If you enjoy pineapple yourself you might wonder if it’s okay to share some with your dog.
But is pineapple safe for dogs to eat?
Yes! Your dog can eat pineapple. Not only does it make a yummy treat, but it’s actually good for your dog! Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients.
Benefits of Pineapple
Pineapples are rich in manganese, vitamin C, and choline. Pineapple also contains B Vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, and zinc.
Manganese is an essential mineral that your dog must get through the food he eats. Manganese is vital for normal growth, development & joint health, as well as many other bodily functions.
RELATED: Manganese For Dogs: Is Your Dog Getting Enough?
Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant. It helps with immune system function and is “crucial to preserving health and preventing disease in all mammals” (1).
Choline is an essential nutrient (similar to B Vitamins). It’s important for memory, muscle function, and many other bodily functions (2).
Pineapple’s Secret Weapon: Bromelain
Pineapple contains a secret weapon that supercharges its healthy impact. Bromelain is a proteolytic enzyme (an enzyme that breaks down protein). The stem of the pineapple contains the largest concentration of bromelain.
Bromelain may have therapeutic benefits for many conditions in humans, including:
- Bronchitis
- Sinusitis
- Surgical trauma
- Thrombophlebitis (Blood clot formation)
- Debridement of wounds
- Osteoarthritis
- Cardiovascular disorders (3)
Bromelain also appears to help anti-cancer activities in the body and promotes apoptotic cell death. Turning on apoptosis, the cell’s natural mechanism for death, is especially promising in cancer research. Cancer can shut off these mechanisms, allowing unhealthy (cancerous) cells to replicate. With the cancer rate in dogs over 10 at 50% or higher, clearly our canine companions need all the help they can get to limit this disease (3).
Bromelain for Digestive Support
If your pet is struggling with an upset stomach or diarrhea, you may want to look for a supplement with bromelain to make sure your dog gets an extra bromelain boost.
Animal studies show bromelain can help reduce diarrhea and the amount of E. coli bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract (4,5).
Another study found bromelain could be a useful Irritable Bowel Disease treatment. Supplementation with the extract seemed to help reduce intestinal inflammation (6).
Toxicity
Bromelain toxicity is not a concern. One study found that even when dosing dogs with 750 mg/kg of bromelain for 6 months, it showed no toxic effects (7).
Does Pineapple Stop Dogs Eating Poop?
If your dog eats poop, people may suggest giving him pineapple to stop the poop eating. Supposedly it makes poop smell or taste bad to your dog. It can’t hurt, but there’s no proof this works.
RELATED: Why dogs eat poop and how to stop it …
How to Feed Pineapple
The best ways to feed pineapple are fresh or frozen. To feed fresh, prepare the pineapple as you would for yourself, removing the crown and outer skin and cutting around the hard inner core. Then, cut the flesh into bite-sized chunks and feed a few to your dog!
Frozen pineapple chunks are an easy way to incorporate pineapple into your dog’s diet. It’s best to thaw the frozen pieces slightly to soften them and help reduce the risk of choking. You could also consider blending them into a healthy meal topper smoothie for your pup (turmeric and ginger are good additions).
Pineapple holds spot number 3 on the Environmental Working Group’s Clean 15 2022 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce™ List (8). So if you can’t buy organic, regular pineapple should be okay.
How Much Pineapple Can I Give My Dog?
Feed pineapple in moderation because of its high sugar content (9.85 g per 100g serving). If your dog is diabetic, check with your holistic vet before feeding fruit.
The general recommendation for treats is to ensure they make up less than 10% of the daily food intake. This will mean a few bite-sized chunks of pineapple per day for most dogs. Always go slow when introducing new foods to your pup’s diet.
Can Dogs Eat Dried Pineapple?
Dried pineapple and canned pineapple are not ideal for your dog because they contain too much sugar. The drying process concentrates the natural sugar in the fruit. This will significantly increase the amount of sugar per serving. Canned pineapple can contain added sugars, preservatives and flavoring, which are not safe for your dog.
A Word of Caution About Pineapple Scraps
Do not give your dog the crown, outer skin, or core of the pineapple. These are much tougher than the inner flesh and could damage your dog’s mouth or cause bowel obstructions.
Looking this up because your dog got into your pineapple scraps recently? Check out this article: How to tell if your dog has a bowel obstruction.
Conclusion: Is Pineapple Safe For Dogs?
Yes! Not only is it safe for dogs, but raw or frozen pineapple is also a healthy option to include in your dog’s diet. You’ll want to avoid feeding too much because of the high sugar content. Avoid canned pineapple and dried pineapple.
Consider a supplement with bromelain (an enzyme extracted from pineapple) to help your dog digest and absorb nutrients.
References:
- Hishiyama N, et al. Plasma concentration of vitamin C in dogs with a portosystemic shunt. Vet World. 2006 Oct; 70(4): 305–307.
- Burri L, Heggen K, Storsve AB. Phosphatidylcholine from krill increases plasma choline and its metabolites in dogs. Vet World. 2019 May;12(5):671-676.
- Pavan R, Jain S, Shraddha, Kumar A. Properties and therapeutic application of bromelain: A review Biotechnol Res Int. 2012;2012:976203
- Mynott TL, Guandalini S, Raimondi F, Fasano A. Bromelain prevents secretion caused by Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli enterotoxins in rabbit ileum in vitro. Gastroenterology. 1997 Jul;113(1):175-84
- Chandler DS, Mynott TL. Bromelain protects piglets from diarrhoea caused by oral challenge with K88 positive enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. PubMed. 1998 Aug;43(2):196-202
- Feng P, et al. Inhibition of Epithelial TNF-α Receptors by Purified Fruit Bromelain Ameliorates Intestinal Inflammation and Barrier Dysfunction in Colitis. Frontiers. 2017 Nov 10.
- Taussig SJ, Yokoyama MM, Chinen A. Bromelain: a proteolytic enzyme and its clinical application: a review. Hiroshima Journal of Medical Sciences. 1975;24(2-3):185–193.
- Group, Environmental Working. Clean Fifteen™ Conventional Produce with the Least Pesticides. EWG’s 2022 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce | Clean Fifteen, 2022.
