Another common food related question that dog owners have is : Can my dog eat bananas
dog and banana – @jermzlee via Twenty20
Answer
There is good news, your dog can eat bananas but it's best to avoid feeding them the peel. They can eat these, as peels are not toxic to dogs but they are hard to digest and may cause an intestinal blockage.
Bananas are not toxic or poisonous to dogs, but they do contain a fairly high amount of sugar, so they can cause an upset stomach if excessive amounts are consumed by your canine.
The sugar can cause a dog who eats too much an upset stomach and suffer from some gastrointestinal upset.
You should also be aware that excessive sugar can lead to obesity but as part of a balanced diet for your dog you should be OK feeding them a little banana from time to time.
Nutrition Info
Raw bananas are comprised of 75% water, 23% carbohydrates, 1% protein, and contain negligible fat. A 100 gram reference serving supplies about 89 Calories, 31% of the recommended Daily Value of vitamin B6, and moderate amounts of vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber.
Here is a complete nutritional breakdown of bananas.
Energy – 89 kcal
Carbohydrates – 22.84 grams
Sugars – 12.23 grams
Dietary fiber – 2.6 grams
Fat – 0.33 grams
Protein – 1.09 grams
Vitamins – Daily value %
Thiamine (B1) – 3%
Riboflavin (B2) – 6%
Niacin (B3) – 4%
Pantothenic acid (B5) – 7%
Vitamin B6 – 31%
Folate (B9) – 5%
Choline – 2%
Vitamin C – 10%
Minerals – Daily value %
Iron – 2%
Magnesium – 8%
Manganese – 13%
Phosphorus – 3%
Potassium – 8%
Zinc – 2%
Others
Water – 74.91 grams
Advice
As with any human food you should always consult your vet before sharing foods like bananas to your dog(s)
You should buy organic if possible to avoid the risk of any pesticides and herbicides that may have been used in the growing process.
Dried bananas tend to have a variety of non-beneficial ingredients added especially sugar, preservatives and other chemicals.
There is a small risk of an allergic reaction, this is the same as any food. Look for things like vomiting, diarrhea, etc. You should also look out for any sign of pain or discomfort. Some of the signs of discomfort can include restlessness, whining, yelping, dilated pupils, and panting.
The best way to feed you dogs bananas is to cut them into small bits or mash them. You should also start with a small portion like a small cut piece to check your dog has no side effects.
In the next section we have a few recipes which include bananas that you can make for your dog to integrate them safely into your dogs diet
Recipes
There are a lot of recipes that include bananas, mainly treats and biscuits. Here we have 5 of our personal favorites for you to make and feed your dog
Fruity Oat Treats
A tasty little snack which does not require any cooking – you could eat these as well. Just don't let your dog catch you 🙂
Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats, divided
3 dates
1 banana, mashed
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons organic flaxseed oil
1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
Step 1 : In a blender or food processor, combine one cup of oats, the dates, the banana and the vinegar.
Step 2 : Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl, and add the remaining oats, flaxseed oil and honey.
Step 3 : Mix well, and then put it into a shallow dish and flatten it down.
Step 4 : Put in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
Step 5 : Cut it into rectangles to make biscuit-like treats.
Very Fruity Yoghurt
Lots of delicious fruit with many vitamins and minerals which are beneficial and also yoghurt and cottage cheese which have a high protein profile
Makes: 8 cups
Ingredients
2 cups of plain yogurt
1 peeled and mashed banana
2 cups of cottage cheese
2 tablespoons of safflower oil
1 piece cored and chopped apple
1 cup of peeled and mashed ripe mango
Instructions
Step 1 : Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Mix well, and refrigerate.
Step 2 : Once the mixture is cold, serve it to your dog.
Almond and Banana Treats
Another recipe which you could also eat as well as your dog, again just don't let it catch you 🙂
Ingredients
¾ cup unsalted almond butter
⅓ of a banana
1 egg
1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Step 2: Mash the banana with a fork, and then add in the rest of the ingredients. Mix well
Step 3: Spoon dollops of the mixture onto the baking pan. Bake for about 5 minutes, and then flip the pieces over and bake for another 5 minutes on the other side.
Step 4: Remove from the oven. Let them cool, then serve.
Healthy Doggy Biccies
Make your own healthier biscuits for your dog with this recipe
Ingredients:
4 carrots
2 peeled bananas
300 grams of flour
200 grams of oat flakes
100ml oil
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
Step 2: Now peel the four carrots and grate into small pieces. Mash the bananas. Now mix the carrots and bananas with flour, oat flakes and oil into a dough.
Step 3: Roll out the finished dough and cut it out with a cookie cutter or into your desired shapes.
Step 4: Place the biscuits on the baking tray and bake at 180 degrees for about 25 minutes.
Step 5: Take the cookies out of the oven and let them cool down.
Strawberry and Banana Frozen Dog Treats
A simple little two ingredient treat which you your dog will love. Very good for cooling down you dog on a hot day.
Ingredients
Three peeled bananas
Three-quarters cup of strawberries
Instructions
Step 1: Freeze strawberries and bananas for two to three hours.
Step 2: Put the frozen strawberries and bananas into a blender and puree until the mixture becomes smooth.
Step 3: Scoop the mixture into a bowl using a large spoon.
Step 4: Allow the mixture to rest for 40 minutes so that mixture starts to go firm.
Step 5: Serve your dog some of the treat in a small bowl and save the rest for later.
Step 6: You can store the mixture in containers and freeze.