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Can Dogs Eat Bananas?

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Disclaimer: There are many things to take into consideration before answering a question such as, “Can dogs eat bananas?”

The majority of people you ask would answer, “Yes” to this question, but each dog is unique and each person’s approach to the canine diet is also unique!

With that in mind, please remember that it is important that you do your own research (as we have done) and to always seek professional advice from your vet when in doubt about giving your dog a new type of snack.

YES! Bananas Are Safe for Dogs

You asked the internet, “Can dogs eat bananas?” and after a scanning through the first page of results, you saw that the answer is most definitely “Yes.”

What Do the Experts Say?

Since we didn’t want to trust our dogs to just any old opinion floating around on the internet, we dug a bit deeper in order to find some expert opinions recommended by reputable sources.

Nutritional Value – What’s Good about Bananas?

By looking on the website of one of the world’s largest banana distributors – Chiquita – we found a solid list of banana benefits that will also benefit your pooch.

In just one 126-gram banana, you will find:

  • 5 mg of Vitamin B6
  • 3 mg of Manganese
  • 9 mg of Vitamin C
  • 450 mg of Potassium
  • 3 g of Fiber
  • 1 g of Protein
  • 34 mg of Magnesium
  • 0 mcg of Folate
  • 1 mg of Riboflavin
  • 8 mg of Niacin
  • 81 IU of Vitamin A
  • 3 mg of Iron

Phew! All of that in one medium-sized banana?

Side Effects?

Too much banana can cause constipation, so you should only give it to your dog occasionally (maybe a few times a week).

We just looked at the nutritional value of a single banana above and as you probably noticed, there is some fiber in there.

Fiber, as we all know, helps “keep things moving” in our bowels. The same is true for our dogs.

Too much of a good thing, however, can be a bad thing, so a “banana overdose” for your dog will probably result in some bowel movement problems.

Bananas, when given in moderation, are a safe and healthy snack for your pooch.

What does “in moderation” mean, anyways?

That means that you should be reasonable about the portion.

Giving your Yorkshire terrier an entire banana in one sitting, for example, is too much. So would be giving four bananas to your Labrador in one shot (way too many!)

How Should I Serve It?

Now that we’ve established that bananas are a safe, low-calorie treat for dogs, the next question is…

How should I serve it?

  • Raw but NO Peel. Raw bananas are safe for dogs, so you don’t need to worry about cooking them beforehand.

The PEEL, on the other hand, should be removed first and you should never feed it to your dog!

While the peels are not toxic to dogs, the sheer size of them and the hard stem at the end make them harder for the stomach to break down and could potentially create an intestinal blockage. Smaller dogs would be at even higher risk for blockage than larger dogs, so only feed your dog the pulp.

Avoid green bananas (they’re harder for anyone to digest and too bitter anyways).

  • Banana Recipes. If you’re interested in making a healthy treat for your dog that includes banana, we found a few recipes that we’ll think you (and your dog) will enjoy.

The first one is a creamy mixture of yogurt, peanut butter, and banana that you whip together and then freeze. It makes a great summertime snack for your dog – a.k.a. “pupsicle!”

Alternatively, you could try a baked snack like the one that Lynn is making in this video. She is from Germany and her blog focuses on natural, healthy recipes.

These banana pancakes also looked pretty good and we love that they did not use any flour in the recipe (flour and rich, starchy ingredients can be hard for some dogs to digest and they can also be a problem for dogs with sensitive skin).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJZ9R7jdbJU

Conclusion

To answer your “Can dogs eat bananas?” question, we would just like to remind you that there is no guarantee that your dog will like or even tolerate bananas.

In general, they are a safe, healthy snack for dogs, but you must always remember to take any alimentary intolerances or health issues into account when introducing new food to your dog.

Start with a small piece in order to see how your dog reacts. If he or she likes it and you do not notice any signs of digestive problems, etc., then this is a good sign that bananas definitely agree with your pooch!

Our Trusted Sources

In order to thoroughly answer the banana question, we used these trustworthy sources to provide us with information. Feel free to check them out for further reading!

http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/healthy-dog-treats

http://www.chiquitabananas.com/Worlds-Favorite-Fruit/index-banana-nutrition-facts.aspx

2 thoughts on “Can Dogs Eat Bananas?”

  1. Just keep in mind that before giving your dog any human food, do your research to make sure it’s safe and try them in small amounts. If your dog experiences any sort of reaction, immediately consult a veterinarian. Thank you for sharing this post.

    Reply
  2. Just keep in mind that before giving your dog any human food, do your research to make sure it’s safe and try them in small amounts. If your dog experiences any sort of reaction, immediately consult a veterinarian. Thank you for sharing this post.

    Reply

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