Are you wondering if you should give your German Shepherd a banana to eat or not? Is it safe and healthy for their digestive system? Are there any benefits? No need to worry. We got you covered!
Well, the correct answer is YES! Definitely, your dog can eat a banana if it wants and there are no known medical consequences if this diet is regulated properly. In fact, it can be pretty beneficial with its rich nutrient content.
Let us explore how and why eating a banana is suitable for your German Shepherd.
Nutrition Values of Banana
Without getting into a detailed nutritional profile of a banana, we can say that the three or four nutrients that can be found in bananas in a reasonably high amount are sugar, potassium, vitamins, and fibers. The calories in bananas are in moderate amounts.
Benefits of Eating a Banana For Your German Shepherd
All the nutrients mentioned above are essential for the normal and healthy functioning of your German Shepherd. In bananas, their natural combination is very optimum. Even though dogs are primarily carnivorous, you can give them bananas every once in a while.
A good Treat
Offering your German Shepherd a banana can be a perfect way of giving a treat. If your dog got a sweet tooth, they are gonna love bananas, which will reinforce the behavior you want them to learn or make them a little happy.
Bananas are Better Alternatives.
Even though bananas are rich in sugar, their moderate amount is still better or even healthier than most processed sugar or salty treats out there. So if you are worried about the harm of these processed treats on the health of your German Shepard, go for the banana, a natural alternative.
Biological Regulation
Bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals like potassium and magnesium, which are essential for regulating many biological processes like neural development and the circulatory system, especially for the heart and red blood cells. They also regulate your German Shepherd’s hormones, which are crucial for growth and development.
Digestive System Back on Track
If your German Shepherd has a digestive tract problem like diarrhea, bananas can give them relief as they contain a fair amount of fiber. Giving your dog bananas along with some mashed potatoes is a good option. In any way, it is always better to consult your vet if things don’t improve. Note that this only works for adult german shepherds; only puppies must be treated differently when they have digestive tract problems.
Another health benefit of bananas is that they detoxify due to the presence of vitamin B6 in the dog from harmful free radicles. As a result, the risk of disease reduces as well as inflammation.
Amount Regulation
German Shepherds are naturally carnivorous. Even though they can eat fruits and a noncarnivorous diet every once in a while, their primary source of nutrition shouldn’t be fruits. You can give them a banana to eat, but it should not be their primary diet. One banana is enough for an adult german shepherd as a daily dose. Bananas should not be taken as a substitute for the standard diet of the german Shepherd. Another reason for limiting the amount is higher levels of sugar in bananas which is not suitable.
Your german Shepherd must have 90% of nutrition and food from a standard carnivorous diet. All the benefits mentioned above can only be achieved if vegetables and fruits are just 10 % of the diet. Exceeding the amount from that can put the german shepherds at health risk.
Can german shepherd puppies eat banana?
Yes, German shepherd puppies can eat bananas, but with extra care. obviously, the amount must be controlled. 2-3 slices of banana are more than enough for puppies.
In some cases, german shepherd puppies can face stomach upsets if given bananas too frequently. Do check out your vet if that happens.
Bananas are only beneficial for puppies if given in moderate amounts. Otherwise, they can have a negative impact on growth as well as digestion.
Do They Really like Bananas?
Generally, German Shepherds do like to have bananas as a dessert or a treat. Partially it depends upon your dog, so you must know what works with your pet.
There are various ways to make bananas more appealing to dogs. You can add a few slices of bananas to regular dog food. This will optimize the taste as well as balance nutrition.
You can give your german shepherd banana with chocolate or dipped into peanut butter. This will make them excited and happy.
Mixing fruit salad is another good option.
Things to consider before feeding you GSD bananas
Here are some essential guidelines that you must consider before making it a routine to give your german Shepherd a banana
- Do not give them bananas with the peal. It is challenging to digest the peal because it is rich in fibers.
- Do not reduce the amount of regular diet just because you are giving your dog a banana.
- German shepherds can eat bananas, but they are not evolved to eat them, do not stress if they ardent seem to like it.
- Do not give your dog more than one banana a day and more than a few slices to your puppies.
- Some german shepherds can develop allergies to some food, be aware of this possibility regarding bananas.
- Dogs with kidney problems and diabetes should not be given banana treats.
When to Ask your vet
This article is written from a general point of view, do not take this as medical advice, do discuss the matter with your vet as well, just in case your dog has some allergies or any conditions you should be aware of. It might be possible that your vet has a different opinion and diet plan for your german Shepherd. If everything is normal, like in most cases, you can treat your dog usually b following the advice given in the article.
The most important take away just don’t overthink!
FAQs
How can you tell if your German Shepherd has too many bananas?
There are a few symptoms you should keep an eye on. The most common one is a disturbance in the digestive tract. Your dog might face constipation as a result of too much fiber intake. You can also examine the feces of your dog. The significant difference in color and Appearance is a good indicator.
Why do dogs develop allergies?
Most of the time, the reason for allergies is hereditary or genetic.
It can also be triggered due to some epigenetic factors like environmental stressors, lousy hygiene, or the diet they weren’t supposed to eat. If your German Shepherd has recently recovered from some chronic disease, chances are there that it might develop an allergy.
Dogs are vulnerable to allergies throughout their life span.
