Many people think that canned pineapple is just like fresh pineapple, but it’s not. Canned pineapple is a much different fruit than fresh pineapple. These sugary chunks are typically chopped and canned in syrup. Fresh pineapple (which has been harvested, peeled, and then frozen) is not as sweet as canned pineapple because it uses fewer sugar-sweeteners while retaining its natural sweetness.

Canned pineapple is a popular snack for humans. The United States produces over one million tons of canned pineapple each year, making it the second most popular canned fruit after peaches. And while they don’t possess much of a health risk to humans, it’s an entirely different case for dogs.

Read on to find out whether canned pineapple is good for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Canned Pineapple?

The answer is No. They can’t. Canned pineapple contains a substance called bromelain, which is made up of the dead parts of pineapples that provide flavor. Unfortunately for our canine friends, bromelain can be quite toxic. Bromelain can damage their stomachs and intestines by breaking down food too quickly and also cause inflammation in their bowels.

Another very important thing to remember is that canned fruit is processed before it gets to us. This means that there can be a small amount of chemical substances used in order to process it. Canned pineapples often have preservatives like nitrites that can get into your dog’s bloodstream and cause life-threatening health problems.

Before we move on to the effects of canned pineapples on dogs, let’s look at how canned pineapples are made and just how different they are from fresh pineapples.

How Is Canned Pineapple Prepared?

Canned pineapple is a fruit that has been preserved with high-pressure canning. This process kills most of the microorganisms on the surface of the fruit, which prevents food spoilage. The fruit is then submerged in water or packed in brine, where it comes to rest for an extended period of time at a specified temperature before it is removed from preservatives and sold as an edible product.

In preparing canned pineapple, firstly, the fruits are washed thoroughly to clean any dirt off its surface. The next step is to remove the skin using a sharp knife so that the flesh inside could be visible. The fruit is then wrapped in a layer of gauze to avoid injury as the canning process is started. Next, the fruit is put into the pot which has been filled with boiling water so as to ensure uniform distribution throughout it. After this, the canning process begins.

In order to be sterilized fully, cans used for canning should have an absolute pressure of 15-16 pounds per square inch for fifteen minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees Fahrenheit in a boiling water bath and then cooled down. Then, they should be inspected before they are inserted into jars which will be filled with pineapple pieces that will have been cut to size and packed in brine until that jar has completely sealed itself by partially pressing on top. This can be done by a weighted object such as a canned food jar filled with sand. The jar should be set in a place where the seal can form but not in direct sunlight.

You might also be interested in Can Dogs Eat Dried Pineapple?

What Happens When Your Dog Eats Canned Pineapple?

If you have ever had fresh pineapple, you know how tasty it can be. You would never think that it could be problematic for dogs to eat. However, this is not the case because all varieties of pineapple, fresh and canned, contain a toxin called bromelain. Bromelain is a type of protein-digesting enzyme that helps break down proteins in the human body. While this may be beneficial to us humans because of our use of protein in our diets, it is quite harmful to dogs. Dogs do not have a high protein diet so they do not need these kinds of enzymes in their systems.

In fact, if you have ever wondered why a raw food diet works so well for dogs, bromelain is one of the reasons. Because of the presence of protein-digesting enzymes in uncooked food, dogs are able to digest large quantities of raw meat and still excrete excess protein without having it build up in their bodies.

Unfortunately, if dogs ingest canned pineapple, they can suffer from any number of problems. The most common symptoms are a potentially fatal condition called acute hepatic necrosis as well as vomiting and diarrhea. If these symptoms occur, you should take your dog to the vet immediately for treatment or it could end unsavory.

The texture of canned pineapples can also be a little awkward for dogs. In addition to being too soft for a dog to chomp on, canned pineapple has a very strong flavor, which many dogs simply do not enjoy. In fact, canned pineapples have become so unpopular that pet shops often have them in an “adult-only-food” section.

Also, check out Can Dogs Eat Pineapple Core?

The real question is, “Can dogs eat fresh pineapple?” There’s a big difference between fresh pineapple and canned pineapple. When you buy canned fruit you are essentially buying the liquid and the flavor. You are drinking the juice and eating the flavor, but not the actual fruit itself. Many dogs can eat fresh pineapple (the real stuff) without any problems. Find out all about it in our article Can dogs eat pineapple?

Fresh fruit such as apples or bananas is a great alternative to canned fruit products.

Conclusion

Pineapple is not a dangerous fruit to dogs. However, one should still take caution when allowing their pet to eat canned pineapple. Canned pineapple can cause an upset stomach or vomit if ingested by canines. The excessive amounts of sugar present in these syrupy chunks can also cause result in obesity and diabetes in the long run. It’s best to avoid feeding your pup any fruit that has been processed.

Now that you know how canned pineapple is toxic for dogs, find out more about other pineapple-related dog articles that you might be interested in.

Have you ever given canned pineapple to dogs? What was their reaction? Did they have an upset stomach? We would love to hear from you. Please share with us by leaving a comment below!