Bananas are probably the easiest fruit to share with a dog. They're soft, they need no knife if you're careful, and most dogs love the sweet taste. The only real questions are how much, and what to do with the peel.
Yes, dogs can eat bananas. Plain, peeled banana is safe for most dogs as an occasional treat in small pieces. The catch is sugar and calories: banana is one of the sweeter fruits, so keep portions small and don't feed the peel.
Are bananas good for dogs?
Banana flesh contains potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, some magnesium and fiber. That sounds impressive, but a healthy dog on a complete and balanced dog food already gets the vitamins and minerals it needs. Think of banana as a pleasant, low-fat treat rather than a supplement.
What bananas do well:
- Low fat, no salt. A slice of banana is a much better reward than cheese, ham or a fatty commercial treat.
- Soft texture. Mashed banana works for senior dogs with few teeth and as a filler for a stuffed chew toy.
- Easy to portion. You can cut a slice as thin as a coin for a small dog.
What they don't do: replace a meal, fix a nutrient deficiency, or cure anything. Bananas are also higher in sugar than most other dog-friendly fruits, which is why our guide to fruits dogs can eat rates them "yes, occasionally" rather than a plain "yes".
Risks of feeding bananas to dogs
Bananas are not toxic to dogs, and they are not on the ASPCA's list of foods to avoid. The problems come from the amount and from the parts around the fruit.
Sugar and calories. A medium banana has roughly 100 calories, most of it from natural sugar. UC Davis lists 1/8 cup of mashed banana at about 25 calories. For a small dog that is most of the daily treat budget in one go. Regular large portions add weight.
The peel. Banana peel isn't poisonous, but it is tough and fibrous. Dogs digest it poorly, so it can cause vomiting, and a large piece swallowed whole can block the intestines, especially in a small dog.
Stomach upset. Too much banana at once can cause gas, loose stool or, the other way round, constipation, because of the fiber.
Choking. Big chunks can lodge in the throat of a dog that gulps its food. Slice or mash for small dogs.
Allergies. Rare, but any new food can cause itching or an upset stomach in a sensitive dog. Start with a tiny piece.
Banana products, not bananas. Most real danger comes from foods that contain banana: banana bread with raisins, chocolate or nuts, banana-flavored foods with xylitol, and sweetened banana chips. More on those below.
How much banana can a dog eat?
Treats of any kind should stay under 10% of your dog's daily calories, with the rest coming from a complete and balanced food. Banana is a treat, so it shares that 10% with dental chews and training rewards.
These are rough guides for a healthy adult dog, using slices about 1/2 inch (1 cm) thick from a medium banana. Each slice is roughly 7 to 8 calories.
| Dog size | Example breeds | Banana per day, as a rough guide |
|---|---|---|
| Extra-small (under 10 lb) | Chihuahua, Yorkie | 1 thin slice, cut into small pieces |
| Small (10 to 25 lb) | Beagle, Cavalier | 1 to 2 slices |
| Medium (25 to 50 lb) | Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel | 2 to 4 slices |
| Large (50 to 90 lb) | Labrador, Golden Retriever | 4 to 6 slices (about a quarter to a third of a banana) |
| Giant (over 90 lb) | Great Dane, Mastiff | Up to half a banana |
Give it a few times a week rather than every day, and less if your dog already gets other treats. For a figure based on your dog's weight and activity, use the dog treat calculator.
How to prepare bananas for dogs
- Peel it. Always remove the whole peel. The stringy bits under it are fine.
- Slice or mash. Coin-sized slices for most dogs, quartered slices or a smear of mash for tiny dogs.
- Freeze it. Frozen banana slices make a cooling summer treat. Thaw them a minute if your dog has sensitive teeth, and keep the pieces small.
- Stuff a toy. Mash a little banana with plain, xylitol-free peanut butter or plain yogurt, pack it into a chew toy and freeze it. Count it all as treats.
- Mix into food. A teaspoon of mash on top of kibble can tempt a picky eater.
Use ripe, plain banana. Skip anything sweetened, flavored or cooked with other ingredients.
Can puppies eat bananas?
Yes, in tiny amounts once they're eating solid food. A puppy's diet has to come from a complete and balanced puppy food to support growth, so a banana treat should be a fingernail-sized piece now and then. Ask your vet if your puppy has a sensitive stomach.
Dogs with health conditions. Check with your vet before feeding banana if your dog has:
- Diabetes: banana's sugar can affect blood glucose control.
- Obesity: every extra calorie counts; low-calorie vegetables may be a better treat.
- Kidney disease: bananas contain potassium, and some dogs with kidney disease need their potassium managed.
- Pancreatitis: banana is low in fat, but dogs with pancreatitis are often on a strict diet with no extras.
Bananas in other forms
Can dogs eat banana peels?
No. Peels are not toxic, but they are hard to digest and can cause vomiting or a blockage. Store-bought bananas may also have pesticide residue on the skin. If your dog grabbed one from the trash, see the section below.
Can dogs eat frozen bananas?
Yes. Frozen, peeled banana slices are a good hot-weather treat. Keep the pieces small so they can't be swallowed whole, and count them in the daily treat allowance.
Can dogs eat banana chips?
Plain, unsweetened dried banana is fine in very small amounts. Most store-bought banana chips, though, are fried in oil and coated with sugar or honey, which makes them high in fat and calories. Dried banana is also concentrated, so one chip packs more sugar than a fresh slice. Read the label, and skip any chips mixed with raisins, chocolate or nuts.
Can dogs eat banana bread?
It's best not to share it. Plain banana bread is not toxic, but it is high in sugar, butter and calories. Many recipes add raisins, chocolate chips or macadamia nuts, which are dangerous for dogs, and some "sugar-free" or low-carb recipes use xylitol, which can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar. If your dog stole a slice, check the recipe; for xylitol, use the xylitol toxicity calculator and call your vet.
Are bananas good for a dog with constipation or diarrhea?
This one is often repeated online, so it's worth being careful. Bananas contain fiber, and some owners give a little mashed banana to a dog with mild loose stool. There isn't good evidence that it works for dogs, and too much banana can cause constipation or make diarrhea worse. For mild stomach upset, ask your vet first; plain pumpkin is the more common vet suggestion. If diarrhea lasts more than a day, contains blood, or your dog is vomiting or lethargic, see a vet.
What to do if your dog ate too much banana or a peel
Ate a lot of banana flesh. Most dogs will have, at worst, some gas, a loose stool or a bit of constipation for a day. Offer water, skip treats for a day, and watch.
Ate a peel. A small piece usually passes. A whole peel, especially in a small dog, can cause a blockage. Call your vet if you see:
- repeated vomiting
- not eating
- belly pain or a hunched posture
- straining with no stool
- lethargy
Ate banana bread or another banana product. Check the ingredients for raisins, chocolate, macadamia nuts or xylitol. If any are listed, call your vet, an emergency clinic or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away (a fee may apply). Our toxic to dogs checker can help you look up the other ingredients.
FAQ
Can dogs eat bananas every day?
A slice or two is fine for most healthy dogs, but bananas are sugary, so a few times a week is a better habit. Keep all treats under 10% of daily calories.
Are bananas toxic to dogs?
No. Banana flesh is not toxic. The peel isn't toxic either, but it is hard to digest and can cause a blockage.
Can dogs eat green or overripe bananas?
Yes, both are safe. Slightly green bananas are firmer and less sweet; very ripe ones are sweeter and softer. Avoid anything moldy.
Can dogs eat banana with peanut butter?
Yes, if the peanut butter is plain and contains no xylitol (sometimes listed as birch sugar). Use a thin smear, since peanut butter is high in calories.
Can dogs drink banana smoothies?
Not the human kind. Smoothies often contain yogurt with sweeteners, honey, other fruits, protein powder or xylitol. Plain mashed banana is the safer way to share.
What fruits are safer than bananas for weight control?
Lower-sugar options include blueberries, strawberries and watermelon (no seeds or rind). See our low-calorie dog treats for more ideas.
The bottom line
Bananas are a safe, low-fat treat for most dogs when you peel them, cut them small and keep the portions modest. Watch the sugar, skip the peel, and be careful with banana bread, chips and anything that might contain raisins, chocolate or xylitol. If your dog has diabetes, kidney disease or a weight problem, ask your vet before making banana a habit.
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