Pet owners hope and pray that their fur babies remain healthy all their lives.
Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Accidents, diseases, and infections are common during pet ownership.
If you have a dog, you have probably dealt with diarrhea at some point. If you are unlucky, your adorable baby probably suffers from the condition regularly.
Diarrhea is technically not a disease in itself. However, it is a symptom of something going on in your dog’s system.
For mild cases, diarrhea is triggered by a dietary indiscretion. It can also be a sign of something serious such as cancer.
When your dog has recurrent runny stools, he runs the risk of dehydration. Ultimately, this will cause an electrolytic imbalance in the body, which may metamorphose into severe issues.
When treating simple cases of diarrhea, you have several options to choose from.
Fasting is always the most recommended method. Giving the body a break from digesting food does the trick.
However, you may also feed the pet-specific foods that will bind his stools.
Bananas are among the most effective food options for a dog with runny stools.
If you are wondering if you can offer it to your dog, we’ve got you covered. We have also thrown a couple of tips on using bananas for dogs with diarrhea.
Are Bananas Safe For Dogs?
First things first, can our furry buddies really eat bananas? Just because something is tasty and healthy for you doesn’t mean it is safe for your doggie.
Things like xylitol, unripe tomatoes, and certain species of flowers are okay to humans but pretty harmful to dogs.
Thankfully, bananas are 100% safe for dogs. They do not contain any poisonous substances that can harm the canine system.
Not only are bananas safe for your pet but they are also quite beneficial. These fruits are packed with nutrients and vitamins including magnesium, potassium, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, fiber, and biotin.
Each of these is responsible for boosting the health and wellbeing of your pet.
Additionally, bananas are low in cholesterol and fat and thus cannot overwhelm your dog’s system.
Related Post: How Much Apple Can A Dog Eat?
Can You Give A Banana To A Dog With Diarrhea?
When sick with diarrhea, it means food travels through his GI tract faster than usual.
The result is that the gut and the colon have less time to absorb water from the digested food.
To ease the symptoms, your dog will require fiber-rich foods to help his gut to form solid stools.
Fiber typically absorbs water hence making stools solid. It also slows down the movement of food along the GI tract, so the large intestine can absorb more water.
Bananas are super-rich in fiber. 100 grams will give about 2.4% of soluble fiber. This is quite a lot compared to other foods.
Pectin, the name of the soluble fiber in bananas, helps both the colon and the GI tract to bind stools.
Besides being high in fiber, bananas have an abundance of potassium. This important electrolyte plays a vital role in the normal function of the nerves and muscles.
When a dog is suffering from diarrhea, potassium can also be easily depleted. Feeding one or two bananas to a dog with diarrhea and vomiting can save the day.
Finally, these tasty fruits have cooling and moisturizing properties. They can restore lost energy and replenish a dehydrated body respectively.
How to Feed Banana to A Dog with Diarrhea
Now that you are clear on the benefits of bananas for dogs with diarrhea, we need to talk about how much to give.
You don’t want to stuff an entire banana in your pooch’s face just because it is high in fiber.
Too much fiber is not entirely good as it adds too much fiber to the dog’s system.
Ideally, one or two slices are enough for small dogs. Keep the slices averagely-sized.
Take it to three or four for medium-sized dogs and about 5 or 6 for big dogs.
Big dogs can also have half a banana which translates to about 5 slices.
Simply slice the fruit, mash it up and offer it to your furbaby. Most dogs should be able to eat a mashed banana with no issues.
However, others don’t fancy bananas much and will not eat them mashed. If yours is one of them, get creative.
You may mix the mash with a scoop of peanut butter or yogurt if the vet gives the go-ahead.
Remember that dogs with runny stools may not be able to eat anything.
Run this idea by the vet and if they say the dog can have some yogurt or peanut butter, you are good to go.
Another trick is to stuff banana slices in a Kong toy. Freeze it and let your furbaby enjoy the treat as he plays.
This is a fantastic way to get the dog stimulated and healed as well. Talk about killing two stones with one stone!
Related Post: 15 Best Dog Toys You Can Put Peanut Butter in
Safety Tips
While bananas are great for dogs, you should exercise caution when using them. Keep the following tips in mind.
I. Don’t go overboard
Too much of anything – including bananas is poisonous. Too much fiber can cause constipation, bloating, and gas. You don’t want more problems when trying to treat an existing issue.
Bananas are also so high in sugar and may make diarrhea worse if taken in high amounts.
Under normal circumstances, bananas should be an occasional treat. Even with diarrhea, resist the temptation to offer too many slices. Plus, a sugar spike when having runny stools can make diarrhea worse.
Keep it only a few slices no matter the size of your dog. A good rule of thumb is half a banana for a big dog and a few slices for a smaller one.
If you are still unsure, err on the side of caution. Call the vet.
Related Post: How Long Does It Take For A Bland Diet To Work On A Dog?
II. Watch out for allergies
Albeit rare, bananas trigger allergies in some dogs.
If you don’t already know if yours allergic, watch out for butt scooting, scratching, hair loss (bald spots or over thinning), swollen muzzle or eyes, swelling of the feet or joints, tummy trouble, and gasping.
If you notice any of these symptoms, stop feeding the banana. If they persist, take a trip to the vet.
Closing Thoughts
Can I give my dog banana for diarrhea? The answer is a resounding yes.
With high fiber content, bananas can help bind stools and give relief.
Simply give the right dosage and follow the aforementioned safety tips. If your dog doesn’t show improvement over a few days, contact the experts.
Related Posts:
Is Scrambled Eggs Good For Dogs with Diarrhea?
As an Amazon Associate, we may receive a small commission from qualifying purchases but at no extra cost to you. Learn more. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.