Has your canine ever tried pineapple? Although pet parents are optimistic that their companions will adore the taste of this tropical fruit, the majority aren’t convinced it’s a dog-safe food. Well, it’s time to solve the dilemma once and for all.
This South-American plant can be consumed by dogs moderately because of the amount of sugar it contains. Otherwise, it’s packed with an array of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Many canine owners still wonder can dogs eat pineapple without experiencing any adverse effects.
Let’s find out.
Benefits
Even though many pet owners hesitate to feed pineapple to their canines, this tropical fruit is considered safe and healthy in moderate quantities. Since pineapple is comprised mostly of water, it’s a great treat for providing hydration and refreshment. Nevertheless, this tropical plant offers much more to consumers than a low number of calories.
Raw pineapple is plentiful in antioxidants, whose role is to minimize the damage done by free radicals. The production of free radicals in the bodies of canines results in oxidative protein damage, which triggers neural dysfunction. Fortunately, antioxidants are beneficial in impeding oxidative damage, hence reducing the risk of Canine Cognitive Dysfunction (CCD), otherwise known as dog dementia.
Apart from antioxidants, pineapple is abundant in vitamin B6 and vitamin C. The former is known to improve brain activity in dogs, whereas the latter provides their immune system with a boost. Vitamin C is also prominent for its anti-inflammatory properties, which help reduce the swelling in your dog’s wound. One supplement that has the same properties is CBD oil, learn more details on healthcanal.com. This sweet-tasting fruit also contains a myriad of minerals such as copper, potassium, iron, manganese, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus, and calcium.
Given the amount of vitamins and minerals pineapple contains, it meets the largest part of the daily vitamin requirements of canines. It also contains a popular enzyme known under the name bromelain. This enzyme does wonders in the treatment of various medical conditions in dogs, such as osteoarthritis, sinusitis, and allergies. Bromelain is also touted for boosting cardiovascular health and stimulating digestion. Read here about the numerous health effects of bromelain.
Another interesting benefit related to the consumption of bromelain in canines is the ability to prevent dogs from eating their excrement. A large number of canines cope with coprophagia, referring to the habit of eating stool. Pineapple, however, is thought to discourage dogs from eating excrements when introduced to their diet. Nevertheless, this weird stool-eating habit is best eliminated with the help of behavioral training.
Are there any health concerns?
In spite of the significant number of health benefits, this tropical fruit should be administered to dogs in small amounts. Similar to the other types of fruits, it contains plenty of sugar and fiber, which aren’t exactly beneficial for the digestive system of these animals. The larger the amounts of sugar canines consume, the higher the risk of experiencing digestive problems.
Pet parents are supposed to monitor their dogs when feeding them pineapple for the very first time. It’s possible for canines to show symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, upset stomach, etc. If these symptoms appear shortly after your companion tries a tiny amount of this fruit, make sure not to feed him/her such a snack once again. Generally, these symptoms appear when canines eat this snack in large quantities.
What parts are safe for canines to eat?
Just like humans, canines are only supposed to consume the inner flesh of this sugary-tasting fruit, as the other parts aren’t safe for consumption. For instance, the skin in the form of spikes along with the leaves shouldn’t be eaten by your companion. In the event of consuming these parts, your dog might vomit or experience diarrhea. Nevertheless, the consequences can be much graver, such as gastrointestinal obstruction. The following link, https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/digestive/c_multi_gastrointestinal_obstruction, explains the symptoms, types, and causes of gastrointestinal obstruction.
What about canned pineapple?
Canned pineapple isn’t recommended to canines because of the higher levels of sugar when compared to the raw variant. Dried fruits are infamous for the high concentration of sugar, which results from the removal of water. When fruits are deprived of water, they lose their flashiness and increase in sugar amount.
Final word
This sweet treat should be administered moderately to prevent side effects.
Be careful when giving some to your dog!
