Is it safe to feed a banana peel to your dog? This is a frequent concern for pet owners. So let’s find out if it’s acceptable or not to feed the skin of a banana to our beloved pooch.
Dogs can eat banana peel, but they shouldn’t do it too often. Because dogs don’t have the necessary digestive enzymes to break down fruit cellulose into simple sugars that the body can absorb, feeding them fruits is not recommended, even though in most cases it will do them no harm.
So banana peel is generally not recommended to be fed to dogs because the peels are difficult to digest (just as the fruit itself is).
However, banana peels are generally safe – both for pets and humans – and even though they don’t taste as good as the fruit itself, a banana’s skin is not poisonous.
However, banana peel contains small amounts of toxins that may cause toxicity in your dog when the peel is digested. It could cause them stomach-related problems or a loose stool.
But if you really want to feed the skin of a banana to your dog – if they seem to enjoy it, you can do so moderately.
My beagle does seem to like it, for some strange reason – although I think that since he eats dirt and many other disgusting things, banana peel can already be considered a delicacy.
So giving small parts of banana peel once or twice a week are okay to keep your dog healthy.
Is banana peel healthy or not for dogs?
Dogs may benefit from the nutrients in banana peels for a short period of time because too much can cause your dog more harm than good – no matter if we’re talking about the skin of the banana or the entire fruit.
So as long as the banana peel is given occasionally and in small portions, it should be okay to use as occasional treats. It is not recommended to feed dogs with banana peel on a regular basis though.
Banana peels have anti-inflammatory properties that help in treating arthritis and stomach aches of dogs. They also have lots of vitamins and minerals that can prove to be beneficial to dogs.
However, there are many better options to feed your dog – not banana skin, nor the fruit itself.
It is only beneficial if they are given occasionally because too much can harm their health. And for some dogs, even smaller amounts can cause them at least some discomfort.
Dog owners have been feeding their dogs with banana peel for many years now (especially since we don’t eat them), but banana peels are not recommended to be used as dog treats.
If you want to feed your dogs with banana peel, make sure that it is in small pieces and given once or twice a week only.
You should also note that there are toxic substances that come from the skin of bananas, which may cause diarrhea, vomiting, and even seizures. So, it is best to always prevent your dog from digging into the peel of any kind of fruit until you know that they are safe to eat.
Banana peels also contains different kinds of enzyme inhibitors that can lower down your dog’s body’s capability to absorb protein and starch properly. You don’t want that to happen, right?
Related reading: Best deshedding tools for your dog.
It is also worth noting that some owners feed their dogs with banana peels, and it makes the dog’s stool more loose and smelly.
Banana peel contains high levels of potassium, which can cause diarrhea in your pet. And that’s definitely not pleasant: not for the dog, not for you!
Finally, any chemicals that store owners spray on bananas in order to increase their shelf life and remove pests are mostly stored on the skin.
Since we normally don’t wash bananas before eating them, the skin can have various other chemicals that can harm your dog’s health.
What to do if your dog eats a banana?
Bananas (or just their skin) are not things that dogs will generally eat, but this can happen.
If your dog eats a whole banana or its skin, chances that it will threaten its life are minimal. However, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so it’s recommended to visit the vet immediately and do as instructed.
In most cases, if your dog ate just part of a banana – or even an entire one – it’s best to watch them carefully and see if they get any symptoms.
Your dog will probably just throw up and it won’t be necessary to bring out the big guns, i.e. a trip to the vet or emergency room.
Your dog may also have diarrhea for a few days. If this is the case, give them plenty of water to drink so they don’t become dehydrated.
If there are signs that they are not feeling well (they are lethargic, they no longer eat or drink water, they get severely constipated), visit the vet as soon as possible!
After all, dogs can help you fight depression and are a man’s best friend… so we all have to take as much care of them as possible!
Conclusion
It’s best not to feed your pet with banana peel because it can cause more harm than good for their health.
Also, feeding them with fruit peels are not advisable because they contain toxins that may harm your dog.
Instead, give them treats specifically made for dogs and feed them the dog food you can buy in pet stores since those are created specifically to meet all their dietary and nutritional needs.