We all want nothing but the best for our dogs, don’t we? After all, we are their whole lives, and they deserve nothing but the finest things in life, ranging from their beds and collars to food and treats.
And no matter how much you spend on artisan hand-picked dog food, they always want what you are eating, don’t they? Often we say no and try to be stern, but we cave eventually and indulge our pooches.
But we often wonder, is this safe for dogs to eat? We never want to inadvertently harm them and find ourselves spending most of our time fretting about what we can and can’t feed our dogs.
Well, no more! Today, we are here to find out what your dog can and can’t eat. We have tons of other articles on our site about this, so be sure to check those out before you leave, but for now, let’s take a look at banana peels and find out if these are safe for our dogs to eat.
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Can dogs eat banana peels?
Let’s get straight into it: technically, yes, dogs can eat banana peels. But should they? The answer to that question is no; you shouldn’t feed your dog banana peels.
The peel of a banana is far tougher and harder than the banana itself, making it difficult for your dog to digest. Your dog might be in pain or find it difficult to pass the banana peel, like when we have indigestion. It can even cause blockages in some cases!
With that in mind, it’s best to avoid feeding your dog banana peels at all. Ensure that they are disposed of in the food waste correctly and that your dog cannot access any banana peels to avoid causing them injury.
Now that we have covered that dogs shouldn’t eat the banana peel, let’s look at why, what happens, and what parts of the banana your dog can enjoy!
Can banana peels hurt dogs?
As we mentioned briefly earlier, banana peels are difficult for your dog to digest and leave them in pain. As the peel features highly concentrated amounts of fiber, digesting them can be difficult.
The high amount of fiber can be too much for a dog’s digestive system, especially smaller dogs, and will leave them in pain. They might experience pain similar to indigestion and have stomach cramps, and seem lethargic or not themselves.
In some cases, your dog might even vomit as they attempt to get the banana peel out of their body. If the vomit looks unusual or you notice blood in it, contact your vet immediately. The banana peel can also become lodged in your dog, causing a blockage.
A blockage is a serious issue and can even be fatal in dogs! You will need to speak to your vet immediately if you suspect the banana peel might be causing a blockage.
To be on the safe side, we would contact the vet as soon as your dog eats a banana peel. They can offer you tailored advice and get you the help that you and your dog need.
As the peel mainly consists of fiber, it isn’t toxic to dogs, but the harm it could cause their body can be fatal. Intestinal blockages are a serious issue and must be treated accordingly.
While there is a chance that the banana peel, especially if a small amount is ingested, will pass through your dog’s system, we don’t think it’s worth the risk. After all, why would you want to do anything that could hurt your dog?
What parts of a banana can a dog eat?
Now that we have established that banana peel is a right off, you might be wondering what other parts of banana you can feed your dog. Well, you’ll be pleased to know that your dog can enjoy the rest of a banana as a tasty treat!
It’s best only to give your dog small amounts of banana, as the fruit is quite high in sugar. Dogs don’t need much sugar, and overloading their diet can lead to health complications and even diabetes! While fruit might seem like a healthy treat, you mustn’t give them too much.
Avoid black parts of the banana, too, as the sugar content tends to be denser and far higher. Opt for ripe bananas that will be soft enough for them to eat happily.
Chop some of the banana into small chunks or mash it and add it to your dog’s food.
You can also place chunks of banana in Kong’s or other stimulating toys that your dog can use. After placing it into a Kong, freezing the banana will make playtime last longer and keep your dog occupied for hours.
You can also freeze the banana whole, peel it and slice it when it’s time for your dog to enjoy it.
We wouldn’t recommend giving your banana daily, but small amounts once or twice a week should be fine. For those with smaller dogs or dogs with health issues, we recommend speaking to your vet beforehand.
They can offer tailored diet programs and advice about what your dog should eat and how much.
Those who want to give their dog a real treat spread some dog-safe peanut butter on the banana before giving it to them.
Your dog is sure to thank you for it, although you might be left with some sticky mouths to wipe! As with the banana, peanut butter should be given sparingly as a treat too.
Final Word
And just like that, we have reached the end of our banana peel journey today!
As you can see, the banana peel should not be fed to your dogs, as it can lead to indigestion or, worse, intestinal blockage! Instead, feed them small chunks of banana as treats so your pooch can still enjoy a tasty and healthy treat!
Remember to speak to your vet if you have any concerns about feeding your dog banana or if they have ingested banana peel.
