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Banana Nutrition Facts
Quantity: 1 Medium Banana
| Calories: | 105 |
| Potassium: | 422 mg |
| Carbohydrates: | 27 g |
| Dietary fiber: | 3.1 g |
| Sugar: | 14 g |
| Protein: | 1.3 g |
| Vitamin C: | 15.3mg |
| Iron: | 0.18mg |
| Vitamin B6: | 0.34mg |
| Magnesium: | 33.6mg |
Benefits of Bananas for Dogs
Bananas have a vast number of benefits. First, they are very soft and mild flavored, making them a perfect addition to dog food toppers, snacks for seniors, and wet food, and they can disguise canine medicine. But on top of their pleasing consistency, bananas offer many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
- Vitamin B6 –Supports normal metabolism, red blood cell production, and nervous system function.
- Vitamin C – Even though dogs make their own vitamin C, bananas still provide an additional dietary source of antioxidants.
- Pectin – Supports gastrointestinal health by helping regulate stool consistency.
- Potassium – Potassium works with sodium to maintain normal levels of fluid in cells and helps support healthy muscle and nerve function.
- Tryptophan – Tryptophan is responsible for maintaining body proteins, neurotransmitters, muscles, and enzymes.
Downfalls of Bananas for Dogs
If you feed your dog bananas too often, it can have its downfalls. Dogs need a consistent diet formulated to meet complete and balanced nutritional requirements, and species-appropriate healthy treats to provide variability.
Also, feeding your dogs too many bananas can displace more nutrient-dense calories in their daily diet. It can also make their sugar intake too high, causing weight gain and contributing to other later-in-life illnesses like obesity, which is a risk factor of diabetes. Of course, you probably won’t feed your dog portions remotely close to causing a problem.
Can Dogs Eat Banana Peels?
Dogs should eat peeled bananas. However, if your dog gets a hold of the peel, it’s non-toxic. Because of the choking hazard, it’s best to avoid serving the peel. Shih Tzus are tiny dogs that can quickly get a piece of it caught in their throats.
If you mince, mash, or puree the whole banana, it is much better than serving the tough husks of the fruit. However, banana peels can also cause gastrointestinal upset or obstruction due to their high fiber content, so they are best avoided.
Other Dog-Safe Fruits
Bananas aren’t the only dog-safe fruits. Your dog can eat all sorts of berry, tropical, and orchard favorites.
- Apple (no seeds)
- Banana
- Blueberries
- Watermelon
- Strawberry
- Pears (no seeds)
- Pineapple
- Mangoes
- Raspberries
- Cranberries
- Cucumbers
- Oranges (in small amounts due to acidity)
- Pumpkin
Potentially Dangerous Fruits
Below are a couple of fruits that are toxic or pose other risks to your canine friend.
- Avocado — contains persin, may cause gastrointestinal upset in dogs; the pit also poses a choking or obstruction risk.
- Grapes — contains tartaric acid and other unidentified compounds, which are poisonous to dogs.
- Cherries — pits, leaves, and stems contain cyanide.
- Tomatoes — green parts of tomatoes contain toxic solanine and tomatine while ripe red tomato flesh is generally safe in small amounts.
- Persimmons — the fruit is non-toxic, but seeds can cause digestive problems.
- Citrus — the fruit is perfectly safe, but the skins cause gastrointestinal upset.
Banana-Inspired Treats for Shih Tzus
Several pet food websites are offering excellent recipes containing bananas. Most of them only take a few ingredients and prove simple to make. Before making any homemade treats, contact your veterinarian to ensure they’re suitable for your dog.
Final Thoughts
So, now you know how beneficial bananas can be for your Shih Tzu. They have useful vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to boost your pup’s daily diet. Your Shih Tzu can eat the fruit, but we don’t recommend serving the skin due to potential choking hazards and possible digestive upset. Although several pet food websites have healthy banana recipes for dogs, we suggest showing any homemade dog food or treat recipes to your veterinarian before making them.
- See Also: Can Shih Tzus Eat Eggs? Are They Safe?
Featured Image Credit: watanabe, Pixabay
