As a dog owner, you are often presented with conflicting information regarding which foods your four-legged friend can safely eat. Fruits and vegetables that are normally consumed by humans (and recommended for their health benefits) are a frequent topic of speculation. Dog owners should take extra precaution whenever considering feeding dogs human foods, as these can sometimes be toxic to dogs. So, are bananas good for dogs? The short answer is yes, bananas are great for dogs, but only in moderation. Bananas, therefore, make excellent dog treats, as they are packed with nutrients, but banana dog treats should definitely be avoided on an everyday basis. This article will explore why bananas make an excellent treat for dogs and detail the reasons why you should avoid frequently feeding your dog bananas. 
The Pros of Bananas for Dogs
Bananas are a tasty and vitamin-dense snack for dogs. Many of the same properties that provide health benefits for humans also make them great for dogs. Specifically, bananas are packed with potassium, magnesium, and fiber, all of which impart a positive impact on a dog’s health. Bananas are also a great source of vitamin B-6, vitamin C, and manganese. Diving into these beneficial vitamins and minerals a bit more demonstrates why bananas can be an excellent addition to your dog’s diet.
Potassium
Potassium is an essential mineral for your dog’s health that is present in a variety of different food sources. Of these, bananas represent one of the best sources of potassium for your dog. Potassium is an electrolyte that fulfills a number of functions in your dog’s body.
- Hydration: Potassium helps regulate water balance to ensure that your dog stays hydrated.
- Muscle Function: Potassium plays an important role in your dog’s muscle function.
- Heart Health: potassium is incredibly important for heart health and plays a role in regulating and maintaining healthy heart rhythm.
Fiber
The dietary fiber present in bananas helps regulate digestive function in dogs. However, it is important to note that too much fiber, accompanied by a lack of water, can actually cause constipation. This is because fiber absorbs water, so when there is a lack of water, stool hardens and causes constipation. For this reason, many veterinarians will recommend a moderate amount of banana treats for dogs that are experiencing digestive issues.
Magnesium
Magnesium is present in nearly all of your dog’s cells in the body, but it is found in the highest concentrations in the bones and soft tissue. Magnesium is used by the body for a wide variety of roles. Magnesium fulfills a vital function in hundreds of metabolic functions and is necessary to regulate the electrical balance in your dog’s body. Low concentrations of magnesium are detrimental to health, and can lead to an irregular heartbeat, muscle spasms, weakness, and depression.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient for promoting a healthy dog brain and bananas are one of the best sources for it! B6 also helps secrete the hormone melatonin which is essential for healthy sleeping habits.
Vitamin C
This vitamin is known to help support a healthy immune system and combat sickness and disease. Vitamin C is not as important for dogs when they are young and healthy because, unlike humans, dogs are able to produce this vitamin themselves. However, as dogs age, they cannot produce this nutrient as frequently or efficiently.
The Cons of Bananas for Dogs
Sugar Content
While bananas may provide essential vitamins and minerals for your dog that fulfill a variety of important roles within the body, there are some downsides to feeding your dog bananas. The main downside to feeding your dog bananas is their high sugar content. Bananas are packed with fructose, a fruit sugar. A dog’s stomach is not able to breakdown and eliminate sugar in the bloodstream as quickly as humans, which can result in high concentrations of sugar in the blood for a long period of time following the consumption of food with sugar and can lead to high blood sugar in dogs. This can also present an issue for your dog’s teeth, as sugar will work to decay the teeth of dogs.
Allergic Reaction
Although it is rare, there is a possibility that your dog is allergic to bananas. This is why it is important to introduce bananas to your dog slowly if your dog has never consumed bananas. If you suspect your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction from bananas, you should contact your vet immediately.
Administration Protocol for Feeding Dogs Bananas
Avoid the Peel
It is important to note that while feeding your dog bananas, you should completely avoid feeding your dog the peel of a banana. Many people mistakenly believe that banana peels are toxic to dogs. This claim is incorrect. However, the peel still should NOT be fed to your dog. Although banana peels are not toxic to dogs, the peel itself can cause a blockage in the digestive tract. Because of this, banana peels should be disposed of properly and securely.
Proper Portion Size
Because bananas are loaded with fructose, they can present a danger to your dog. For this reason, it is important that you only feed your dog’s bananas in moderation and also take into account the size of your dog when deciding on an appropriate portion size. While bananas are great for dogs, avoid feeding them an entire banana. Instead, use bananas as a treat or reward for your dog. Additionally, you should feed your dog cut up pieces or mashed banana since dogs won’t chew something as soft as a banana.
There are many different ways that you can serve bananas to your dog to enhance the treat-like qualities of the fruit and make them something dogs love. Better yet, treat them to banana biscuits for dogs for a banana experience they are bound to love. One of the most popular ways is to stuff a piece of banana into a Kong or similar toy and top it with natural peanut butter (avoid any with xylitol, as it is fatal to dogs) and throw your treat in the freezer. This way, you can be sure that your portion is small enough to avoid any dangerous spike in blood sugar, while also giving your dog a tasty treat they will be sure to enjoy while still reaping the benefits of eating bananas.
