Have you ever wanted to give your German Shepherd bananas, but you're not sure if it is healthy for them? Or have you already tried to give a banana to your German Shepherd, but he doesn't want to eat it?
Is this because they’re not good for your dog, or he just doesn’t like bananas? The simple answer to this question is yes, your German Shepherd dog can eat bananas, but only in normal quantities.
There are so many benefits for a German Shepherd dog from eating bananas, and in this blog, we will try to talk about each benefit alone!
Health benefits of bananas for German Shepherd dog.
If you are still too concerned about whether your German Shepherd dog should eat bananas or not, don’t worry! They may not get all the nutritions benefits as we (Hoomans) do, but they are a great, motivating treat for your German Shepherd, and 100% safe!
According to the AKC (American Kennel Club), sometimes veterinarians recommend this fruit as a healthy alternative to fatty, salty treats. But like other fruits, bananas have a high level of sugar, and if your German Shepherd doesn't eat bananas in moderation, this can cause weight gain, which can lead to other health issues. If you want to avoid this negative effect and health issues, we recommend you use the 90/10 rule.
What is the 90/10 rule?
The 90/10 rule means: ninety percent of your German Shepherd dog’s daily calories should come from his dog food, and the other ten percent of calories should come from the dog treats.
Biotin.
So, what is Biotin? Also known as Vitamin H, biotin is a complex B vitamin essential for many of your dog's body functions. This vitamin is responsible for breaking down fat and carbs from food, and then, turning them into energy.
Fiber.
Bananas have high fiber content, and adding this vitamin to your German Shepherd’s diet is essential to improve your dog’s health. Some other good sources of fiber are beet pulp, pumpkin, ground flaxseed, kelp, lettuce, apples, carrots, green beans, brown rice, strawberries, and blueberries.
Magnesium.
Magnesium is a powerful mineral that promotes healthy bone growth, muscular growth, and even the emotional health of your German Shepherd dog. We all know that one of the biggest health problems for German Shepherds is hip dysplasia. If your dog gets enough of this mineral in his diet, it can help him to stay healthy and energized, even in his later years.
Potassium.
Potassium will keep the heart, nerves, and muscles of your German Shepherd dog healthy. This mineral is classified as an electrolyte and is the third most abundant mineral in the body!
Some of the greatest sources of this mineral are avocado, spinach, potatoes, beans, oranges, chicken, salmon, and broccoli.
If the level of potassium in the body of your German Shepherd dog is low, your dog can suffer from a serious condition called hypokalemia.
Vitamin B6.
Vitamin B6 plays a major role in making proteins, hormones, and neurotransmitters. Most companies claim that their food has a sufficient amount of vitamins for your dog, but we think that this is just marketing. There are bigger chances of getting enough vitamin B6 by eating the food you cook at home.
Some companies are “false advertisers”, some are not, and in this modern world, it’s hard to trust anyone. Before you buy food for your German Shepherd, we recommend you to read some reviews about the company from which you buy food.
Good sources of vitamin B6 are pork, some fish, peanuts, soya beans, milk, and oats. If you want to learn more about vitamin B6, you can check the Pets on Mom article.
Vitamin C.
This vitamin is one of the most important vitamins, especially on these “COVID-19” days. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that will boost the immune system of your German Shepherd dog. Besides that, vitamin C will improve the level of energy of your dog, and reduce potentially harmful free radicals
One of the greatest sources of this vitamin, besides bananas, are peppers, strawberries, blackcurrants, broccoli, potatoes, and brussels sprouts.
How to safely give bananas to your German Shepherd dog?
Now when we know that bananas are safe for your furry friend and healthy, let’s see how to properly feed your dog with bananas.
Don't give your German Shepherd dog bananas peel.
Even if the banana peel is not poisonous to our dog, we don’t recommend feeding your dog with peel. Banana peel contains too much fiber, and if your dog eats them, this can create quite an upset tummy for your dog.
If your German Shepherd eats the peel of a banana, this can cause blockages because the peel may not move through the digestive system.
Check for allergic reactions.
Although the chances are slim, there is a chance that your German Shepherd dog is allergic to bananas. We recommend you start with a small amount of this tropical fruit, and if you don’t see an allergic reaction, you can increase the amount.
Do you want to know how to notice allergic reactions in your dog? Then we suggest reading this article by Mayo Clinic.
Slice bananas into small pieces.
Do not give your German Shepherd dog a whole banana at once! We don’t want our dog to start choking. Divide bananas into small pieces, and smart with a small amount.
Feed moderately.
Most German Shepherd dogs love bananas, but giving them a huge amount at once can cause some serious problems. As we mentioned before in this blog post, bananas have a high level of sugar, and they should be an occasional treat.
So, what is the right amount for my German Shepherd dog? The adult German Shepherd can eat up to ½ of a banana a day, and puppies up to 2,3 pieces.
Home-made banana treats for your German Shepherd dog.
Making banana treats it’s not hard as you think. There are tons of online resources on how to make banana treats for your German Shepherd dog at home. We will leave one of the easiest ways to make a banana treat for your dog, and you decide which one is your favorite!
The easiest and most popular way is to just peel a banana and slice it up into small pieces. Don’t forget on the right daily amount! ½ of banana from adult German Shepherd dog, and 2,3 slices for puppies.
The second method that we recommend is a frozen banana treat One of our favorites is recipes for frozen bananas treats are from Linsay, and you can check her recipe by clicking HERE.
The most interesting way of making a treat for your German Shepherd is by using mashed bananas to fill dog toys and then freeze them. We are 100% that your furry friend will enjoy his tasty treat!
You can also check this amazing tutorial on how to make a tasty dog treat from bananas and carrots.
Conclusion.
There is no reason to not give bananas to your German Shepherd dog, of course, except he is allergic to them. Bananas are perfect dog treats with many health benefits, and most German Shepherds love bananas!
We hope that we helped you with our blog, and we encourage you to make some banana treats for your German Shepherd dog because they are delicious!