Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Everything You Need to Know + Recipes

Can dogs eat bananas? Yes, they can, and in fact, they can enjoy a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. But as with all things, moderation is key and you have to look out for a few things, before feeding your puppy a banana.

Here’s what you need to know about feeding your dog bananas, including a recipe for banana dog treats!

Are bananas good for dogs?

Many people love to share their food with their dogs, but not all foods are safe for canines. So, can dogs eat bananas? The answer is yes, dogs can eat bananas. In fact, bananas can be a healthy treat for your pup.

Bananas are a good source of vitamins and minerals, including potassium and vitamin C. They also contain fiber, which can help to regulate your dog’s digestive system.

However, as with any food, it’s important to feed bananas in moderation. Too much banana can lead to an upset stomach, so it’s best to give your dog only a small piece of banana at a time.

Health benefits of bananas for dogs

Every dog requires a balanced diet, just like us humans do, and its food should contain 90% of the calories from good dog food. Dogs, however, enjoy a special treat from time to time, which makes it pleasurable for pet parents to provide them with a nutritious snack. Adding fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet is a great way to add some much-needed nutrition to their daily calories.

Bananas are one of the best fruits that you can feed your dog. Why?

Because they are relatively inexpensive, you can find them in grocery stores anytime and they are packed with nutrients. Oh, and your puppy will love it! But let’s see how bananas can make your dog more healthy!

• Vitamin C: Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that helps your dog’s immune system function at peak efficiency.
• Vitamin B6: Vitamin B6 is a key coenzyme for both the brain and the body. It builds proteins, manages fluid balance, regulates hormones, and aids neurotransmitters in your dog’s body.
• Fiber: Bananas are high in fiber, which is essential to your dog’s digestion. Fiber helps to move food along the intestinal tract, reducing constipation and diarrhea.
• Potassium: It promotes good kidney and heart function, helps maintain healthy bone density, maintains fluid balance, and aids in muscle growth as well.
• Magnesium: Helps the body use vitamins and minerals more efficiently while also promoting healthy bone growth.
• Biotin: Helps achieving healthy skin, improves coat quality, and supports muscle development as well.

So as you can see bananas are a great addition to your dog’s diet. So if you’re still thinking: “can dogs eat bananas?” the answer is a big yes. But you should look out for some things tough.

How much banana should you feed your dog?

The question shouldn’t be “can dogs eat bananas”, but rather how much banana can dogs eat? Just like with anything else, moderation is key!

Dogs are not able to digest bananas as well as humans, so it’s important to feed them only a small amount. Small amounts of bananas are a good treat for a dog, but feeding too many bananas can cause gastrointestinal distress.

Bananas have high sugar content, so they should be used as an occasional treat rather than as a substitute for a daily meal.  A good rule of thumb is that half of a banana per day is totally okay for medium-sized dogs, while smaller ones should only eat two to three tiny pieces per day.

Puppies always have distinct dietary needs, which support their development, so always check with your vet about giving bananas to your puppy.

It’s best to chop the banana into smaller pieces instead of letting your dog chow off on a whole banana. This way they will be able to digest the fruit more easily and you can prevent any possible issues.

Just like with any treat, too much banana can lead to weight gain as well.

Can dogs eat the banana peel and banana chips?

The short answer is no, dogs should not eat the banana peel. The banana peel can be a choking hazard for dogs and can also cause digestive issues.

Banana peels aren’t toxic to dogs, but they are high in fiber, so dogs can’t digest banana peels easily. Feeding your dog unpeeled bananas might obstruct the digestive tract. Furthermore, banana peels can cause stomach upsets and result in vomiting and diarrhea.

So make sure to remove the banana peel before giving your dog a banana!

Banana chips can be a good snack on the go, however, you should look out for a few things.

Consider dehydrated chips when shopping, since most banana chips in stores will be high in sugar and contain preservatives. You should also stay away from banana chips that were fried in oils, as those can be harmful to dogs.

The safest option is to make your own banana chips at home! They are super easy and you’ll find a recipe a bit further down in this article!

When to avoid feeding bananas to your dog?

Too many bananas can cause an overload of potassium in your dog’s blood if they have underlying kidney or diabetes problems. Weakness, dizziness, and even collapse are some of the signs. Your veterinarian is familiar with your dog’s health and may advise you on banana consumption as a treat.

If you feed your dog too much banana, it may experience stomach discomfort. If your dog consumes a lot of bananas, pay attention to its feces. Stool straining while pooping might be an indication of constipation. A blockage might occur if peels are also consumed. Gastrointestinal can become serious in the snap of a finger and it could require immediate vet attention.

You should also avoid feeding too many bananas to diabetic dogs because of their sugar content.

So can dogs eat bananas? Of course, if you look out for the possible issues stated above. Here are 2 surefire banana dog treat recipes that you can’t go wrong with,

Oven-fried banana chips recipe

Ingredients

• 2 or more ripe bananas
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 225 °F (110 degrees °C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Cut your bananas into 1/10 inch (2-3 mm) thick pieces. You can cut them smaller as well
3. Spread the banana chip pieces onto your baking sheet and make sure the slices aren’t touching each other.
4. Brush the banana slices with lemon juice (optional)
5. Bake them in the preheated oven for around 90 minutes or until they are fully dried. Make sure to check on them every now and then and try lifting a few chips to see if they’re still sticking to the parchment paper or not.

There you have it, a super easy home-baked banana chips recipe, that you can safely give your dog as a treat! But make sure you don’t overfeed them as they’ll want more!

Frozen banana dog treat recipe

If you’re looking for a cooling treat in the summer you can do the same recipe with the freezer instead of baking the banana in an oven.

Ingredients

• 2 or more ripe bananas
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice (optional)

Directions

1. Cut your bananas into 1/10 inch (2-3 mm) thick pieces. You can cut them smaller as well
2. Put the pieces on a tray making sure the banana slices aren’t touching each other. It’s not the end of the world if they are though, you will just have to separate them before feeding them to your puppy
3. Freeze the banana slices overnight

And that’s it! Trust me, your dog will love this treat on a hot day.

Conclusion

So can dogs eat bananas? Yes, dogs can eat bananas, but should never eat the peel.

Since bananas are high in sugar, they should only be an occasional treat, just like watermelon and pineapples. This way you can avoid weight gain, stomach upset, or constipation in your dog. 

Banana chips can also be a good snack on the go, however, it’s best to look out for dehydrated chips or to make your own banana treats using the recipes in this article. Trust me, if they eat even one you’ll always receive the puppy eyes for more afterward!