Is pineapple safe for dogs?

The skin is rough and spiny, the crown leaves are stiff, and the fibrous central core is hard to chew and digest. All three should go in the bin. The soft yellow flesh, cut into 2 cm (under 1 in) cubes, is the only part to offer.

Pineapple has around 50 calories per 100 g. A medium dog can have three or four chunks as an occasional treat.

You may read that pineapple stops dogs from eating their own poop. The idea is that it makes the stool taste unpleasant, but there is no reliable research to support it. If stool eating is a problem, look at supervision, clean-up routines and a vet check to rule out dietary or health causes.

Frozen pineapple chunks last longer in the mouth and suit dogs who gulp. For a 5 kg (11 lb) dog, one small frozen chunk is plenty for the day.

Pineapple canned in juice is better than syrup, but still sweeter than fresh. Dried pineapple is sugar-dense and often sweetened. Pineapple juice is concentrated sugar and acid. Fresh or frozen plain chunks are the way to go.

Pineapple is more acidic than most fruits, and dogs with a history of vomiting or reflux sometimes react to it. If your dog is new to pineapple, start with a single small cube and wait 24 hours. Soft stools, lip licking or gulping after eating suggest it does not agree with your dog, so drop it from the list.