Can Dogs Eat Bananas?

Any benefits?

Bananas are rich in Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, manganese, biotin, copper, potassium and fibers. Plus, bananas contain a very low level of sodium and cholesterol. All of these are good for your dog's health. Having some bananas as a side dish is good for a dog's digestion system and bone growth. It can also help them prevent or relieve gastrointestinal symptoms. However, when it comes to banana peels it's a different story. Banana peels are not noxious though. I mean don't worry too much if your dog accidentally swallowed a whole banana. It's okay. But you'd better not feed your pups with banana peels purposefully, because peels are not easy to be digested by dogs. Additionally, intestinal blockage can be caused by having too many banana peels. Thus, make sure you put banana peels away when you feeding your dog with bananas.

Any side effects?

Although bananas are safe and good for dogs, they do have some drawbacks as well. You have to control the amount when you are feeding your pups. Like most fruits, bananas are also rich in sugar. Too much sugar is never a good thing. It can cause weight gain and other more serious health issues. Some people think banana can be a perfect cure for any diarrhea or constipation for dogs. Well, it's not true. For some dogs, bananas may have a positive effect on releasing their digestive upset symptoms. However, that's not a 100% case for every dog. The best thing you can do when you find your dogs having diarrhea is not feeding them bananas but go to the vet. Always remember to stick to the "90 to 10" rule while you are feeding anything other than the normal dog foods to your pups.  Fruits and snacks can only take up to 10% of your dog's daily meal.

How to feed?

Of course, a whole banana is too much for your pup. If you wanna add bananas as a snack dish to your dog's daily menu, you have two choices. First, simply peel off the banana and cut two or three small slices to feed them. Two or three slices is an okay amount for any pup to enjoy.  Second, you can make some homemade treats for your dog. Don't worry, it's not as hard as you think. Here we collect some easy ones for you.

Mashed Bananas: This one is super easy! You just need to mash up half of a banana into a bowl and serve it to your dog. If you want, you can also mix that with dog foods.

Kong Stuffed Bananas: Fulfill a kong toy is always a fun and easy trick for preparing a dog's meal. Your pups will like anything that is stuffed into the hollow center.

Frozen Bananas: This one is a perfect summer snack for your dog. Who doesn't like icy dishes in the summertime? You just need to cut off some slices of banana and put them in the fridge for 1-2 hours.