Dogs Eat Bananas (Diet Tips)

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If your only question is “Can dogs eat bananas?” then you can stop right now. The answer is yes. Dogs can eat bananas. Bananas are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and potassium, and veterinarians often suggest bananas as healthy treats that are far better than commercial offerings that can be loaded with fat and salt. They are, however, high in sugar, and accordingly should only be offered in moderation.

Of course, many foods can be eaten, by dogs and by humans. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re good and nutritious. Remember the last time you chowed down on nachos and lived to regret it? There are foods that your dog CAN eat, but shouldn’t. There are also foods that your dog should NEVER eat. If you’d like to know more about foods that are good for dogs (and some that aren’t) keep reading to learn more!

Can Dogs Eat Banana Peels?

I’m reminded of a friend, Jill, who found a puppy abandoned at roadside. Poor little Ivan was thin and wasted and was lying beside a pile of vomit that contained coffee grounds, orange skins and yes, banana peels. My friend picked him up, took him to the vet, and had him checked over. He was found to be undernourished, but not in danger of dying. The vet was happy that Ivan had vomited up the coffee grounds, but said that the banana peels weren’t a big deal – they weren’t overly digestible, but not harmful.

Why would you want to feed your dog banana peels? He’s not a garbage disposal!

On a happy note, Ivan is now a strong, healthy Shepherd/Husky mix, living the good life with Jill. He enjoys banana treats – without the peels. Can dogs eat banana peels? Yes. But they’re not good for your dog’s digestion since they contain a lot of fiber. Give them the good parts of the banana – not the peels!

Can Dogs Eat Banana Chips?

Banana chips are just sliced dried bananas. There’s no reason why your dog can’t have banana chips as treats, but it’s wise to be careful. Because banana chips are very hard, there’s a possibility that they could end up lodged in your dog’s throat. Banana chips are generally safe for large dogs, but small breeds should be closely monitored if you’re giving banana chips as treats.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Bread?

If your dog isn’t sensitive to wheat, there’s probably no reason why he can’t have a bit of banana bread. Keep in mind, though, that banana bread does contain sugar, so keep it to just a bite or two. Make sure that you’re using sugar and not artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which can be toxic to dogs. Also, if your recipe calls for raisins, leave them out. Raisins can also be lethal if ingested by dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Peppers?

Banana peppers are not all that hot, ranging only 100-500 on the Scoville Heat Unit Scale. Keep in mind, though, that the keyword here is “hot.” Although banana peppers are on the low end when it comes to hot peppers, they are still HOT peppers. Most dogs can tolerate low amounts of banana pepper, but why would you want to take the chance that no harm will be done? Generally speaking, dogs don’t tolerate spicy foods well, and given the limited nutritional value your dog would get from a banana pepper, I’d advise erring on the side of caution and not offering banana peppers at all.

Can Dogs Eat Dried Bananas?

See “Can Dogs Eat Banana Chips.”

How Much Banana Can a Dog Eat?

Bananas should be considered a treat, not a regular source of nutrition. Given the high concentration of sugar in a banana, you should give a large dog only about half a banana per day. Small dogs should receive only 2 or 3 small pieces per day.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Baby Food?

Banana baby food generally consists of nothing more than pureed, pasteurized bananas, so the answer to the question “Can dogs eat banana baby food” is an unequivocal “Yes.” But why would you want to feed your dog banana baby food? It’s beyond expensive and delivers no real nutritional benefits other than what your dog would get from his regular food and the occasional offering of fresh banana.

Can Diabetic Dogs Eat Bananas?

They can. Again, moderation is the key.

Can Dogs Eat Bananas for Diarrhea?

Bananas have been shown to ease the symptoms of diarrhea in dogs. Again, though, the key is moderation. A bit of banana can help, but too much banana can make matters worse.

Can Dogs Eat Bananas and Peanut Butter?

I’ve never met a dog that didn’t love peanut butter, and in fact, most dogs love a combination of the two – bananas and peanut butter mashed up together and put in a Kong toy! It’s important, though, to check the label on your peanut butter. Many brands now contain xylitol (see Can Dogs Eat Banana Bread).

Can Dogs With Kidney Disease Eat Bananas?

Bananas contain phosphorous, which can aggravate kidney failure. You can still give your dog some banana, but keep it to a minimum – less than half a banana per day.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Bread With Walnuts?

Walnuts can be toxic to dogs, so if you’re making up a batch of banana bread and you love walnuts, consider making a separate batch for your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Nut Muffins?

Again, it depends on the type of nuts. Avoid walnuts and macadamia nuts. Both can be toxic to dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Pancakes?

There’s usually no reason why you can’t toss your dog a banana pancake or two while you’re cooking breakfast for the rest of your family.

Can Dogs Eat Banana Pudding?

Most commercial banana puddings contain little in the way of banana, and much in the way of sugar and artificial flavorings. Humans probably shouldn’t eat it, never mind dogs.

Common Questions

What fruits are bad for dogs?

Grapes, raisins, and cherries are extremely toxic, and should never be given to your dog. Citrus fruits aren’t toxic but can cause stomach upset.

Can dogs eat cucumber?

Cucumbers are safe for dogs to eat.

Can dogs eat Activia yogurt?

Generally speaking, yes. Just make sure that the flavor you’ve chosen doesn’t contain xylitol. It’s worth noting, though, that there are better, more nutritious treats for your dog than flavored yogurt.

Can dogs eat popcorn?

Yes. Just make sure that all the corn is popped, and there are no kernels that could get stuck in your dog’s throat.

Can bananas give dogs diarrhea?

In small quantities, banana can actually help to ease diarrhea in dogs. If you over-feed banana, though, your dog could develop digestive tract issues. It’s best to keep it to no more than half a banana per day.

Can a single grape kill a dog?

Usually, no. However, it depends on the size of the dog. For a dog under 10 pounds, a couple of grapes could very well be lethal. Of course, you hear people saying “I have grapes in my back yard, and my dog loves to graze, and he’s never come to any harm.” Those people got lucky. If you love your dog, keep him away from grapes and raisins – you’re playing Russian roulette with your dog’s life, and all the chambers are loaded!

Can dogs eat cheese?

Most dogs are quite partial to cheese, and it’s perfectly safe for them to eat. One of my dogs recently had a urinary tract infection and had to be on antibiotics. My way of getting her pills into her was to roll them up in a cheese slice and toss it to her.

Can dogs eat broccoli?

Most green vegetables are very good for dogs, and broccoli is no exception. If your dog loves broccoli, you can feed it in virtually unlimited quantities.

Can dogs eat strawberries?

Strawberries are very good for dogs! They’re full of antioxidants, and can even help to clean your dog’s teeth. Toss them out as treats as often as you like!

Can dogs eat tomatoes?

Tomatoes contain solanine, which is toxic to dogs. It’s more prevalent in younger, green tomatoes, but can also be present in ripe tomatoes. It’s best not to take the chance.

Can dogs eat bacon?

Most dogs just love bacon, and it’s okay in small amounts. However, it does contain a lot of fat and salt, so it’s best offered as just an occasional treat.

Can dogs eat ice cream?

Ice cream should be given only in very small amounts. First of all, it contains sugar. Second, the dairy in ice cream can lead to constipation, gas, bloating and vomiting. Dogs do love ice cream, but they shouldn’t have very much of it.

Why do dogs eat grass?

Because they can. Really, that’s the final answer. Nobody really knows why dogs eat grass and then vomit. Does the grass cause them to vomit, or do they eat grass because they need to vomit and the grass makes that happen? I don’t know, and neither does anyone else. What we do know, though, is that eating grass and vomiting does not seem to be harmful to dogs.

Can dogs eat onions?

Dogs should not eat onions. All parts of the onion, including the bulb, the stalks, and the leaves, are toxic to dogs. Oh, and by the way? If you’re thinking of feeding your dog baby food (see above), you need to know that many baby foods contain onion.

Can dogs eat lettuce?

There is nothing in lettuce that’s harmful to dogs, and no reason why a dog can’t eat lettuce. Most dogs, though, don’t want to eat lettuce. If you’re going to feed your dog lettuce, it’s best done by tearing it up in little bits and mixing it in with his regular food. Even if you do that, though, it will provide him with little in the way of nutrition.

Are eggs good for dogs?

Most dogs love eggs and will take them raw, fried, scrambled, hard-boiled or mixed in their food. Eggs can help with a dry coat, and also give a wonderful protein boost to your dog, so definitely, feed eggs from time to time.

Can dogs drink milk?

Of course, in the sense that they’re able to ingest it. But should dogs have milk? Generally, no, because it can lead to diarrhea.

Can dogs eat bread?

A slice of bread from time to time is a great treat! Make sure not to give your dog uncooked bread products, though, as the yeast can blow up in the gut and lead to bloat.

Can dogs eat celery?

Yes, but think about this – do YOU want to eat celery? Yuck! It’s not a good treat! If you must inflict celery on your dog, keep it to small pieces. Too much can lead to urinary problems.

Conclusion

So, now you know that your dog can eat bananas and banana treats in moderation. You also know that there are things that you might have been feeding your dog that he really should never have had. Where will you go from here? I hope that you’re not going to continue to give your dog grapes, slices of leftover pizza, nut breads and so on. For more on this, see my post, Your Dog is Not a Human,So Don’t Feed Him Like One!

The short answer to the question we asked, in the beginning, is yes, dogs can eat bananas. But there’s a whole lot of other stuff dogs shouldn’t eat, and it’s your responsibility to make sure that your dog does NOT ingest things that are harmful. You are responsible for your dog’s health and well-being. Know what’s good and what’s not good, and act accordingly.