Dog owners who want to add variety to their pets' diets often wonder what fruits dogs can (and are allowed to!) eat. Not all vegetables, fruits, and treats from the human table are safe for these animals!
However, there is no denying that fruits contain many valuable nutrients and can be a tasty snack for your dog between meals. One fruit that most pets love is the banana.
Can dogs eat bananas? What nutritional values, vitamins and minerals do bananas contain? Will they be a valuable treat for your pet?
What nutritional value does banana contain
Banana is not only a tasty fruit, but also an extremely healthy one. It contains valuable vitamins A, C, E, K and B vitamins, as well as minerals, especially potassium and magnesium. Bananas also contain biotin, which has a positive effect on skin health, and fiber, which improves intestinal peristalsis.
These fruits are rich in carbohydrates (they contain up to 23% sugar), which determines their high calorie content. 100 g of bananas contain about 100 kcal. They also have a high glycemic index, which people with diabetes should remember. But can dogs eat bananas, because this fruit is so high in calories?
Can a dog eat a banana
Most pets love the sweet taste of bananas and their soft texture. Fortunately, this fruit does not contain any harmful substances for your dog.
With their high mineral and vitamin content, bananas for dogs can be a tasty, valuable snack or treat during training. When giving your dog a banana, be sure to remove the peel. The peel is not only bitter in taste, but is also extremely difficult to digest, so it can cause serious digestive problems for your pet.
What should you watch out for? Bananas in large quantities
In fact, a banana can be a tasty snack for your dog every now and then. However, too much of this fruit can cause your pet to become overweight or develop health problems.
Eating bananas in large quantities will cause stomach upset (diarrhea or constipation depending on the dog) due to the high fiber and sugar content.
This fruit should especially be avoided by pets with heart disease, as the high potassium content can cause heart problems in your dog.
Therefore, if your pet has eaten a large amount of banana, you should closely monitor its behavior and take it to the vet if digestive problems or other alarming symptoms occur.
Banana in a puppy's diet
Banana is a fruit that can also be given to a puppy. It is important to remember that growing dogs need a balanced diet that provides them with all the essential nutrients in the right proportions.
Feeding your puppy bananas and other treats too often can disrupt the balance of micro- and macroelements in your pet's food and lead to various health problems.
Calorie-rich bananas, given to a puppy in excess, can lead to dangerous obesity, as well as cause digestive disorders. Therefore, if we want to treat a puppy with this fruit, we should be careful and observe moderation.
