The essentials
- Pineapple is a nutritious treat for dogs — Pineapple is filled with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and enzymes that help boost your dog’s immune system.
- Portion control is key — It’s important to feed your dog pineapple in small amounts. Too much pineapple can cause unwanted side effects, like an upset stomach and diarrhea, due to its high natural sugar and fiber content.
- Only feed your pup fresh pineapple — Cut the pineapple into bite-sized pieces before feeding to your pet, and remove the skin, seeds, and core. Never feed your dog canned pineapple or pineapple juice.
Is pineapple safe for dogs to eat?
Yes, a small amount of fresh, raw pineapple is safe for dogs. Before feeding your dog pineapple, make sure to remove the outer peel, core, and green crown. Then, cut it into small, bite-sized pieces, as large pieces are a choking hazard. Never feed your dog pineapple juice, canned pineapple, or any other forms. Many pineapple products made for human consumption contain added syrups and sugar, or even xylitol, a sweetener that’s toxic to dogs.
Nutrients found in this yellow fruit
Pineapple is a healthy treat that contains vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients. In moderation, these nutrients are beneficial to your dog’s immune system. Remember, if your dog is eating a well-balanced diet, they don’t need pineapple to get these nutrients; however, it wouldn’t hurt them to get a small boost.
- Vitamins. Pineapple is packed full of beneficial vitamins like vitamin C, vitamin B6, folate, and thiamin or vitamin B1.
- Minerals. Dogs need a variety of minerals to stay healthy and strong. Pineapple includes essential minerals that provide nutritional value to a dog’s diet, including manganese, copper, potassium, magnesium, iron, calcium, and zinc.
- Fiber. This tropical fruit has a high fiber content, which provides extra support to your dog’s digestive health when given in small amounts. Too much fiber can upset a dog’s stomach, so make sure to limit your pup’s intake of this tasty fruit.
- Enzymes. Supplemental enzymes give additional support to a dog’s immune system. Pineapple naturally contains a helpful enzyme for canines known as bromelain , which plays an important role in helping a dog’s body absorb proteins faster.
Potential hazards to watch for
While there are many benefits to feeding a pooch pineapple, there are a few details about this juicy fruit dog owners should consider.
- It’s high in fiber and sugar. Pineapple can cause an upset stomach in some dogs. It’s important only to feed your dog small amounts as an occasional treat to avoid upsetting your dog’s digestive tract. Our veterinarian, Dr. Michelle Diener, DVM said treats should account for 10% of your dog’s diet.
- It has a prickly outer peel, crown, and core. Make sure you remove the outer pineapple skin, green crown, and core to prevent obstructions. You’ll also want to keep an eye on your dog when you feed them pineapple for the first time to watch for any negative reactions.
How to prepare pineapple for your pup
When preparing a pineapple to feed to your dog, follow the same preparation method for humans, but with a few extra precautions.
- Remove the outer part of the pineapple, core, and green crown — These parts of the pineapple pose a choking risk to your dog. So, make sure to remove them before feeding pineapple to your pup.
- Cut the fleshy part of the fruit into small pieces — When cutting up pineapple for your dog, small, bite-sized pieces are best. Large chunks of pineapple are a choking hazard for your dog.
- Let your dog enjoy this tropical fruit — Store and eat small chunks of raw pineapple in the refrigerator for three to four days. You can also freeze extra pineapple to make it last longer.
👉 If your dog isn’t a huge fan of this tangy fruit, there are other safe and healthy human foods for them to enjoy.
Fun ways to feed this tropical treat
Pineapple can be given as a dog treat either blended, frozen, or fresh. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
- Add frozen pineapple to your dog’s water. Freeze pineapple cubes and place them in your dog’s water on a hot summer day. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, throw in a few cucumber slices for an extra refreshing drink.
- Blend pineapple in a dog-friendly fresh fruit smoothie. Mix up pieces of fresh pineapple with other dog-safe types of fruit, like bananas, cantaloupe, blueberries, and strawberries. Serve this flavorful treat in a bowl or freeze it in a Kong.
- Serve it fresh. Keep it simple and treat your dog to fresh-cut pineapple as a tasty afternoon treat or a reward for good behavior.
Be a smarter pet parent
Sign up for the best pet advice you can get
Frequently asked questions
What if my dog ate a piece of pineapple?
Don’t worry; pineapple is safe and nutritious for dogs to eat in moderation. Keep an eye out for signs of an upset stomach or diarrhea if your dog has never had pineapple before; otherwise, if your dog enjoyed this fruity new food, you can add it into their treat rotation on occasion.
Is pineapple juice OK for dogs?
No, it’s never a good idea to give your dog pineapple juice due to its high sugar content. Some pineapple juices include harmful added ingredients to dogs, like xylitol.
Is pineapple toxic to dogs?
Raw pineapple is safe to feed your canine in small amounts as long as you remove the skin, green crown, and central core of the pineapple. Make sure to cut the pineapple into small, bite-sized pieces, as large chunks are a choking hazard. Canned pineapple and pineapple juice are not safe to give your dog due to added sugars that could upset or harm your dog’s digestive system.
Does pineapple cause diarrhea in dogs?
Due to its high fiber content and a significant amount of natural sugar, large amounts of pineapple can cause trouble in a dog’s digestive system and lead to diarrhea.
Can pineapple cause vomiting in dogs?
Pineapple doesn’t usually cause vomiting in dogs. If your dog experiences vomiting after eating pineapple, call your vet for advice, and do not feed this fruit to your dog in the future.
