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Can Bulldogs Eat Bananas? [Feeding Guide]

Can Bulldogs Eat Bananas? [Feeding Guide]

Giving your bulldog treats now and then can really improve the bonding time especially when these treats are offered during training or when hanging out. But not knowing which treats are good for your dog can cause health issues. Below is research I did on bananas as a treat.

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Can bulldogs eat bananas? Bulldogs can eat and enjoy bananas in moderation. Feeding bananas to bulldogs will provide them with potassium, fiber, magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and vitamin E that promotes bulldogs’ growth and development. However, due to high sugar levels in bananas, overfeeding may cause health issues.

Most fruits should only serve as dog treats, and dog treat rule states that treats should only be about 10% of your dog’s total daily calorie intake.

Banana in Bulldogs Treat Diet

As always you should make sure you consult your vet before starting your bulldog on bananas. Your vet will advice on the way forward depending on your dogs health history.

Your vet will also advice you on how much bananas you can feed your bulldog.

Nutritional value of bananas

The table below shows the dog’s crucial nutrients found in 100 grams of a ripe banana.

Benefits of feeding Bananas to Bulldog

Magnesium

Bananas are a great source of magnesium, 100 grams of bananas will provide 25 milligrams of magnesium. Based on this source a dog needs about 150 milligrams of magnesium daily.

Therefore bananas can serve as a good partial source of magnesium for your dog.

Importance of magnesium to bulldogs includes

  • Improving and maintaining the nerve- cells membrane stability,
  • Promote enzyme functions
  • Promotes secretion of hormones and function
  • Muscle contraction

Lack of enough magnesium in your bulldogs body can be life threatening. Below are signs to watch out for in your bulldog so as to tell whether they are suffering from magnesium deficiency.

  • Weight loss
  • irritability, and convulsions most common in puppies
  • hyperextension of carpal joints and hind-leg paralysis later in life

Potassium

Bananas are packed with potassium, more ubundant than any other mineral. Like many other dog breeds bulldogs also need potassium for growth and development and for their day to day health.

The importance of potassium to bulldogs include

  • Creattes an acide base balance
  • Promotes enzymatic reaction
  • Promotes nerve impulse transmission
  • Promotes kidney processes

Just like magnesium potassium deficiency can also lead to some adverse heath effects. These includes

  • paralysis of neck muscles and rear legs and general weakness later in life
  • Poor growth in puppies

Potassium is very crucial especially for dogs that are being trained as it enhances brain activity, therefore making sure they are having enough potassium will help them retain and remember what they are being taught.

Phosphorus

Another mineral found in bananas which is important to bulldogs is phosphorus. Here is a list of benefits of feeding phosphorus to bulldogs.

  • Promotes skeletal structure
  • Promotes RNA and DNA structure
  • Enhances metabolism and locomotion
  • Promotes acid-base balance

Signs for deficiencies of potassium in bulldogs, bulldogs with low phosphorus levels may suffer from

  • Weight loss
  • loss of appetite
  • bowing and swelling of forelimbs for puppies

Vitamin C

Bananas are also loaded with vitamins that are beneficial to dogs, one such vitamin is vitamin C.

Given that naturally vitamin C is an antioxidant, Vitamin C will help prevent the effect of free radiclas by reversing or protecting the effects of free radicals such as cognitive aging or inflammation.

Vitamin C can also help in boosting immune system by helping the function of white blood cells.

While most dogs can synthesize vitamin C through their livers, offering it through their food does no harm.

B Vitamin

B vitamins generally involve a group of vitamins that include niacin, biotin, folate, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-6, thiamine /Vitamin B1, vitamin B-12 and riboflavin.

Fortunately enough bananas are also rich in B vitamins especially vitamin B6.

Thiamine one of the B vitamin found in bananas helps in regulating carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Thiamine also aids in the activation of ion channels in neural tissues.

Riboflavin, niacin and B12 are crucial towards the facilitation of the enzymatic functions.

Vitamin B6 on the other hand promotes, generation of glucose, functioning of the nervous system and red blood cells, hormona regulation, activation of genes, immune response, and synethesisi of niacin.

Another component of Bvitamins found in bananas is pantothenic acid, it helps with the metaboism of energy. While lastly, folic acid fuels the metabolism of nucleotide and and amino acids plus mitochondrial protein synthesis..

Deficiencies in vitamin B1 can lead to the following effects

  • Stunted growth,
  • loss of weight
  • neurological abnormalities in puppies;
  • damage to the nervous system and to the heart in adult dogs

While deficiencies inn riboflavin will lead to

  • Anorexia;
  • loss of weight ;
  • muscular weakness;
  • flaking dermatitis;
  • eye lesion

Deficiency in vitamin B6 will lead to

  • Anorexia and weight loss in puppies;
  • convulsions,
  • muscle twitching,
  • anemia in adult dogs

Deficiency in Niacin will lead to

  • Anorexia;
  • weight loss;
  • inflammation of the lips, cheeks, and throat;
  • profuse salivation; bloody diarrhea

Deficiency in Vitamin B12 will lead to

  • Appetite loss;
  • lack of white blood cells; anemia;
  • bone marrow changes

Lastly deficiency in Pantothenic acid will lead to

  • Erratic food intake;
  • sudden prostration or coma;
  • rapid respiratory and heart rates;
  • convulsions;
  • gastrointestinal symptoms;
  • reduced antibody production

Vitamin E

Vitamin E acts as your bulldogs defense against damage caused by oxidation. Vitami E also aids in the metabolism of fats and other cell function. A diet with vitamin E will also ensure your Bulldog has a healthy and shiny coats.

Lack of enough vitamin E in your bulldog’s diet can lead to renal degeneration and Degeneration of skeletal muscle, and reproductive failure.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K is very important especially if your dog is prone to get hurt. This vitamin helps in activating your bulldog’s blood clotting.

Fiber

Apart from vitamins and minerals bulldogs can also get fiber from bananas. If you are struggling to make your dog lose weight offering them food rich n fiber can really help with losing that excess weight.

Fiber is also important in the maintenance of your bulldog’s gastrointestinal health. Diets high in fiber may also help with mthe management of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).

However, too much fiber in your dogs diet can easily lead to some digestibility problems which can impact the digestion of some nutrients.

Effects of feeding dogs with too much fiber include reduced
palatability of the dog food, frequent defecation, and loose stools.

How Often Should You Feed Your Bulldog Bananas?

Bananas like many other fruits should be treated as a treat to your bulldogs’ diet. There are tons of other bulldog treats available such as plantains that are closely related to bananas.

Therefore you shoud only offer banan treat once in a while like twice a week, or even better consult your vet on how many times a week or month you should feed bananas to your bulldog.

Some people recommend about half a banana to an adult bulldog, to just a few slices to a puppy.

However, you should keep in mind that not all bulldogs will love having a banana, therefore try finding out if your bulldog loves bananas.

CAUTION

Bananas are high in sugar and if overfed or fed too often like on a daily basis, they can lead to weight gain and high blood sugar which can be dangerous to your bulldog especially if they do not exercise that much. Additionally, too much banana can also cause stomach upset.

Can Bulldogs Eat Banana Peels?

Unfortunately, bulldogs cannot eat banana peels. While banana peels are not toxic to bulldogs, they are not easy to digest and may cause impaction in bulldogs.

How to Feed Bananas to Bulldogs

There are several ways to feed banana to your bulldog as outlined below

Kong toys

Kong toys are crucial when feeding your bulldog any treat, especially when you are dog training. Stuff kong toys with a banana and give it to your bulldog as a reward when training.

Banana chips

Banana chips are another great way of feeding your bulldog bananas, just do not overdo it especially if your bulldog gets to clingy.

Sliced Banana

If you are in a hurry, just slice half a banana into small sizes and give it to your bulldog in a bowl, easy peasy.

Frequently Asked Question

Can English bulldogs eat banana? Both french and english bulldogs can eat bananas, bananas are a great source of potassium, magnesium, B vitamins, vitamin C and E plus fiber. However, bananas should only be fed moderately as too much can harm both french and english bulldogs.

Conclusion

While bananas are safe bulldog treat fruit, they should be offered moderately as providing too many can lead to health issues. While bananas are nutritious to your bulldog, not all bulldogs will like bananas right away.

A mature bulldog can be offered a full to half a banana a day, though it is recommended you seek your vet’s advice first.