A customer of mine told me that pineapple stopped one of their dogs from eating the other's poop. I had not heard this before and was intrigued so I’ve researched and thought I’d share my findings with you.
1. First off it is completely safe for your dog to eat pineapple. But if you’ve never given your dog this fruit before, please do so in moderation. Not all breeds agree with it so start off with a few chunks to see if there are any bowel changes. If they have an upset stomach then it might be best to not feed your dog this food.
2. Fresh pineapple is much better than the tinned, dried or juice forms. This is due to the higher processed sugar content whereas the natural sugar content of fresh pineapple is healthier for your dog. This is another reason for giving pineapple in moderation. Too much sugar can lead to weight gain and diabetes.
3. Pineapple has a variety of nutrients. Its antioxidants help against cell decay. More nutrients in pineapple are; vitamin C, B6, zinc, phosphorus, calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium. Vitamin B6 helps regulate hormones and fluid balance. Safe to say that there are plenty of health benefits from this fruit for your dog.
4. Did you know that pineapple has an 87% water content this is a great way of keeping your dog hydrated! If your dog isn’t a huge fan of drinking from their water bowl then pineapple could be a sneaky way to increase their water intake.
5. Bromelain appears in pineapple too. Bromelain is an enzyme with proven anti-inflammatory properties which will ease the pressure on your dog’s digestive system by avoiding constipation. The fibre content in pineapple also helps too.
6. I never realised when you fed your dog pineapple can make a difference. Fruit and proteins are digested at different rates, so feeding fruit and daily food is advised separately. The canine stomach prioritises digesting their kibble over fruit which can lead to the pineapple ferment if not digested properly. The by-product of fermentation is alcohol. So, think of pineapple as your dog’s dessert. Give them time to absorb the nutrients from their main bulk of food then give them a sweet treat of fresh pineapple.
7. It may seem like common sense but make sure to remove the skin and core from the pineapple. These parts are hard to digest and can cause intestinal blockages and choking hazards. If you find you’ve got a vast amount of pineapple – you can freeze it. Cut it up into the size of your ice cube tray pop them in and store them in the freezer. You can then pop out a pineapple chunk as and when. Frozen pieces in the summer are also a good way of helping keep your dog cool.
8. Turns out that pineapple is a remedy for eating poop! The enzyme bromelain I mentioned earlier is the reason for this. It alters the poop’s smell once ingested leading it to become less appealing. Every day is a school day!
I’m pleased to have learnt new information on pineapple more than that it is tasty on pizza and gammon steak. Obviously, my blog isn’t going to start a mass change of everyone going out to buy pineapple for their dogs, so still be vigilant if your dog likes to have a poop snack on walks. But also know if you decide to introduce the fruit into your dog’s diet, their poop isn’t the one that’s going to be eaten!
Lydia
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