Can dogs eat bananas?

Bananas could be the perfect take anyway snack. Not only are they nutritious, but they are mess-free and come in their own stay-fresh wrapper. But can we share this sweet treat with our dogs? The simple answer is yes. Feeding your dog a banana as an occasional treat is perfectly fine.

The health benefits of bananas

So, are bananas good for dogs? Feeding your dog bananas is an ideal way of giving them a healthy snack. Bananas are a very nutritious fruit, are easily digested, and are a good source of vitamins and minerals including, vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and potassium. What’s more, like most other fruits and vegetables are high in fiber. All of which can contribute to your dog’s overall wellbeing.

Despite the health benefits, bananas are not essential to your dog’s diet. Although your dog may get a lot of enjoyment from eating a banana now and then, remember that the majority of your dog’s nutrition should come from their normal food.

How much banana can I give my dog?

Although dogs can eat bananas. they are high in sugar, so it’s not wise to indulge your dog too much, but the occasional piece of banana is perfect as a special treat. Around one to two small pieces per day as a snack is a good guideline for a medium to large dog and if your dog is on the small side, then reduce that amount.

Even though they contain high amounts of sugar, bananas are a low-calorie treat. Just remember to reduce the amount of dog food you give your dog when using bananas or other fruits as a reward.

Can bananas make dogs sick?

If your dog has never had a banana or other fruit before, it is a good idea to introduce it slowly. Feed your dog a little at a time and monitor your dog afterward to ensure no adverse effects.

Although bananas are not toxic to dogs, they may cause some unpleasant side effects. The fiber content combined with the natural sugars can cause dogs to get an upset stomach.

However, it’s also possible that when dogs eat bananas, it can help with diarrhea and constipation. It may sound like a contradiction, but feeding your dog a banana with its high level of potassium can help restore electrolytes lost through bouts of diarrhea.

Bananas are also thought to relieve constipation because they contain a carbohydrate called Pectin, known for its thickening properties.

What’s more, bananas can be good for dogs because this healthy fruit contains fructooligosaccharide (FOS), a pre-biotic that encourages healthy bacteria in the stomach to thrive.

Some vets recommend dogs eat small amounts of banana to soothe an irritated colon and control spasms associated with colitis or other bowel issues. Just with any other fruits, though, if you notice any side effects, stop feeding your dog immediately.

What about banana peel?

Can dogs eat bananas unpeeled? Just like the rest of the fruit, banana peels are not toxic. Having said that, banana peel isn’t very appetizing and does present a small risk. Banana peel is much tougher than the fruit, and it may get stuck in your dog’s throat, causing difficulty breathing and further risk of obstruction once swallowed.

Don’t panic if your dog does decide to eat a whole banana, though. Monitor your dog for any problems, but banana peels are just as nutritious as the fleshy inside. If you want to feed your dog bananas and hate waste, you can always cut up some peel and see if your dog will enjoy it.

Can dogs eat bananas?

Can dogs eat bananas? Yes, they can! The next time you are enjoying a banana and feel like sharing, bananas make excellent dog treats. While bananas are not essential to your dog’s diet, most dogs love to eat them because of their high sugar content.

If you want to go one step further, why not try one of our favorite top 3 make-at-home banana dog treat recipes. As a bonus, the dog treats are great as gifts for your dog-loving friends.

Peanut Butter and Banana Dog Treats

Makes 2 dozen

The parsley in these treats makes them a secret breath freshener for your dogs; substitute dried mint for half of the parsley, if you like. Don’t hesitate to adjust the treats’ size to accommodate very small or very large dogs, baking them a few minutes less or a few minutes more, as needed.

Ingredients:

• 1 banana, peeled
• 1 cup oat flour
• 2/3 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup dried parsley
• 3 tablespoons peanut butter
• 1 egg, beaten

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.
2. Put a banana in a large bowl and use a spoon or potato masher to mash it thoroughly.
3. Add oat flour, oats, parsley, peanut butter, and egg and stir well to combine.
4. Set aside for 5 minutes.
5. Roll mixture into 24 balls, using about 1 tablespoon dough for each; transfer to a large parchment paper-lined baking sheet as done.
6. Use the back of a spoon or the heel of your hand to press each ball into a (1 1/2- to 2-inch) coin.
7. Bake until firm and deep golden brown on the bottom, 40 to 45 minutes. Set aside to let cool completely.

Peanut Butter and bananas icecream

This recipe is a great treat on hot days for your dogs. It couldn’t be more simple to make with only 3 ingredients. Just make sure that your dog isn’t dairy intolerant first!

• 3-4 ripe Bananas
• 32 oz. Greek Yogurt (plain)
• 1 cup Organic or All Natural Peanut Butter

Method

1. Mix all in a blender, pour into Ice Cube trays, and freeze!

Banana and honey dog treats

If you really want to indulge your dog, then these banana treats will do just that. With a delicious dollop of honey, your dog will be sure to enjoy them.

Ingredients: 

• 475ml water
• 2 bananas, mashed
• 30g honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 540g wholemeal flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas 4.
2. Lightly grease 2 large baking trays.
3. Combine water, mashed bananas, honey, vanilla, and egg in a large bowl.
4. Stir in the flour and baking powder.
5. Beat dough with an electric mixer on medium speed until ingredients are thoroughly combined, 1 to 2 minutes.
6. Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until no longer sticky, 5 to 8 minutes.
7. Roll out dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into mini shapes with your favorite doggy biscuit cutter.
8. Place biscuit shapes on a prepared baking tray.
9. Bake in the preheated oven until cookies are lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
10. Turn off the oven and leave biscuits until thoroughly dry and crisp, 30 to 40 more minutes.
11. Remove baking trays from the oven and allow treats to cool on pans for 10 minutes.
12. Transfer treats to wire rack to fully cool.