring the ripe and sweet pineapple, while my corgi dog, Jack was playing around in the lounge.
I suddenly started to ponder over if Jack would eat pineapple or not.
I had seen many videos on Facebook and Youtube featuring dogs and their lifestyles showing what they eat, how they are groomed, what do they play, and whatnot.
So, it just made me wonder if they eat pineapples too. My curiosity did not allow me to continue enjoying the pineapple, and it curbed my enthusiasm.
I patted Jack to set him up in a happy mood, and as usual, it started licking me, and he quickly sensed that I had something to offer.
I took out the chunks of pineapple and offered to it with a tad bit of hesitation. Deep down, I knew nothing dangerous would happen, but I was frightened to find out if dogs were allergic to pineapples.
To my surprise, my dog munched away the pineapples with its liquid drops dripping from its mouth. So yes, dogs can eat pineapples and they may even like it. Or maybe Jack liked it because he had it for the first time.
Is Pineapple Good For Dogs?
At that moment, I wished that I had eaten less of that pineapple to give it more to Jack as he was looking at me with those innocent desiring eyes.
I narrated to my wife the recent discovery about Jack. We both wanted to make sure it was suitable for him, so we Googled it.
It turned out, pineapples are healthy not only for humans but also for dogs. Pineapple is a nutritious treat for dogs providing them Vitamin C, which helps them to repair their skin, tissues, and ligaments.
It contains 85% water, which is good for hydration and is also rich in minerals such as Manganese and Thiamine.
Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains are essential for a dog’s health, and we always make sure Jack is well fed. Although he is not a veggie lover and hates broccoli too much.
However, not everything can be suitable for their health as some might cause adverse effects. Pineapple is good for dogs, but I wanted to make sure of it.
Some dogs also have instant allergic reactions to certain food types. However, it was not the case with Jack.
Even though he did not pose any immediate effects after eating away the pineapple, we were still anticipating some reactions later on. Such as mood swings, constipation or diarrhea. In the worse case, vomiting because it is not easy to clean up that mess.
So, the wait began. I did not let Jack go out of my sight as I did not want him to mess around everywhere or if anything strange happens. Finger crossed. I didn’t plan to spend my day watching over a dog to see and examine his poop later on.
detailed infographic image on can dogs eat pineapple
Is it Safe For Dogs to Eat Pineapple?
Jack showed no sign of uneasiness or sickness, which made me feel relieved. However, I wanted to know more about the effects of a dog eating pineapple.
Jack’s regular checkup with the vet was due soon so I could get more details about it.
However, for the time being, I dug in deeper and researched more. As a result, I also came to know that pineapple should be given to them in small chunks as a snack only for a balanced and healthy diet.
‘Can dogs eat pineapple?’ I was now confident that they could. However, giving pineapple to dogs is only safe when you give it in limited amounts.
I was glad I did not have more pieces of pineapple to give to Jack even though he wanted more.
At first, a dog might get excited after trying a new flavor and crave for more. However, don’t let this manipulate you in feeding them more because it will no longer be safe.
Therefore, I realized that whenever you are trying something new with your pets, always try to give small portions. Some reactions are not always shown instantly but might incur a long term effect.
Can Dogs Eat Pineapple Core?
Other than giving dogs a small proportion of pineapple, it is also essential to feed them sliced pieces of the flesh rather than the core.
Image of pineapple with glasses
Dogs cannot eat the pineapple core because it is too hard for them to chew. The core is the central part of a pineapple while the flesh is the succulent part between the skin and the core.
The flesh is soft and juicy, making it suitable for eating. On the other hand, the core might choke your dog or lead to digestive problems. I gave Jack some cubes of pineapple, which he was quickly able to swallow and it caused no issues in chewing either.
The dogs cannot eat the pineapple with its skin as well because it is too dry and spiky, which can cause life-threatening choking.
It is just not about dogs, but humans cannot eat the skin as well, so you have to peel it off to enjoy the juicy part.
Why is Pineapple Good for Dogs?
The juicy flesh of the pineapple is the real deal for the dogs and me too. The sweet and tangy blend of flavor enriched in nutrients seemed healthy for the dogs as they are for humans.
However, I wanted to know more biological details, so I asked them all at Jack’s checkup. Pineapples are proven to provide multiple benefits because of vitamins, fiber, calories, and minerals it has.
For every 165gm of pineapple, it contains 105% human daily value of Vitamin C. It is excellent for elderly dogs who are unable to produce their own Vitamin C. Therefore, pineapple acts as a supplementary provider of Vitamin C.
When Jack gets old, pineapple will be included in his diet. The vet also mentioned that Vitamin B1 and B6 in pineapple can give extra energy to the dogs, while manganese can help to make bones and joints stronger. Manganese also activates the dog’s specific enzymes.
However, the best part was knowing that the fiber in pineapple can treat constipation too. Jack gets constipated sometimes, but now I know a tasty solution for it.
Pineapple also contains an enzyme called Bromelain which promotes the digestion of proteins and enables them to be absorbed better. Since a dog’s diet mainly comprises of heavy proteins, Bromelain helps to digest it well and prevent the hardening of the poop.
However, the complicated task is to give a balanced amount of pineapple to the dogs. Too less or too much of it will render all the benefits.
Luckily, Jack’s doctor gave me a guideline regarding the intake of pineapples for dogs, so I understood how to incorporate it into his diet.
So, ‘can dogs eat pineapple?’ yes, they can, but not too much.
How Much Pineapple Should I Give My Dog?
The key takeaways from our visit to the vet were that pineapple should not be given as a staple diet to the dogs.
This is because it is a sweet fruit, and dogs have less tolerance to sugars. It might also lead to tooth decay, gastric problems, and obesity.
Image of dog holding stick
An excessive amount of pineapple means more fiber, which is not healthy for dogs; it can cause constipation instead of preventing it. Too much fiber soaks up more water, making digestion difficult.
Therefore, it should only be given as snacks or in between meals. It was regrettable to hear that because Jack really liked the pineapple, but he can only have it 10% of his total diet.
So for a 30-pound dog, only eight chunks of pineapple are allowed. This will ensure a healthy digestive and immune system.
How Much Pineapple to Give Dog to Stop Eating Poop?
With so much talk about dog poop and their digestive system, I also discovered that pineapple can be a cure for a medical illness called Coprophagia. Sometimes, dogs pick up a habit of eating their poop, which is indeed a gross thing to do.
However, Jack is a good boy, and he does not do such stuff, thankfully.
Pineapple is known to treat Coprophagia. However, it is to be noted that the proportions of pineapples should still be maintained to avoid the above mentioned side effects of overeating pineapples.
Giving the dog pineapple every day is not recommended by the vets, so it should be provided on alternate days.
The size of the pineapple chunks should be small, and the proportion of it varies according to the dog’s weight and size. However, it usually ranges from 5-7 pieces.
Why Does Pineapple Stop Dogs From Eating Poop?
I never understood why dogs would be tempted to eat their feces. It makes the owner highly uncomfortable and worried because this would make dogs more vulnerable to diseases.
Upon inquiring Jack’s doctor more about Coprophagia, I figured out two main causes for this medical illness.
Firstly, it could be because of starvation. The dog might not be getting enough food or not receiving healthy diet enriched with nutrients. For this reason, dogs are most likely to eat their food to gain nutrients.
The second reason is instead a hilarious one. It is love, yes, you heard it right.
Some dogs love to eat food, and they could go beyond their limits for it. They are always hungry and habitual of eating, which makes them eat their poop because it smells pleasant to them.
However, here is an interesting fact. The dogs are not always at fault for overeating and poop eating, sometimes owners are to be blamed as well.
In order to train the dogs, owners treat them with snacks whenever they learn something new. However, what they don’t realize is that they are making them addicted to food.
Giving treating snacks now and then, increases their overall appetite and makes them crave more and more. So even their poop seems like a tasty treat for them.
What pineapple does is that it makes their poop less tempting. It changes the way it smells like so dogs avoid eating it.
However, it does not work with every dog as it may be a behavioral problem which can be fixed by training. Since there is no scientific evidence to prove if pineapple can treat this disease, so this solution is often considered as nothing but a myth.
And I don’t believe in myths.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Pineapples?
Since I don’t believe in myths, there is no point in talking more about it so I will just go back to the facts.
However, before I begin to narrate more facts, let me summarize my investigation until now.
‘Can dogs eat pineapples?’, yes they can but make sure they are fresh. Canned fruits are indeed convenient for us in today’s modern world, but they are futile for dogs. In fact, for humans too, because it contains artificial preservatives.
a girl is giving pineapple in a bowl to the dog
I won’t make this about myself or the humans and stick to my investigation about dogs and precisely, about Jack. So, here is the problem. Canned pineapples do not have the nutrients which a fresh pineapple would have.
It also lacks the enzymes, which means digestive problems are guaranteed.
The syrup that the canned fruit contains has too much sugar. It used for preservation purposes but can cause severe dietary imbalance for the dogs.
Pineapple itself contains a high amount of sugars and canned fruits add to its concentration. They are sweeter, which is terrible for health. It can increase the chances of tooth decay, obesity, diarrhea, and some other diseases which I am unable to recall right now.
Canned pineapples come with high feasibility and comfort. There is no need to peel and cut them into small pieces before giving it to your dog. It saves your time and cuts down your workload. There is no need to clean up but open a tin and serve.
As tempting, it might seem, but it depends on what you love more. Your dog or your comfort?
For me it is Jack. Always and forever.
Can Dogs Eat Pineapple Leaves?
During this investigation about pineapples and dogs, I actually ended up doing comprehensive research. I left no stone unturned and concluded that pineapple leaves are no good to dogs either.
The core, skin, leaves, and canned pineapples should go in the restricted list for the dogs immediately.
The leaves are as harmful as the skin and core because they are extremely dry and hard to swallow. They can irritate the dog’s mouth and tummy.
The leaves and thorns contain sap, which is known to be harmful to the skin. So wonder what it will do to the insides of the dog once eaten.
Not to exaggerate but, pineapple leaves can be toxic and may result in a fatal condition for the dog. The harsh nature of leaves can cause permanent damage to the dog’s teeth as well.
Amidst the food and climatic crises, farmers use high amounts of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. The leaves come in direct contact to these chemicals while the inner flesh remains protected.
So, eating the leaves is very risky as you might never know how many chemicals your dog is ingesting. These chemicals can mess up the metabolic systems of the dog, and if you are not fortunate enough, then it might lead to poisoning.
Hence, give your dog a long and happy life by making some efforts which include removing leaves, peeling off the skin, and cutting the pineapple into small bite-sized pieces.
It is not essential to give your dogs ripe pineapple all the time as it might become redundant and boring. My wife and I learned some really delicious treats made of pineapple, and Jack approved them all. However, our secret ingredient is love.
Pineapple Dog Treats Recipes:
Pineapple and Molasses:
Create scrumptious dog treats within 25 minutes. Yes, it was that simple. So we used the following ingredients:
- 8 ounces of crushed pineapples (FRESH PINEAPPLE, NOT CANNED)
- 1 egg
- 1tsp of vanilla extract
- 2 cups of flour
- A quarter cup of olive oil
- A ⅓ cup of molasses
- 1.5 tsp of baking powder
Preheat the oven at 350 degrees F. Mix flour and baking powder in a bowl and the rest of the ingredients in other and mix well.
Combine both mixtures.
Grease the baking sheet before adding the mixture with a spoon.
Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
Pineapple Sweet Potato:
The method for this remains the same as for Molasses. There are a few changes in the ingredients required.
You need:’
- 10 ounce of Pineapple puree
- 1 mashed sweet mashed potato
- 2 cups of brown rice flour
- Half a cup of oats
Repeat the process and enjoy.
