Pineapples are one of human’s favorite fruits: they are sweet, refreshing and just great. They are a great healthy snack for any moment of the day. But, can we share this amazing treat with our dogs? Is pineapple good or bad for dogs?
If you are both a pineapple and a dog lover and are wondering about this specific question, well, worry no more, because today we’ll tell you all about feeding pineapples to your dog: pros, cons, risks and amounts.
The short answer is yes, dogs can eat pineapples, but don’t rush to feed some to your pup right away. There are some things you should keep in mind before giving pineapple to your dog.
Let’s start with the good ones.
Is pineapple good for dogs?
This delicious fruit is great for dogs since it has a lot of essential nutrients and vitamins that are essential for a happy and healthy pup.
- Vitamin C: it’s a great immune system booster that also aids in the prevention of respiratory illnesses and acts as a great anti-inflammatory.
- Vitamin B6: this vital vitamin plays a role in assisting hormone regulation, glucose generation, and nervous system function. It also aids in brain and body functions regulation.
- Potassium: it regulates nerve function and promotes a healthy heart and kidney function.
- Manganese: plays an active role in the maintenance of bone and joints cartilage health, apart from making fatty acids, metabolizing protein and carbohydrates, and producing energy.
As you’ve seen, pineapple has many health benefits for dogs, apart from being a delicious and refreshing treat. But, does it also have some possible risks? Let’s find out.
Is pineapple bad for dogs?
Generally, pineapple is not bad for dogs, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when feeding it to your pup.
First of all, pineapple is pretty high in sugar, which is not at all healthy for dogs. Eating too many treats high in sugar content can lead to obesity and even diabetes, two conditions that can be life-threatening.
The key to feeding pineapples to your dog is moderation, as it happens with every treat. If you give them just the right amount, they will probably not be at risk.
The second thing you must keep in mind when feeding this delicious treat to your pup is which parts of the pineapple dogs can eat. This one will be easy to remember because it’s the same as with humans. You don’t eat the spiky skin and hard core of this fruit, right? Well, then your dog shouldn’t either.
Both of these parts of the fruit can be pretty dangerous for dogs. They are not only extremely hard for their stomachs to digest, but they can also lead to choking or intestinal blockage.
Another thing to remember is to don’t feed your dog any type of pineapple product you buy at the store. This includes dried and canned pineapple.
The thing with dried pineapple is that it concentrates sugar into much higher quantities per serving. You might be fooled by its size and go overboard.
The same happens with canned pineapple. It usually contains an extremely high amount of sugar and syrups that are definitely not healthy for dogs.
As long as you remember these rules, there shouldn’t be any risks of occasionally feeding pineapple to your pup.
How much pineapple can dogs eat?
Since we previously mentioned that the key of feeding pineapple to your dog is moderation, then you’re probably wondering how much is too much.
Well, as we have mentioned in our previous articles about dog friendly human food and treats, you have to follow the 90-10 rule. It says that only 10% of a dog’s diet should be made of treats. And pineapples clearly count as treats.
So, make sure that if you feed pineapple to your pup, it’s no more than 10% of what they eat during the day.
How to feed pineapple to dogs?
As said before, the more natural, the better. Let’s go over some great and easy ways you can feed this delicious fruit to your dog.
Fresh chunks
The easiest way of feeding pineapple to your dog is to just peel it, cut it in small pieces and feed it to your pup. You can spice it up by sprinkling their daily dose of Mokai’s super blend over it.
Frozen chunks
Frozen pineapple treats are a great option for summer, since they will cool down their temperature and act as an entertaining activity. You just have to peel a pineapple, cut it into small pieces, freeze them for a few hours and they will be ready to serve!