Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Benefits and Amounts

As we have already seen with other fruits such as oranges and tangerines, dogs can eat many of the foods that make up our own everyday diet, since like humans they too are omnivores.

In any case, it is worth remembering that meat has to be the foundation of their diet, and that protein and fat should stand out among their key nutrients, so fruit and vegetables should be a complement, never the main ingredient. Let's look at the nutritional properties of the banana in our dog's diet, the recommended amounts and the benefits.

The Nutritional Value of Bananas in a Dog's Diet

The banana is a very healthy food to have in the diet, since it contains a number of important nutrients, chief among them:

1. Potassium: a mineral, or electrolyte, that the body needs in order to function normally. It plays a part in muscle contraction, including that of the heart muscle. A diet rich in potassium helps counteract some of the harmful effects of sodium on blood pressure.
2. Vitamin B6: it has an anti-inflammatory role and helps prevent cardiovascular disease. It also regulates how red blood cells work. It is present in other foods such as fish and potatoes.
3. Fibre: fibre consists of indigestible carbohydrates. Although it provides the body with hardly any energy, it helps keep the bowels moving.
4. Vitamin C: a water-soluble vitamin which, although it is not an essential nutrient in the dog (unlike in humans), helps strengthen the immune system.
5. Magnesium: this mineral is a key micronutrient in the diet, since it takes part in a great many biochemical reactions in the body.
6. Antioxidants: compounds found in plants that help reduce oxidative stress in the body, which is linked to cellular ageing.

The banana is also a splendid food for tackling obesity and excess weight, since 100 grams of this fruit contains a little under 100 kilocalories on average (a beef steak is around 250 kilocalories per 100g). That means we can use it as a treat for our pet, offering it on its own or alongside some other food they enjoy.

Do Bananas Have Any Drawbacks for Dogs?

Bananas have no notable drawbacks for our furry friend, provided they are offered in a sensible amount and are not a main ingredient in the diet.

Obvious though it may seem, we should always serve them peeled, because although the skin is not toxic, it may carry waxes or other chemicals applied to fruit to make it more appealing and glossy to shoppers, which can be harmful to health.

Eating too much banana can cause mild ill effects in our pet, mainly diarrhoea and/or vomiting, as well as nutritional imbalances such as hyperkalaemia, which can be particularly harmful in dogs with kidney problems or diabetes, leading to signs such as weakness, disorientation or collapse.

On top of that, given its high carbohydrate content, if our friend has diabetes or another metabolic disorder, we need to be careful with the amounts of banana we offer so as not to aggravate the problem.

It is also worth pointing out that, just like people, dogs can develop allergies to particular types of food. To check for this and rule such problems out, the first time we give our friend banana it is advisable to offer it in small amounts. If they accept it and eat it, we then need to watch that they tolerate it well and that we see no sign of food intolerance or allergy.

How to Give a Dog Banana

Your dog may already be used to eating banana and you may be well aware of the benefits of this fruit in the diet, or you may never have offered it and be unsure how to introduce this new food to their menu. Either way, here are the basic guidelines for offering this fruit to your pet.

To begin with, you should know that not every dog likes banana. If yours is very greedy they may eat it without a second thought; if they are more particular, they may sniff it, even taste it, and then turn it down and spit it out.

The maximum recommended daily amount of banana for our dog has to be matched to their size and weight. So if they are a large dog we can offer a whole banana, whereas if they are small, ideally they should have no more than a few slices.

As for how to serve it, there are various ways we can offer banana to our pet:

• As a purée: we can put it inside a Kong-type toy so the dog keeps busy licking at it while we are working or out of the house, which can help reduce separation anxiety in dogs who suffer from it.
• Frozen: we can cut it into slices and put them in the freezer, then give them with a meal or as a treat, especially on the hottest days of summer.
• As a snack: we can give it as a treat on its own or mixed with other foods they enjoy, such as peanut butter or yoghurt.

In conclusion, the banana is a healthy food we can offer our pet, as long as it is occasional and in moderate amounts, and never a main ingredient in their diet.