As we have seen with other fruits such as oranges or tangerines, dogs can eat many foods that make up our usual diet, since like humans, they also have an omnivorous diet.
In any case, it must be remembered that the base of your diet should be meat, and that among the fundamental nutrients protein and fat should stand out, so fruit and vegetables should be a complement, never the main ingredient. Let’s see the nutritional properties of banana in our dog’s diet, recommended amounts and benefits
Nutritional value of banana in the dog’s diet
Banana is a very healthy food in the diet, as it contains a series of important nutrients, among which are:
- Potassium : It is a mineral or electrolyte that the body needs to function normally. It is involved in muscle contraction, including that of the heart muscle. A diet rich in potassium helps counteract some of the harmful effects of sodium on blood pressure.
- Vitamin B6 : has an anti-inflammatory function and helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it regulates the functioning of erythrocytes. It is present in other foods such as fish or potatoes.
- Fiber : fiber consists of non-digestible carbohydrates. Although it hardly provides energy to the body, it helps to facilitate intestinal transit.
- Vitamin C : it is a water-soluble vitamin that, although it does not represent an essential nutrient in dogs (unlike in humans), helps to strengthen the immune system.
- Magnesium : this mineral is a fundamental micronutrient in the diet, since it acts in a multitude of biochemical reactions in our body.
- Antioxidants : are compounds present in plants that allow reducing oxidative stress in the body, related to cellular aging.
In addition, the banana is a great food to combat obesity and overweight, since 100 grams of this fruit contains on average slightly less than 100 kilocalories (a beef steak can contain up to 1000 kilocalories per 100 g). This means that we can use it as a reward for our pet, offering it alone or with some other food that he likes.
Does the banana have any disadvantage in the dog?
Bananas do not have any notable drawback for our furry friend, as long as they are offered in a not excessive quantity, and that it is not a main ingredient in his diet.
Although it seems obvious, that we must always offer peeled, since although the peel is not toxic, it can present varnishes or other chemical products that are applied to the fruits to make them more attractive and shiny for the consumer, which can be harmful to the health.
An excessive consumption of banana can cause mild harmful signs in our pet, mainly diarrhea and/or vomiting, in addition to nutritional alterations such as hyperkalemia, which can be especially harmful in dogs with kidney problems or diabetes, leading to symptoms such as weakness, disorientation or collapse.
On the other hand, due to its high carbohydrate content, in the event that our friend suffers from diabetes or some other metabolic disease, we must be careful with the amounts of banana that we offer so as not to aggravate this problem.
It is also important to note that, like people, dogs can suffer from allergies to certain types of food. To check and rule out these problems, the first time we give our friend a banana it is advisable to offer it in small quantities. In the event that he accepts it and eats it, it should be noted that he tolerates it well and that we do not observe any problem of food intolerance or allergy.
How to give a dog a banana?
Your dog may be used to eating banana and you are already aware of the benefits of this fruit in the diet, or you may have never offered it to him and you are not sure how to introduce this new food into his menu. In any case, below we are going to explain the basic guidelines to offer this fruit to your pet.
To begin with, you have to know that not all dogs like bananas. If your animal is very gluttonous, it may eat it without hesitation, or if it is more exquisite, it may smell it, even taste it, but then reject it and spit it out.
The maximum daily amount of banana recommended for our dog must be adapted to its size and weight. Therefore, if it is a large dog, we can offer it a whole banana, while if it is a small one, the ideal is that it should not exceed a few slices.
Regarding the form of presentation, there are different ways in which we can offer the banana to our pet:
- Pureed: we can introduce it into a “Kong” type toy so that the dog can entertain himself by licking it during the time we are working or away from home, which can help us reduce the level of separation anxiety in animals that suffer from this problem.
- Frozen: we can cut it into slices that we will put in the freezer and then give them as a meal or as a treat, especially on the hottest days of summer.
- In the form of a “snack”: we can give it as a reward alone or mixed with other foods that you like, such as peanut butter or yogurt.
In conclusion, the banana is a healthy food that we can offer to our pet, provided it is occasionally and in moderate quantities, and that it is not in any case a main ingredient in their diet.
