Can dogs eat bananas?

Many pet parents might wonder: Can dogs eat bananas?

The short answer is yes, bananas are perfectly fine for dogs and can make a great healthy treat. Bananas are full of nutrients like potassium, magnesium, and fiber as well as vitamin C and vitamin B6. Large dogs can have up to ½ a banana, while smaller dogs should have 2-3 small pieces.

Because of the high sugar content, bananas shouldn’t be a regular part of your dog’s diet. If you’re giving your dog some banana for the first time, watch for signs of allergies like itching or trouble breathing.

Bananas offer many health benefits for people and dogs alike. While the fruit is most well known for providing potassium, lesser known vitamins and minerals include niacin (boost brain function), calcium, zinc, iron, tartaric acid (immune booster), and vitamins A and E, to name a few. Bananas also contain probiotics, and are easy on the stomach. They’re low in sodium, cholesterol, and calories, and dogs generally enjoy the taste.

Pet owners who like to share human food with their dogs will often seek out a list of fruits and vegetables dogs can eat. Unlike well known “no-no’s” like grapes and avocado, bananas are safe for animals, affordable, and versatile enough to be made into treats. Bananas are even safe for your puppy, as long as the bite size is manageable.

Possible risks of feeding bananas to dogs

Even though experts agree bananas are safe, there are a few things pet owners should know before you start feeding slices of banana to your pup. Always take your individual pup into consideration, and how they’ve responded to new foods in the past. When in doubt, talk with your veterinarian. If you do decide to give bananas as a tasty treat, start with a small portion in little pieces.

• Obstruction – Never give your dog a whole, unpeeled banana. While banana peels are non-toxic and packed with nutrients, they’re also more difficult to chew up and digest. A banana peel can cause a blockage Trusted Source American Kennel Club (AKC) Registry of purebred dog pedigrees. Go to source in your dog’s intestine, which is uncomfortable at best, and fatal at worst.
• Tummy ache – The high fiber content and sugar in bananas can sometimes cause stomach upset for your pup. When given in the right amount, a little bit of banana can actually settle your dog’s stomach, but overdoing it is sure to produce the opposite effect. Before you introduce any new food, consult your vet.
• Weight gain – Bananas shouldn’t be a regular part of your dog’s diet because they contain too much sugar. Dogs who are given sugar on a regular basis can easily become overweight or even obese, and develop health problems like diabetes.

Any dog owner who wants to offer their dog fresh fruits should keep in mind that treats should make up only about 10% of your dog’s daily food intake. That said, a fresh banana is a healthy treat. Pet experts recommend that smaller dogs (around 30 pounds or less) can handle two to three small pieces of banana a day, while larger dogs can safely eat half of a peeled banana.

Even very young puppies can handle a small bite of banana, but be careful not to overdo it. Growing puppies have specific nutritional needs and overdoing sugar and treats isn’t a good way to start off. Also consider if your particular dog breed is prone to obesity. Dogs like labradors, basset hounds, dachshunds, and pugs (to name a few) are more susceptible to weight gain, and have to be mindful of the sugar.

Before you give your dog bananas, make sure you’ve prepared them safely.

Peel the banana —  Remove all the banana peel to prevent overdoing it on fiber or accidentally causing a blockage. An unpeeled banana will be more appetizing to your dog anyway.

Cut into small pieces —  Particularly for smaller dogs, cutting into bite size pieces is important. Even larger dogs will do better with a cut banana.

Share in small quantities —  If your pup hasn’t had any banana before, make sure to start small. Even seasoned banana eaters should only have two to three slices for small dogs and half a banana for larger dogs.

Consider mashing — Puppies and senior dogs might prefer a bit of mashed banana as an addition to their food, in moderation. Pet parents may consider hiding medication in mashed bananas as well.

Get creative — There are lots of ways to give your dog some banana. Whether you serve it alone, on top of food, mashed, frozen, baked, topped with a teaspoon of peanut butter, or inside the Kong.

Like humans, dogs are all different and have different needs. Bananas are safe, but that doesn’t always mean they’ll agree with your dog. There’s always a chance that your dog is uninterested in bananas, or has an uncommon reaction to one.

• Allergies – A banana allergy is uncommon in dogs, but it can happen. If you observe any signs of potential allergies (itching, swelling, hives, difficulty breathing), contact your veterinarian immediately.
• Digestive problems – Occasionally, even small amounts of banana may be too much for your dog’s stomach. Whether it’s the fiber, sugar, or just the introduction of a new food, some dog’s tummies won’t agree with it.
• Other new foods – Never give your dog multiple new foods at one time because it makes it more difficult to determine which food is potentially problematic. If your dog has already tried a new food that day (or even that week), hold off on giving banana.
• Within unsafe recipes – Bananas are good, and even low sugar banana bread can be fine. The problem comes when banana recipes have harmful ingredients, like banana bread with raisins or chocolate chips. The best choice is always a plain banana.

When it comes to homemade treats, bananas can be mixed with other safe ingredients for a fun snack. Bananas make a great base, and offer enough sweetness  to really make for a tasty treat. Be careful to avoid giving your dog any homemade banana goods with added sugar, nuts, raisins, or chocolate. Simpler is better when it comes to your pup’s diet.