There are many fruits and vegetables worth incorporating into your dog’s diet. But at the same time, some (such as grapes) can be detrimental to your pet’s health.
As a dog owner, you have probably asked yourself the question ‘Can dogs eat bananas?’. Well, the short and simple answer to this question is an unequivocal yes .
But before you start feeding bananas to your dog, there are some important facts to find out.
In this article, I will share the pros and cons of incorporating bananas into your dog’s diet. You will also learn some useful information on how to serve this tasty fruit to your dog.
If you’re ready to get started, let’s dive in and get started.
6 main health benefits of bananas for dogs
Every dog owner hopes to give their dog the chance of a long and healthy life. Adding bananas to his diet is an easy way to ensure this.
Bananas offer some of the same health benefits to dogs as they do to humans. In particular, six come immediately to mind:
Bananas can promote and help maintain healthy blood pressure. Bananas are rich in potassium and vitamin B6. These two nutrients can help regulate your dog’s blood flow. Low blood pressure obviously equals healthier heart function.
Bananas can strengthen your dog’s muscles. Bananas are also full of magnesium, which plays an important role in maintaining muscles. For active pooches, bananas can help them keep their muscles strong.
Bananas can increase your dog’s bone strength. The potassium in bananas can reduce calcium loss from the bones. Meanwhile, magnesium can promote healthy bone growth.
Bananas can improve your dog’s brain function. You can keep your dog’s mind active by feeding him bananas. In addition to improving heart health, vitamin B6 can promote cognitive ability.
Bananas can boost your dog’s immune system. By adding bananas to his diet, you can increase your dog’s resistance to disease. Bananas contain vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps dogs heal and fight infection, inflammation and disease.
Bananas can enrich your dog’s digestive health. A medium-sized banana has 2.6 grams of dietary fibre. Bananas are also a prebiotic that helps nourish probiotics, the good bacteria in the gut.
The downside
By now you have learned that bananas are a great natural addition to your dog’s diet. But at the same time, don’t overdo it. The advantages can turn into disadvantages when you do.
Bananas have natural sugars and starches. For reference, a medium-sized banana has 14 grams of sugar and about 6 grams of starch.
Too much sugar and starch can be harmful for your dog because they can lead to weight gain. Weight gain can be a problem. Like humans, obesity in dogs can occur when they eat starchy diets.
Although bananas offer digestive benefits, overfeeding a dog can cause stomach upset. Excess sugar, for instance, can often be a cause of diarrhoea. And for some dogs, too many bananas can also lead to constipation.
Can dogs eat banana peels?
Banana peels are not toxic to dogs. But they are difficult to chew and this can make them difficult to digest.
If your dog eats a banana peel, he may get sick. It can cause indigestion and vomiting is a common symptom that follows. Call your vet if your dog’s condition worsens.
How much banana can a dog eat?
Let’s start with the portion size. This factor depends on how big your dog is. Wise and Wonderful Integrative Veterinary Center in Santa Rosa, California offers the following daily tips:
Medium to large dogs should only receive half of a normal-sized banana.
Meanwhile, small breeds should only eat 2 or 3 small slices.
Due to the sugar content, feeding bananas to the dog is only advisable as a treat. In general, treats should make up only 10 per cent of your dog’s daily calorie intake.
How to feed your dog bananas
There are endless ways to serve bananas to your dog. If you are looking for ideas, here are a few you can try:
Mix the bananas with the rest of your dog’s food.
Crush them and put them in one of their toys, like a kong.
Give the bananas a firm texture by freezing them and then cutting them into pieces or dehydrating them in a dehydrator or in a low heat oven.
What we now know about bananas for dogs
When it comes to your dog’s diet, be careful what he eats. After all, the food you feed your dog is the foundation of good health.
Dogs are carnivores. But they are capable of eating a mixed diet that also includes fruit and vegetables. With assorted minerals and vitamins, bananas can supplement and make up a dog’s balanced diet.
If you start giving bananas to your dog, remember that moderation is the key. In this way, the banana will be much appreciated by your furry friend and become a much-awaited moment.
