Whether it’s your dog, a friend’s, or some stranger’s dog that you encounter while walking, there’s always that urge to pet them. This is because dogs are so easy to love, and you just want to reciprocate the affection and excitement they pour out into the world. This is why adopting a dog into your family is such a rewarding decision to make. They’re a loyal, lovable, and fun companion that truly add more excitement to your life.
Dogs depend on their owners to take care of them. Knowing this, you’d definitely want to give them the love and care they deserve. And, as you know, many dos and don’ts come with taking care of a dog. This can add a bit of pressure or confusion to becoming a fur parent. But, once you get most of the basics down, it’s actually pretty easy.
Food options for your dog are one of the most important aspects to consider. You wouldn’t want to feed your dog with food that’s toxic to them! That’s right—some of the food you like to munch on can’t be eaten by dogs. On the other hand, some are incredibly nutritious for them. So, it’s essential to take a mental note of what you should and shouldn’t feed your dog. Or, better yet, you should write them down and stick them on your fridge for everyone in your household to see.
One fantastic food that your dog can have is actually a fruit. And, if you haven’t already guessed from the title of this article, it’s a pineapple! Who would’ve thought that this spiky and odd-looking fruit would be a fantastic and nutritious snack for your fur baby?
Experts have verified certain fruits, like pineapples, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, apricots, peaches, watermelons, and apples, to be safe for dogs. However, you’ll need to mind the serving size to ensure you’re feeding them a healthy amount. They explain that pineapples are exceptionally healthy due to their various benefits.
Here are the multiple reasons why pineapples are a fantastic snack for your dog:
- Help Hydrate Your Dog
Just like people, dogs need to stay hydrated to be healthy. They can stay hydrated by drinking enough water or by eating juicy and refreshing snacks, like pineapples. This is because pineapples consist of 85% water, and they’re also sweet, making them more delicious for dogs. With that said, it’s, still, essential to give your dog water and not just rely on fruits with high water content to keep them hydrated.
- Chock-Full Of Vitamin C
Pineapples are known to be high in vitamin C, and many people love to eat them or drink their juice due to this benefit. Dogs don’t actually need vitamin C because they can produce it themselves. However, it’s said to help with bladder infections and hip dysplasia. Furthermore, some dogs can be deficient in vitamin C, and feeding them pineapples will be very helpful in that regard!
- Rich In Vitamin B6
Dogs can also get Vitamin B6 from pineapples. This is a vital nutrient that’s responsible for hormone regulation, immune response, glucose generation, nervous system function, red blood cell function, niacin synthesis, and gene activation.
- Good Source Of Antioxidants
Moreover, pineapples are also a great source of antioxidants, which are great for dogs and people alike. This is because dogs also produce free radicals, which can be damaging to cells, especially if there’s too much of them in their bodies.
When they have too many free radicals in their bodies, they can experience skin allergies, arthritis, joint problems, immunodeficiencies, auto-immune disorders, eye problems, respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart disease. No owner wants their dog to develop any of these conditions, so ensuring they got enough antioxidants is necessary.
- Help With Inflammation And Skin Issues
If your dog is experiencing skin issues, allergies, and inflammation, allowing them to eat pineapples could make a difference. This is because they contain an enzyme called bromelain, which is a natural and incredibly effective anti-inflammatory agent. But, bromelain isn’t only for your dog’s skin as it also helps them digest proteins better.
- Contain Manganese
Another enzyme that pineapple can provide is manganese. It can energize your dogs, help with their metabolism, make fatty acids, as well as maintain bone and joint health. All in all, manganese can keep dogs stay active and playful.
- Rich In Vitamin B1 Or Thiamine
Pineapples have no shortage when it comes to B vitamins since they’re also full of thiamine or Vitamin B1. This is essential for dogs to be healthy because it helps with their metabolism and ensures proper organ function. Obviously, energy is required for the brain and other organs to work correctly, so having enough Vitamin B1 in their system would help keep their organs working.
- Have Folates
Both people and dogs need folates because these help with red blood cell production, metabolism, and DNA synthesis. Dogs can get folic acid from supplements; however, there are differences in how these are regulated in various countries. However, you can always just feed your dog a healthy amount of pineapples instead. They’re a natural source of folates, and you won’t need to worry about feeding your dog pills, especially if they hate them!
- Can Stop Your Dogs From Eating their Poop
Some dogs have the nasty habit of eating their own poop, which is also known as coprophagy. Feeding them pineapples is a fantastic method to train them against this habit. This is because eating pineapples makes them dislike the taste of their own poop!
Conclusion
All in all, pineapples are healthy for people and dogs, so you can both snack on a healthy amount together! You can even use them as treats when training dogs. Remember to prepare the pineapples well and never feed them the core or the skin. It would be best if you also slice them into chunks, so they’d be easier for your fur baby to consume.
As a final note, the main diet of your dog should come from meat or fish. Make sure that dogs should have pineapples as snacks and never spoil their appetite before a meal.