Providing your dog with tasty foods that are also nutritious is a major goal of any dog owner. We all want our dogs to live their healthiest, happiest life possible. Part of ensuring this is finding the nutritional tips and tricks that can help keep your dog as healthy as possible and prevent potential health issues.
Many of the foods that humans eat, dogs can enjoy too. This is why feeding furry canine friends leftover table scraps is so common amongst dog owners. While finding the best dog food for your dog is essential, so is finding healthy treats that they can enjoy. Some of the best treats for dogs are human foods that taste delicious and offer various health benefits.
So, what foods are safe for your dog to eat? Can they eat fruits, such as pineapple or mango? We’ll go over all of the basics when it comes to feeding your dog pineapple and what you should know. In no time, you’ll feel confident about the foods that you can feed your dog and what is best for their health.
Can Dogs Eat Pineapple?
Dogs love all sorts of foods that humans regularly eat. When enjoying some delicious pineapple chunks or pineapple juice, it may come to mind: can dogs eat pineapple? The simple answer is yes, they can! Pineapple is one of many fruits that is safe for your dog to eat. Many health benefits come with feeding your pooch some tasty pineapple. Of course, this should only be done in moderation, but you don’t need to worry about pineapple being unsafe if your dog eats some that you accidentally dropped onto the floor.
When feeding your dog pineapple, it’s important to remember not to feed them any pineapple skin. Pineapple leaves and skin are prickly and sharp, which can be very painful for your dog to chew, as well as cause issues with digestion. These parts of the pineapple can cause intestinal blockage or choking issues. Pineapple skin and leaves must be removed before sharing this delicious snack with your beloved pup.
In addition to pineapple leaves and pineapple skin, pineapple core is another area of this fruit that is unsafe for dogs to eat. When feeding dogs pineapple, be sure to remove the hard inner pineapple core before offering them this fruit. Failure to do so can also be a cause for intestinal blockage or choking.
Once all unsafe parts of your pineapple have been removed, your dog can chow down on some juicy and delicious pineapple. In doing so they will be getting some extra nutrition without you needing to worry about if this fruit is safe for them. Just remember that the soft inner fruit of a pineapple is safe for your dog, but the other parts are not.
Health Benefits of Feeding Dogs Pineapple
Fruit is an often overlooked component of a dog’s diet. While protein and other dietary agents are very important, so are fruits. They should be included in your dog’s diet in healthy amounts to obtain proper vitamins and minerals and ward off various health conditions.
While pineapples are a delicious snack for both dogs and their owners, they also carry some nutritional benefits. Feeding your dog pineapple can sneak in some awesome health perks and keep them satisfied with a sweet treat. Here are some of the reasons to consider feeding your dog a bit of pineapple.
Hydration
Some fruits contain a very high amount of water, making them ideal for hydration. All dogs need to drink enough water and eat their daily amount of recommended food. Pineapple is one great way to help accomplish both of these goals. Since pineapple is 82% water, this is the perfect snack to help hydrate your pup. Experiencing some hot weather? Consider giving your dog some pineapple to sneak in some additional moisture into their diet and keep them from becoming dehydrated.
Vitamin C
All owners want to keep their dogs from getting sick. Whether it’s a small cold or serious health condition, we will do anything to help our dogs remain healthy. One of the best ways to do so is by ensuring that your dog gets enough vitamin C, which pineapple has plenty of. Another perk of the vitamin C that pineapple has to offer? It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, which can be great for combating various health conditions and enhancing other areas of overall health, such as joint and skin health.
Vitamin B6
Getting the most vitamins that you can into your dog’s diet is a great way to ensure that they are as healthy as can be. Vitamin B6 is a powerful vitamin with tons of health benefits. This vitamin is an important coenzyme for brain and body functions that relate to fluid balance, regulating hormones, building proteins, and supporting neurotransmitters. Ensuring these functions are in tip-top shape can help prevent some various health conditions, such as Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism. If you are worried about your dog getting enough vitamins, including Vitamin B6, consider adding pineapple into their diet.
Bromelain
Speaking of enzymes, bromelain is a very powerful one that often goes overlooked and unrecognized. Bromelain has some wonderful anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, this enzyme also is considered a natural antihistamine, meaning it can help reduce allergy symptoms in both humans and dogs. Since dog allergy symptoms typically consist of itchy and irritated skin, ear infections, and eye irritation, the bromelain that is found in pineapple is a great way to combat all of these troublesome health problems.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are very well regarded in society, and pineapple has plenty of them. Dogs are regularly exposed to more toxins than humans are, which makes regular antioxidant consumption extremely important. Antioxidants boost the immune-cell function for older dogs, as well as slow down the aging process of cellular molecules. They can help draw toxins out of your dog’s system and repair the damage that they might have caused.
Minerals
Not only is pineapple rich in antioxidants and vitamins, but it’s also rich in various minerals. Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus can all be found in the delicious flesh of pineapple fruit. These minerals have an abundance of health benefits. They help maintain bones and teeth, prevent bone deformities or weaknesses, joint diseases, and maintain a healthy weight and energy level. Without proper minerals, your dog can be at risk for some serious health concerns. Thankfully, pineapple can help with this nutritional need.
How Many Pineapples Can Your Dog Eat?
As with any food, pineapple is good in the right amounts. For dogs, the right amount of pineapple can depend on a few factors, such as their regular dog food and how big they are. Smaller dogs should not be fed as much pineapple as larger breed dogs. Smaller breeds will not be able to tolerate as much pineapple at once as a larger breed can.
Pineapple shouldn’t be fed as a whole fruit but instead in portions such as a small chunk. Feeding pineapple to your dog the right way is the best way to ensure that they get the health benefits that it offers. As with all fruits that are safe for dogs, pineapple should not be offered at more than a 10% ratio to your dog’s regular dog food. Any larger amount of fruit in their diet can cause problems with digestion and even obesity.
Even at 10% of your dog’s diet, raw pineapple contains a high amount of sugar. High amounts of sugar can be dangerous for dogs and even lead to hypoglycemia, a very serious health condition. To be safe, be sure to closely watch the amount of pineapple and other fruits that you are feeding your pup.
How to Feed Your Dog Pineapple
One great thing about pineapple is that there are many ways to feed it to your dog. This allows them to enjoy a variety of different pineapple-based snacks without getting bored of the fruit.
Canned Pineapple
Canned pineapple can be fed to your dog, as long as there is no added sugar. Added sugar can impact blood sugar levels, especially in dogs that have diabetes. It’s also important to note that some of the important pineapple nutrients and enzymes may get reduced or eliminated during the canning process.
So while canned pineapple is safe for your dog, feeding them fresh pineapple may be a healthier option. If you only have canned pineapple to offer your dog, that’s okay! Just be sure that it contains no added sugar and rinse it with water before serving it to your beloved pup.
Fresh Pineapple
While all these fancy treats are great options, fresh pineapple is sure to be loved by your dog. Fresh pineapple is juicy, delicious, and healthy. If you find yourself slicing up some pineapple to enjoy, consider setting some aside for your dog. They are sure to love it just as much as they love other pineapple-based treats.
Pineapple With Yogurt
One great way to incorporate pineapple and other fruits into your dog’s diet is by mixing them with yogurt. Yogurt is safe for dogs and when mixed with fruit can make a dog-safe, healthy fruit salad. When serving your dog pineapple mixed with yogurt, be sure that this snack doesn’t exceed more than 10% of their diet. This is essential to avoid excessive calories and sugar.
Frozen Pineapple
There are many fruits and vegetables that can be frozen and served to your dog as a treat. For example, frozen carrots are a great snack to provide a teething pup to help ease pain and inflammation. In addition, frozen pineapple is a great snack for a hot day. This frozen fruit will help cool your pup down in those warm summer months and provide them with plenty of hydration. Simply pup some pineapple chunks into the freezer on their own, or even put them into an ice cube tray with yogurt to create frozen pineapple yogurt bites. Both options serve refreshing, delicious pineapple treats for your beloved dog.
Doggy Smoothies
Just like humans, dogs can reap the health benefits of a delicious smoothie. Adding fresh fruits, including pineapple, and vegetables that are pureed with pineapple juice or yogurt into a dog smoothie is an awesome option to diversify your dog’s diet. They will obtain some great health benefits from these delicious smoothies and will have fun lapping up a drink that isn’t water.
Dried Pineapple
Dried fruit is a delicious snack that many enjoy on its own or inside of trail mix when on the go. Just like humans, dogs can enjoy dried fruits as well, such as dried pineapple. Dried pineapple is a great way to provide your dog with a chewy snack that has tons of health benefits. When feeding your dog dried pineapple, be sure that it is 100% natural with no additives or extra ingredients. This will help prevent excess sugar or other dangerous dietary components that aren’t safe for your pup. Be sure to only feed your dog dried pineapple in moderation.
Pineapple Dog Treats
Since pineapple is so healthy and loved by dogs, many pet companies have begun making pineapple-based dog treats. These treats offer all of the health benefits of pineapple and even more. They often contain various supplements and nutrients from other fruits and foods that can help keep your dog healthy. Next time that you are at the pet store, be sure to keep an eye out for pineapple dog treats and other fruit-based dog treats.
Does Pineapple Stop My Dog From Eating Poop?
Dogs can pick up some less than favorable habits that their human family members could go without. Eating poop in the backyard or when on a walk can be one of these unwanted habits. When witnessing your dog eat poop for the first time, you may become very grossed out and worried. But don’t worry: this habit is very common amongst all types of dogs. There are many theories as to why dogs do this and how to put a stop to it.
The behavior of eating poop is called coprophagia, and it is seen in all breeds and types of dogs. While not every dog will engage in this behavior, many will at least once in their life. Most vets believe that the most effective way to prevent your dog from eating poop is to clean it up immediately so that there is no poop for your dog to get to. This should be done when on walks and in your backyard.
In addition to prompt poop cleanup, diet may or may not help prevent your dog from eating poop. One popular theory is that pineapple can help stop poop eating with your pup. Pineapple contains bromelain, which is an enzyme that is also present in meat tenderizers. Meat tenderizer is another additive that many owners believe will prevent poop eating, though it is very unhealthy.
Many believe that the bromelain inside of pineapple can prevent poop eating by making feces taste foul. This can make the poop unappealing to dogs that may be interested in it otherwise. This is not a proven method of avoiding poop eating, though it may be worth giving a try for some dog owners. If you are having issues with your dog eating poop and can’t find a way to stop it, be sure to consult with your vet. They will be able to work with you to identify an appropriate and effective plan for managing this behavior.
Wrapping Up
All dog owners want to provide their dogs with healthy and happy lives in the most fun ways possible. One of the best ways to enhance your dog’s life is through new foods. While not all human foods are safe for dogs, some are great options to use when looking for ways to get well-rounded nutrition. One tasty and healthy way to enhance your dog’s diet is through various fruits such as pineapple.
Pineapple should only take up 10% or less of your dog’s diet. Any more than that can put your dog at risk for various health conditions that are caused by excess calories or sugar. When providing your dog with pineapple, be sure that there is no added sugar. Too much sugar in your dog’s diet can put them at risk for hypoglycemia, a very serious health condition.
There are many ways to feed your dog pineapple that are fun and creative. Frozen pineapple, yogurt with pineapple, dog smoothies, dried pineapple, and fresh pineapple are all great ways to incorporate this delicious fruit into their diet. In doing so, you will be offering them a delicious snack and obtaining some awesome health benefits.
Pineapple is an awesome fruit for your dog to enjoy. Be sure to give these various pineapple-based treats a try to see what your dog likes the best. In doing so, you will be letting them try some fun new foods and keeping their diet well-rounded.
