Can Dogs Have Bananas?

 

Estimated Read Time: 4 ½ minutes

Summary: In this blog, we discover if dogs can eat bananas and if so, whether there are any health benefits to allowing your dog a little banana… 

 

Can Dogs Eat Bananas?

Yes, dogs can eat bananas! However, not all dogs enjoy the taste of them. So, if Fido’s not that interested in your offering of banana, you may want to look to try something else that’s safe for your dog to eat instead like pumpkin or apples (without the core or seeds). 

Are Bananas Good For Dogs?

Yes! Bananas, just like for humans, can provide lots of health benefits for a dog when fed in moderation. 

Bananas are loaded with fibre (which many dogs lack in their diet), are low in fat, and are high in essential nutrients like vitamin C, B6, biotin, magnesium and potassium.  However, bananas are also naturally high in sugar so they need to be given to a dog in a controlled way – either as a small treat as a reward, or a few pieces added or mashed into their main meal acting as a nutritious topper.

Because of their high sugar content, a large dog shouldn’t have more than half a banana a day and a small dog should only be offered two or three pieces of banana. Dogs with kidney problems or diabetes should be given banana pieces only with their vet’s approval as the potassium and sugar levels can cause flares of these conditions. In addition, if you’re curious about feeding bananas to a puppy, consult with your vet on suitability and an advised amount. 

You should always take it slowly when introducing any new food to a dog to avoid upsetting their stomach - particularly with puppies. Feed a very small piece of banana every couple of days over a week before considering continuing to feed low quantities of it to your dog. You should monitor them closely after their first introduction to it as some dogs can have a sensitivity to bananas. If your dog develops itchy skin, hives, or begins coughing or sneezing after eating a piece of banana, this can indicate an intolerance reaction and you should check in with your vet. 

As with humans, all dogs will react differently to different foods so always be mindful of this when trying them on new foods, snacks, and treats regardless of whether they’re deemed safe.

Is Banana Skin Bad For Dogs?

Banana skins aren’t toxic for dogs to consume but it’s not advisable to feed them to your dog. The skin of a banana is extremely dense in fibre and may cause your dog great difficulty when digesting it. The skin can also cause blockages because of how hard the body may find it processing them.

If you have any concerns over your dog’s health after they consume a bit of banana or its skin, contact your vet. 

What About Banana Chips?

Banana chips are a very high-energy snack that we may nibble on when needing a boost. Usually it’s okay for a dog to also share the odd one with you, but that’s only if any preservatives added to them aren’t considered toxic to dogs, so always read the label. Also, be mindful of the sugar content in these dried banana chips as this isn’t ideal for a dog or their health either. 

Homemade Banana Sticks

Why not try making your dog some homemade, healthy banana treats? These are easy and quick to make – and extremely cost-effective.

Ingredients

- 2 bananas

- Fresh lemon

- Organic/raw honey

How To Make The Dried Banana Sticks

Turn your oven to 100°C and leave to heat. Remove the skin of the bananas and cut in half (lengthways). Lay the banana slices onto a baking tray and drizzle the fresh lemon over the sticks. Add the banana to the oven and leave to cook for an hour and a half, remove and leave to cool. Now, it's time to drizzle the honey on the warm sticks and let it set. Store these treats in the fridge in an airtight container!

Why not check out some of our other homemade dog treat recipes here!?

Sources

Author Guthrie, Lynn “Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Yep, Here’s Why!” Prrs & Wags by Pumpkin, Aug 03. 2020 https://www.pumpkin.care/blog/can-dogs-eat-bananas/

Author Clark, Mike “Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Are Bananas Safe For Dogs?” Dog Time https://dogtime.com/dog-health/dog-food-dog-nutrition/58813-can-dogs-eat-bananas