We all are aware that bananas are great for us but is it great for your dog?

Banana is one of the essential and popular fruits available in most of the countries. It is rich in potassium, fiber, sugar, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and biotin.

Health Benefits

• Bananas are an excellent source of potassium it helps to maintain blood pressure and reduce strain on the cardiovascular system. According to the National Academy of Science, potassium helps to maintain the balance of water in cells. An imbalance in the diet with too little potassium and too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure. Excessive sodium can increase fluid retention in the body. Banana contains low sodium and cholesterol therefore, the inclusion of banana in the diet helps to even out the imbalance and maintains heart health.
• Banana is a good source of fiber. One of the recommended food for gut healing. Ripe bananas are easily digestible, gives a sense of satiety and good energy levels. It promotes regular bowel movements. It helps to relieve constipation.  It replenishes the electrolyte loss due to diarrhea however banana should be fed in moderation.
• Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant that helps in eliminating harmful free radicals. Although vitamin C can be produced in the body of dogs, when the dog is sick there can be depletion of vitamin C. Studies proves that vitamin C level drops when the animal is in stress or sick. In such conditions supplementing it can help with the recovery. It inhibits tissue and collagen degeneration and helps in overall boosting of the immune system.
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) promotes the generation of red blood cells, glucose, maintains nervous system functions, immune response, and hormone regulation.
• Biotin can help with dry or scaly skin. It also plays an important role in growth, digestion, and muscle formation.

How to feed?

• Ripe mashed banana is one of the easiest ways to feed banana to dogs. Mash it just before feeding them. Mashing it helps to prevent gulping large pieces at a go however, some dogs prefer to eat just like we do.
• Dry/ dehydrated chewy bananas can have a better shelf life and can be a good choice as treats.
• Frozen bananas can be an excellent treat for summer.
• Many banana recipes are available online. One of my favorite recipe is mentioned below.

How much to feed?

• Small breeds/puppies  – 2-3 chopped  banana pieces/day
• Medium breeds- half a regular banana/day
• Large breeds- one full banana /day
• Make sure the dogs are active enough to burn those calories that they eat.   
• Offer a small piece of banana first and wait for a few hours. If there are no reactions you can be certain that there is no allergy. Dogs are usually not allergic to bananas, but all the dogs are different so watch out for allergy likes signs i.e. itchy and reddening of the skin.

Banana overdose?

As the famous saying goes “Too much of anything does more harm than good”.  Dogs can gain the same health benefits just like we do from eating bananas however, only when fed in moderation. Too much of bananas can lead to diarrhea, bloating, and even constipation. Common symptoms of banana overdose are:

• Abdominal discomfort
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Constipation
• Disorientation
• Collapse

 Can you feed unpeeled bananas? / Is banana peel safe to eat?

Although banana peels are non-toxic, they contain a massive amount of fiber which can be hard to digest.   If you offer unpeeled banana to your dog it can create an obstruction or a blockage in the digestive tract. Therefore peeled and chopped bananas should be given in moderation to your dogs. You may consider giving banana as treats rather than adding bananas to the main diet. The sudden addition of banana to the diet may exhibit some disturbance. Hence the addition of small quantities and observing whether it suits your dog is very important. If there is any deviation in the normal bowel movements consult your vet. Another word of caution is that too much of banana eaten at a time may lead to hyperkalemia (increase in potassium) this condition has ill-effects on heart health.

In my opinion, when fed at the right dose home-made banana treats can be an excellent substitute for other commercial treats. As I have mentioned in earlier articles, the amount of treats given should comprise only 10% of the main diet.

Next time when you munch on bananas, make sure you share it with your doggies.

Hugs & wags

VetBug