Can dogs eat bananas? When you’re enjoying some fruit and your dog is looking at you hopefully, it’s hard to resist giving them a piece. However, it’s important to research any human food you give to your dog beforehand.
Sometimes things are very healthy for us and very bad for dogs — or even downright dangerous. They’re built differently, and food doesn’t react the same way in their system.
So, can dogs eat bananas? Is it a healthy snack or can it be dangerous?
Can Dogs Eat Bananas?
The short answer is yes! Bananas are a great tasty treat for dogs.
Is It Safe?
Bananas are perfectly safe for dogs, if given in moderation. There’s nothing that could be potentially toxic to your average canine in this fruit.
Is It Healthy?
Moderation is key, but yes, bananas are pretty healthy for dogs and contain a lot of things that can benefit them.
The Benefits
Bananas are high in vitamins B6 and C, which can be very beneficial for your pup. They’re also high in potassium, which is good for both humans and dogs!
The magnesium in bananas can also promote bone growth, which is especially important in large breeds of dogs that can keep growing until they’re two years old.
They also contain a lot of fiber. Fiber should be consumed in moderation, as too much of it can upset the stomach, but a little it can help with digestive problems which is extremely handy.
They can also make a great training treat and are a great alternative to more fatty items people often use as high-value treats, such as meat and cheese.
Are There Any Risks?
The main risk from bananas comes from the peel. Just as humans don’t usually eat banana peels, dogs shouldn’t either. They’re tough and hard to digest, which can cause issues with blockages.
If your dog has eaten a banana peel by accident, keep an eye on them and make sure it passes through the system. If you have any doubts at all, you should call your veterinarian who will be able to look into it further.
Bananas are high in sugar, which isn’t good for a dog, so don’t feed them too much.
You never know how a dog is going to react to a new food, so start off with a very small piece and build from there. Dogs have all kinds of allergies and intolerances that you never find out about until they have a reaction.
How Much Banana Can My Dog Eat?
Treats should only make up 10% of your dog’s daily diet, and bananas count as a treat despite their health benefits! Make sure you stay under this amount, although it’s a good idea for it to be even less due to the high fiber and sugar. Ideally, it should be mixed with other treats.
The amount of banana your dog can handle will ultimately depend on their breed and size, so be extra cautious with small dogs.
Serving Ideas
There are many fun ways you can serve bananas to your dog!
Mash some up and put it in their food if they’re getting bored of the same old kibble.
Mix it with some dog-safe peanut butter for an extra burst of flavor.
Freeze it on a hot summer’s day so they can cool down while munching on it.
If you want it to really last them a long time, mash it up and stick it in a KONG, then freeze it. You can include other things in the KONG, such as other fruits, that dog-safe peanut butter, KONG fillers, or their regular kibble. Whatever you’re including, just be sure to total up the calories and make sure it’s not too much for them. It helps to purchase an appropriately-sized KONG!
Similar Snacks
There are many other fruits that provide great health benefits for your dog. Among them are apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, kiwi, and more.
Just don’t make the mistake of assuming that because something is healthy for people, it’s good for your dog too. There are many fruits (such as cherries and especially grapes) that can be dangerous to your dog, and it’s the same with vegetables.
The answer if something is safe or not is just a quick search away, and we might even have the answer here, so always take a few seconds to check! You could be saving your dogs life.
So, can dogs eat bananas? Absolutely! Remove the peel and the fruit inside makes for a tasty treat, whether you’re mashing a little into their food or making a frozen KONG on a hot day. As with anything, just be sure to start small and give them the fruit in moderation to ensure it doesn’t come as a shock to their digestive system and cause problems.
