Bananas are popular all around the world. Some people eat them as occasional snacks, while others include them as part of a healthy meal. Still others eat bananas as meals in themselves. They are sweet and satisfying, full of nutrients and water, and they happen to be an excellent source of energy, which might be why they’re especially popular among endurance athletes.
However, just because bananas are healthy for humans doesn’t mean they are healthy for dogs. Or does it? Yes, bananas are safe and healthy snack options for our canine companions! This is good news because bananas are inexpensive, and many people keep a few in the kitchen at any given time, which makes them easily accessible during snack time.
Why Bananas Are Safe and Healthy Snacks for Dogs
Bananas are full of vitamins and minerals that every dog requires to stay happy and healthy throughout their lives. For example, they contain potassium, which helps regulate body fluid and ensure that electrolytes are properly balanced. Potassium also promotes healthy heart and kidney functionality. Vitamin C is also abundant in bananas, which is an important nutrient that can help a dog’s immune system thrive.
Bananas contain magnesium, which is important for metabolism, and vitamin B6, which helps balance hormones and support healthy bone growth. Another reason bananas are healthy for dogs is that they contain fiber, which can help alleviate gastrointestinal distress. While banana peels are not toxic, they are hard for dogs to digest, so they should be avoided when feeding this fruit to your pooch.
How to Feed Bananas to Your Pooch
Since banana peels can be tough to digest, it’s best to peel a banana before offering it to your pooch as a snack. If your dog loves bananas, they will probably want to eat the fruit as is. Younger pups and dogs that aren’t too fond of bananas may better enjoy this fruit served in other ways. Here are a few suggestions:
- Make Banana “Pudding” — Simply mash a banana with a fork until it resembles the texture of pudding, then let your pooch lick it out of the bowl.
- Make a Biscuit Spread — Stir 1 teaspoon of peanut butter and a quarter of a mashed banana together, and spread the mixture on doggy biscuits at snack time.
- Stuff It Into a Toy — Cut a banana into small chunks, then stuff the chunks into a treat toy, such as a Kong.
- Serve It Up Frozen — Peel a banana, and place it in a plastic freezer bag. Freeze the banana overnight, then cut it into slices before offering it to your pooch.
Be creative, and your dog won’t get tired of bananas easily. If your pooch doesn’t like bananas at all, though, don’t try to force them to eat one. There are a variety of healthy fruits that they might like instead that will also offer them health benefits, such as blueberries, watermelon, pears, and pineapple.
A Quick Recap
Bananas are excellent snack options for dogs. They’re full of nutrition, and most dogs seem to enjoy their taste and texture. They also happen to be budget friendly and shareable between humans and pooches. Just be sure that bananas make up just a small amount of your dog’s diet, so they can still get all the nutrients that they need from their commercial dog food.
Featured Image Credit: Paulo Vilela, Shutterstock
