Bananas are often used as a part of a healthy diet for humans. You probably toss a banana into your post-workout protein shake, or top your maple cinnamon oatmeal with sliced bananas. They taste good, they’re nutritious, and their flavor is pleasant and agreeable. Everyone likes bananas — including dogs.
Your dog may not see the same health benefits from a daily banana as you do, but that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy bananas as a special treat. Bananas are packed with nutrients that, in small amounts, are a great supplement to your dog’s diet.
Your dog’s main diet should be perfectly balanced and complete — they shouldn’t need bananas or other treats to help meet their nutritional requirements. While bananas are rich in vitamins and minerals like potassium, your dog should be getting enough potassium from their food bowl.
While bananas should never be a staple food, they can absolutely be a nice little tasty treat for your dog. If your dog loves bananas, they can have a few pieces every now and then.
It’s best to avoid giving your dog banana peels or leaving them in a place where they might get to it. If you’re giving your dog slices of banana, peel the banana first.
Don’t be alarmed if your dog fished a banana peel out of the garbage and chewed it up. Banana peels aren’t harmful or toxic to dogs, they’re just very high in fiber and may cause temporary digestive issues.
If your dog ate the peel without chewing it, it’s possible that large pieces of banana peel can cause blockages. If your dog is going potty normally, there usually isn’t anything to worry about.
Your dog’s diet should be 90% dog food. You can technically give your dog bananas every day, as long as the amount of the treat is proportional to the size of the dog. A very big labrador can have half a banana, where a pomeranian can have about 1/8th of a banana. The portions or doses you give your dog of food or medications will always vary based on weight.
Special treats should be about 10% of your dog’s diet per day. If your dog is really fond of banana peanut butter treats, using one or two to reward good behavior every day is safe. You might want to consider adding a little more variety to your dog’s treat selection to prevent them from getting bored.
Incorporating other healthy treats like watermelon, green beans, apples, turkey, and cooked fish will give your dog a well rounded selection of treats.
You can give your dog half of a peeled banana on occasion if you aren’t one to prepare dog treats. No special preparation is necessary. If you’re looking to make healthy, high quality dog treats, bananas are a valuable ingredient.
Note on dog-safe peanut butter: Dogs shouldn’t have any sweeteners (real or artificial) in their diets. Xylitol, a common artificial sweetener touted for its dental health benefits in humans, is actually toxic to dogs. Peanut butter that is safe for dogs will generally have very short ingredients lists with natural ingredients.
Peanut butter banana pup truffles are a lot like the kind of truffle treats humans eat, but without the chocolate. Start by preparing plain oatmeal with water according to the pouch instructions. Don’t use a flavored or sweetened variety of oatmeal, and don’t make oats with milk or plant milk alternatives.
Add a mashed banana and a few spoonfuls of dog safe peanut butter ( into the mixture until it becomes thick. You can toss the whole mixture into the food processor. When the mixture becomes thick and sticky, it’s ready.
Scoop the mixture into small balls, rolling them up as you go. Pop the truffle sized balls into the freezer to harden them. When they’re solid, you can transfer them to a freezer-safe bag and dole them out to your dog one at a time. They should keep well in the freezer for up to a month.
If you have a Kong toy and your dog is adventurous and playful, put half of a peeled, frozen banana into the kong. Freezing the banana increases the amount of time it will take for the banana to turn to mush inside the Kong.
If your dog isn’t lactose intolerant, make them some banana pup ice cream. Plain, unsweetened yogurt with live cultures is a great base for your dog’s sweet treat. Avoid yogurt that contains more ingredients than cultured milk. Sweeteners can be harmful to your dog, and xylitol can be toxic.
Mash your banana, mix it up into some plain yogurt, and pop it in the freezer for a little while to make it nice and cold. This yogurt makes the perfect sweet treat for your dog. If you’re having ice cream as a family, this recipe allows your dog to participate in the festivities.
These treats are a perfect alternative to biscuit-like dog treats. If you’d rather prepare your dog a fresh batch of dry treats where you’re in absolute control of the ingredients, this is a great recipe.
Start by combining 2 ½ cups of oat flour or whole wheat flour with ½ cup of cornmeal. The cornmeal improves the texture and sturdiness of the treat, giving it the grainy crunch that your dog prefers.
Toss in 1 cup of grated carrots, 2 mashed bananas, 1 thoroughly beaten egg, and ½ cup of cold water. This recipe calls for ⅓ cup of oil. Coconut oil, flaxseed oil, and sunflower oil are all great choices for your dog. They provide the kinds of healthy fats your dog needs for great skin and a shiny coat. We’d recommend avoiding canola oil or vegetable oil as they’re not as nutritious and may cause some stomach upset, but olive oil still has plenty of healthy fats!
Mix it all together thoroughly and roll it out until it’s about ½ inch thick. You can cut it into bars or use cookie cutters to form the treats. Bake them at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes, and turn the oven off. Leave them in the off oven for about half an hour. They’ll continue to crisp up without burning.
Take them out and let them cool. When they’re fully cool, they’re ready for your pup to enjoy. They’ll last about a week in an airtight container. Extras can be frozen and thawed for later use. If you’d like to double up the batch and make enough dog treats for a few months, go ahead!
The occasional treat is healthy and enjoyable for every creature that walks the earth. You like a blueberry muffin or a slice of pizza a few times a week. Your dog likes their bananas and peanut butter.
As long as these things are enjoyed in moderation, they generally shouldn’t pose a risk to health or wellness. If your dog is on a special or restricted diet, consult with your veterinarian before introducing new foods to their diet.
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Sources:
YOUR DOG’S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS | National Academies Press
Can Dogs Eat Oatmeal? Is Oatmeal Good for Dogs? | American Kennel Club
These product reviews are for informational purposes only. The information is not a substitute for expert veterinary care. Product reviews are written by actual customers and represent their own observations. These observations are not guaranteed, are not medically substantiated, and may not be typical for other pets.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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