Yes, dogs can eat pineapple, but in moderation. Pineapple is delicious and packed with nutrients, so it’s natural for dog owners to wonder, “Can dogs have pineapple?” Since many dogs will eat practically anything, there’s a decent chance they’ll love pineapple as a tasty treat.
Is Pineapple Good for Dogs?
Yes. Pineapple is a powerful way for humans to load up on health-boosting nutrients. These nutrients include vitamin C, magnesium and iron.
Dogs, however, should be getting these nutrients and many more from their specially formulated dog food. As a result, there is no nutritional need to add pineapple to your dog’s diet. Like bananas, blueberries and other fruits, pineapples can be a tasty treat, however.
If you decide to share this tasty tropical treat with your dog, keep in mind it’s high in sugar and citric acid content. So, only feed pineapple in moderation as an occasional treat.
Can Pineapple Be Harmful to Dogs?
Yes. Although pineapple has no dangerous or toxic nutrients that can harm dogs, it does have large quantities of sugar and citric acid.
This means pineapples should only be an occasional treat and given to dogs in small amounts. Sugar can cause digestive problems in the short term. Long term, too much sugar can lead to weight problems and diabetes in dogs. The citric acid content can cause digestive upset like vomiting and diarrhea for some dogs.
The general guideline for any type of dog treats is they should not exceed more than ten percent of a dog’s daily caloric intake.
Can Dogs Eat All Parts of a Pineapple?
No. The pineapple core is tough and can easily become a choking hazard or cause obstructions within the digestive tract. The same is true of the spiny skin and leaves. Only feed your dog the fleshy insides of the fruit, cut into small, bite-sized chunks.
Can Dogs Eat Canned Pineapple?
No, do not feed dogs canned pineapple. Pineapple is already high in sugar, as is the juice in the can. The two combined is too much sugar for your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Dried Pineapple?
No. Dried pineapple is not recommended as a treat for your dog. Dried fruits typically have much higher sugar content. During the drying process, the water is removed and the fruit shrinks. The sugar content, however, remains the same. This makes it easy to overfeed dried fruits and cause illness. With dried fruits in general, it’s easy to give dogs more than you intended to, possibly causing them to be sick.
How to Prepare Pineapple for Dogs
You can prepare pineapple a few different ways, as it’s quite a versatile fruit. If your dog doesn’t like it one way, try another method. There is more than one way to turn pineapple into a tasty treat for your dog.
Frozen Pineapple
If you’re after a refreshing dog treat for the hot summer months, try freezing a few pineapple chunks first. Then offer them as a snack to your dog. They might find it hard to resist a cool, indulgent treat. Remember to keep the chunks small and watch for signs of choking.
Fresh Pineapple
Fresh pineapple is a much better choice than canned. Just remember to cut away the spiky skin and hard inner core. Then, take the fleshy part and slice it into small cubes. Smaller pieces allow for better portion control.