What your dog should and should not eat is a topic of much discussion. We always take a look in the fridge and won’t what can be used as a threat. Heck, maybe you’re thinking about giving them a proper meal instead of that dry dog food they keep eating!
Well, first of all, don’t do that. That dry stuff has more nutrients than you can imagine. But hey, they could use some vitamins.
Yes, fruits and veggies, that’s what they need! Well, they do, and they don’t. You might have figured out that we are talking about a specific fruit. There are many healthy little treats for your dog in the garden. But let’s talk about the bananas. More specifically, let’s ask:
Can Corgis eat Bananas?
The simple answer is: yes, they can! Just like they are for us, bananas can be a healthy snack for your dogs. They might not hold the same nutritional values for them as they do for us, but they are healthy.
There might be some worries popping up in your head right now (sugar is probably one of them). Don’t worry, though; we plan to cover all of them. We made a comprehensive guide for this common fruit and how much your dog should eat of it. Any food is healthy in a certain amount. But on the other hand, all foods get to cause a bit of trouble if too much is eaten. This is something your dog probably knows a thing or two about.
Well, we’re going to help your puppy – by helping you! If you do some calculations and keep an eye on your dog, bananas can become your go-to threat for those times when your dog does just the right things during the day. So let’s get your four-legged friend its reward!
Learn More: What Are Corgis Not Allowed To Eat?
Can Corgis Eat Bananas?
We said it once, and we’ll say it again: yes, Corgis can eat bananas. Any dog can. Well, maybe not any dog – that can depend on your dog specifically. Some dogs respond poorly to foods that other dogs munch on religiously. Fortunately, there’s a good chance that bananas are safe. But keep an eye on your Corgi if it’s the first time you’re giving it any food.
Bananas are an excellent treat for your dog. They are low in calories and high in certain nutrients that could do many good for your puppy.
So what are these substances? What can they be good for? Well, let’s check and see!
Potassium
The first thing that pops into one’s head when thinking of a banana could very well be Potassium.
Potassium is a mineral that can do wonders for your body. It’s an electrolyte, and it can help you control blood pressure, muscle contractions, the right water balance, and many other things.
But that’s what it does for us humans. We can’t create the mineral naturally in our bodies. This is why it’s so good for us. But what about your puppy?
They need it just as much as we do! Sure, your dog’s food probably already has an adequate level of the stuff. High-quality dog food is made to ensure your dog has all the nutrients it needs to function correctly. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no benefit from a little extra.
Those benefits are the same as they are in humans. And just like humans, our little friends can’t make Potassium by themselves. But bananas can only add a little bit to the mix. You can’t rely on them to be the sole source of anything. This is because they have, just like any other fruit, a lot of sugar. But we’ll get back to the sweet side of the story in a minute.
Vitamins
There are many obvious ways in which vitamins help your dog’s body function. We all probably have the sense to consume some sort of vitamin mix if we feel as if a cold is coming. But there’s much more to them than that. Your puppy can use them to break down carbs and proteins into energy more efficiently.
They can also make the heart, eyes, and skin healthier and stronger. There are many studies that say that dogs with a healthy and balanced intake of vitamins have a lesser chance of developing cardiovascular disease.
The two most prominent vitamins in a banana are Vitamins C and B6. But just like any other fruit, there’s much more in there.
Too Much Of Anything Is Bad
This may all sound great, but there is a catch. If you ask your vet the same question that we’re trying to answer right now, the first thing they’ll say is not to give your dog too much. But if they’re so healthy, where’s the harm? Well, it’s in the sugar.
Sure, your dog can eat bananas. And sure, he’ll love it, and the benefits are there. But the drawback to adding any fruit to your dog’s diet is the fact that they are full of fructose. Fructose is sugar; there are no two ways about it.
This is why it’s very important to keep the banana in your meal plans only as a snack. We know that you probably weren’t planning on feeding your dog fruit for lunch or dinner. But the best use of a banana is to use it as a treat, especially because your dog will probably fall in love with the taste right away.
Don’t just give your Corgi a full banana. That’s not the kind of treat we’re talking about. But if you do this, don’t worry! Your dog can actually eat the whole banana, skin and all. Just don’t be surprised if he/she throws it up right after. Throwing it up doesn’t mean that somethings wrong; it just means that your Corgis little body isn’t used to the high amount of fibers that banana peel contains. Those fibers can actually be a great thing!
Chopping the banana into smaller pieces and using it as a reward is the best option as far as we’re concerned. You can also freeze those little pieces. The different textures will give your dog the feeling that it is eating a completely new treat. This is a great way to mix things up a little. Not that your dog will get bored of the treat, we guarantee he won’t.
So what can go wrong if you give your dog too many bananas?
Health Risks
Just like any substance, going overboard with the amount can result in problems. All those healthy substances that are found in bananas can get pretty darn dangerous if there’s too much of them.
The most prominent one is definitely Potassium. While it can help the heart work better and prevent cardiovascular diseases – too much basically flips the switch and goes the other way.
Let us explain:
Hyperkalemia
Hyperkalemia is a potassium disorder. It’s a rare disease, and there is a low chance of your Corgi suffering from it. The problem is that you can’t really know how much Potassium your dog needs. Your Corgi specifically may not be able to process Potassium as well as the next puppy.
This is why we said that it is very important only to give bananas in treat form. Feeding your dog bananas on the regular can be very dangerous. The symptoms of Hyperkalemia include muscle weakness, dehydration, cardiovascular problems, and lethargy.
It is important to ask your vet about any changes in diet. Most dog foods are made well and specifically for a certain dog type. Consult a professional before adding anything to your dog’s diet. There’s a good chance that the food it’s eating already contains everything needed.
Constipation
Bananas are an excellent treat for your dog; you got that by now. But what about banana peels? Well, the skin of a banana in itself is completely safe for your dog to eat. It’s not toxic and is actually full of healthy fibers. But your dog’s digestive system doesn’t really know what to do with them.
There are two things that can happen if your Corgi eats a lot of banana peel. It will throw it up, or it will cause constipation. Throwing up is actually the better option of the two. Your dog’s body figures out that the peel will be too tough to process, so it gets rid of it.
Constipation is the next option, and while it’s not something that’s extremely dangerous or life-threatening, it’s not very fun for your puppy.
The irony is in the fact that bananas actually sometimes help with digestion. But too much of a good thing is bad, and we guess you can think of the peel as a highly concentrated version of the banana.
Diarrhea
This risk is a strange one because it’s not actually the bananas that cause diarrhea. But people sometimes like to apply something that worked for them on their dog.
Yes, bananas are high in fiber, and fiber is good for getting the digestive tract back to normal. But whether or not they’ll work on your dog specifically depends only on its body and nothing else.
There is always a chance of your dog reacting poorly to a new food. This is why it’s a bad idea to give your dog bananas to try and cure diarrhea. Talk to your vet; they will tell you what to do and what to give to your puppy. Bananas are healthy, but no fruit should be used as a cure for something. They are always a good addition, but it doesn’t mean that they can do no harm.
Sugar
Sugar is pretty much never good. That’s a rule of thumb that every dog owner should hold on to. You may be able, as a human, to turn a certain amount of sugar into energy. But your dog’s body has a very limited version of this ability. What actually happens is that sugar wrecks havoc in your dog’s organism.
It’s simple; your dog just doesn’t need sugar. Sure, it may seem that fructose that is found in a banana is healthier than, say, plain white sugar. But trust us, it’s basically the same thing.
So why is sugar so bad?
Well, the first thing that pops in our heads is that it can really mess up your Corgis blood sugar levels. What happened is this: your dog gets high levels of sugar in its blood from all the bananas that it’s been eating. Then its body produces more insulin to combat this issue. It seems like it’s fixed, right? Well, it’s not.
Your dog’s body will just keep producing insulin to handle the sugar. After a point, it will just be too much, and your Corgis little body will just not be able to take it anymore.
Once this happens, it’s only a matter of time before your dog becomes diabetic.
It may seem that we are exaggerating, but trusts us, there are far too few benefits of sugar in your dog’s diet. So remember that if you think about rewarding your dog with a whole banana as if you would say a nice juicy bone. Your Corgi is not a big dog, and it’s very easy for it to go overboard with the sugar!
Allergies
Just like with any other substance, your dog could be allergic to bananas. Since you probably didn’t check specifically what your dog might be allergic to once it was born – trial and error is the best option.
When we say trial and error, we don’t mean to give your Corgi a bunch of bananas and see what happens. We suggest the exact opposite!
Corgis, just like any other dog, are sensitive to new foods. Bananas can be especially risky since they are very high in fibers. Now, fibers are good for digestion, we know. But too much fiber could be a tough challenge for your dog’s stomach if it’s never encountered something like it before.
Make sure to always introduce new foods to your dog slowly. And if you notice that your dog may be having a reaction to the treat, stop giving it to him/her and call your vet immediately.
Just Be Careful
Treat a banana like you would any dog treat. By definition, a treat will be sweeter and tastier than your dog’s normal food. That’s why we use it for training and reward. You shouldn’t go overboard with bananas, just like you shouldn’t go overboard with store-bought dog treats. The banana just doesn’t have the same warning attached to it!
Other Fruits And Vegetables
So if the banana’s such a great treat, what other fruits and veggies are there? There must be something else that you can use as a healthy alternative to the store-bought treats.
Well, there are many options. The banana is a great one because it’s low in calories but high in nutrients and fibers. Just like a treat should be!
We would recommend the list of fruits: apples, mangos, pears, pineapples, and strawberries. Remember, though; these are our recommendations; we’re sure that your vet will have a couple of others up its sleeve. The problem with fruits is the sugar; there’s no way around it. If you make sure not to give your dog too much, they can all be just fine.
But if you want to bypass the sugar problem, we suggest you take a look at some veggies. And the first one we recommend is none other than a carrot!
Carrots
So what’s the deal here? We were talking about bananas, and we suddenly switched to carrots of all things? They’re not even the same color!
Well, believe it or not, carrots are actually very similar to bananas. Just without the sugar. Which, if you’ve been paying attention, is a pretty darn big deal.
Carrots are high in Potassium, vitamins, and fibers. And not just any vitamins; they are high in vitamin C and B6. This means that they have the same benefits that bananas have and one less drawback. Sure, Potassium can pose a problem. But if you remember, when given in moderate amounts, it’s actually a great health booster.
Even if we decide to put the health benefits to the side, dogs just love carrots – plain and simple! You can cook them. You can give them to your puppy raw. Heck, you can even freeze them. Not only that, if you do decide to pop one in the freezer, not cutting it into tiny bits can turn it into a healthy chew toy.
The other great benefit is that they are great for your dog’s teeth. So if your Corgi seems to have developed a bad breath problem, hop to your closest supermarket and get you a bag of this healthy orange treat!
There are other veggies that we want to put on the list, though. Beets, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, zucchinis – all of these are a great low-calorie source of healthy nutrients. We’ll personally stick with carrots and bananas, but with a little research, you could potentially find your dog’s new favorite treat.
As long as you do your research and keep the number of treats low – you’ll have a happy little Corgi!
The thing is that the first thing that pops into people’s minds when they think of a threat is meat and bones. We’re not even kidding. People chop bacon into little bits and use it as a treat. Or, the classic, leftover bones from cooking. And while these are good treats, as far as your dog is concerned – why not choose a healthier option.
We’re not saying that you should turn your dog into a vegetarian; let’s get that straight. People tend to get a little defensive when such subjects are brought up. Your dog already has a good source of meat from its main meals. So why not turn to fruits and veggies for the treats?
It’s not like your dog will mind it. They love bananas just as much as they do anything else. Try it out; we promise you that your dog will go nuts every time it sees the color yellow! So chop them up, mash them into other foods, freeze them and turn them into ice cream if you want. Whatever you do, your Corgi will be grateful!
Final Words
So there we have it. The plan here was to answer the question the best way we’re able to.
Can Corgis eat bananas? Yes, they can! All dogs love the tasty yellow fruit. But if you don’t get your Corgi to have any negative side effects from eating this delicious treat, inform yourself and be careful.
The best thing that we can recommend is to talk to your vet. Every dog is unique. Some can pretty much eat anything and process it all like it’s nothing. But some dogs have a sensitive stomach, and they just can’t handle it. The trick is to learn from your mistakes.
Remember, all the benefits of a banana (or any food for that matter) can be turned into a health risk if you give your dog too much. Potassium is great for your dog, but too much can cause serious problems. Same with vitamins and fibers. The sugar is never good, but you get the point. Be careful and plan out your dog’s diet to the best of your abilities.
As long as you know your dog’s body and how it might react to certain foods and substances, you’ll be fine. To wrap things up, bananas are a great tasty treat, and your Corgi will fall in love with them as soon as the first bite goes down. No two ways about it!