Can my dog eat bananas?
Can dogs eat bananas?In moderation
Peeled, sliced and, because of the sugar, only as a small snack.
Yes, dogs can eat bananas – peeled and in small amounts. Bananas provide potassium and fibre, but they contain around 12 g of sugar per 100 g and more calories than berries. Depending on your dog's size, one and a half to six slices are enough as a snack; don't feed the peel.
How much banana can your dog eat?
Enter the weight – the amount updates straight away. You can adjust age, activity and neutering below.
How the calculator works
- Daily requirement: Resting energy requirement 70 × 15 kg^0.75 ≈ 534 kcal × factor 1.6 ≈ 855 kcal.
- Treat allowance: at most 10% of that = 86 kcal for all treats combined.
- Calorie limit: 86 kcal ÷ 89 kcal/100 g = 97 g of bananas.
- Guide value for dogs 10–25 kg: 3 × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick) at 7 g each = 21 g (guide value from the source).
- Recommendation: the smaller of the two, rounded down to half portions → 3 × 7 g = 21 g ≈ 19 kcal.
Sources: 10% rule from the WSAVA guide to treats · kcal value: USDA FoodData Central. Daily requirement as in the dog calorie calculator.
Result · 15 kg · Adult
Up to 3
× banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick) on a snack day
(≈ 21 g, 19 kcal)
How often: As an occasional snack, not as a daily side. All treats together should make up no more than 10% of daily calories – so on banana days, give fewer other treats.
Treat allowance 86 kcal (10% of 855 kcal) · 1 banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick) ≈ 7 g
Limited by: guide value
Here the guide value for dogs 10–25 kg sets the limit (guide value from the source): at most 3 × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick). In terms of calories, up to 97 g would be possible.
Based on PetMD: one thin slice up to half a banana a day, depending on size – converted here to slices 1 cm thick.
This applies if it's the only snack that day – if your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
The app calculates recipes in grams, kcal and portions to suit your dog's weight, age, activity and allergies.Bananas for dogs: amount by weight
| Weight | Maximum per snack day | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 1½ × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick)≈ 10 g | ≈ 9 |
| 10 kg | 1½ × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick)≈ 10 g | ≈ 9 |
| 20 kg | 3 × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick)≈ 21 g | ≈ 19 |
| 30 kg | 6 × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick)≈ 42 g | ≈ 37 |
| 40 kg | 6 × banana slice (approx. 1 cm thick)≈ 42 g | ≈ 37 |
- All snacks together no more than 10% of daily calories (WSAVA recommendation). If your dog gets other treats too, give correspondingly less.
- Guide value per weight class – small up to 10 kg, medium 10–25 kg, large over 25 kg: Based on PetMD: one thin slice up to half a banana a day, depending on size – converted here to slices 1 cm thick.
What's in it
- Provides potassium, vitamin B6, a little vitamin C and fibre.
- Low in fat and salt – in small amounts, an alternative to fatty or salty treats.
- Soft and easy to mash: handy for stuffing chew toys or as a topping.
What to watch out for
- At around 12 g of sugar and 89 kcal per 100 g, banana is much higher in energy than most berries – too much contributes to weight gain.
- Larger amounts can cause digestive problems such as tummy ache or diarrhoea.
- The peel isn't toxic, but it's hard to digest; large pieces can cause an intestinal blockage.
- If your dog has diabetes or is overweight, only give banana after checking with your vet.
- Dried banana and banana chips are very high in sugar, often sweetened or salted, and can swell in the stomach.
- Banana bread and banana cake can contain raisins, xylitol or nutmeg – these are dangerous for dogs.
How to prepare bananas
How to do it
- Peel the banana
- Cut it into slices or mash it
- Stuff mashed banana into a chew toy and freeze it
- The first time, give just one slice and keep an eye on digestion
Better not
- The peel – whether fed or left lying around
- A whole banana in one go, frozen or not
- Shop-bought banana chips
- Banana bread, puddings or cake
How often?
As an occasional snack, not as a daily side. All treats together should make up no more than 10% of daily calories – so on banana days, give fewer other treats.
Frequently asked questions about bananas
Can my dog eat banana peel?
No. The peel isn't toxic, but it's hard to digest, and large pieces can cause an intestinal blockage. If your dog has eaten a peel and is vomiting, stops eating or has abdominal pain, call your vet straight away.
Can dogs eat frozen banana?
Yes, small frozen pieces or mashed, frozen banana make a good summer snack. A whole frozen banana is too much and can lead to choking.
Can puppies eat banana?
Yes, in smaller amounts than adult dogs. Introduce banana as the only new food and watch your puppy's digestion. If it vomits or gets diarrhoea, stop giving banana and ask your vet.
Can my dog have banana every day?
Better not. Because of the sugar, banana is an occasional snack. A few blueberries, for example, are a lower-calorie option for every day.
Can dogs eat banana chips or dried banana?
Better not. Dried banana is very high in sugar, and shop-bought chips often contain sugar, salt or oil. Poorly chewed pieces can swell in the stomach and block the gut.
Does banana help with diarrhoea?
No – banana isn't suitable as a home remedy for diarrhoea, as it contains too much sugar. A bland diet is the better choice for diarrhoea; if it persists, your dog needs to see the vet.
How many calories are in half a banana?
A medium-sized banana weighs about 118 g peeled, so half is around 60 g with about 53 kcal. For a 10 kg dog, that's already most of a day's snack allowance.
Can a dog be allergic to banana?
It's rare, but possible. Give only a little the first time and watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, itching or recurring ear infections.
Can my dog eat banana bread?
No. Banana bread is high in sugar and fat and sometimes contains raisins, xylitol or nutmeg – all dangerous for dogs.
Is banana suitable for overweight dogs?
Only rarely and after checking with your vet. Lower-calorie alternatives are blueberries, strawberries or cucumber.
Recipes with bananas
Similar foods
- YesFruitAppleWithout the core, seeds and stalk, cut into slices or small pieces.See the answer
- YesFruitBlueberryFresh or frozen, washed and without sugar, in small amounts.See the answer
- YesFruitStrawberryWashed, without the leaves and stalk, and cut into small pieces.See the answer
- In moderationFruitPineappleFresh flesh only, without the skin, core and crown.See the answer
- YesFruitWatermelonOnly the flesh, without the seeds or rind, in small cubes.See the answer
Sources
- Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Benefits, Risks, and Safe Serving Tips – American Kennel Club (AKC)
- Can Dogs Eat Bananas? Benefits and Risks – PetMD (vet-reviewed)
- Bananas, raw (SR Legacy, FDC 173944) – USDA FoodData Central
- Feeding treats to your dog – WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee (10% rule in the calculator)
Reviewed on · DoggoMeal editorial team
This page is no substitute for veterinary advice. Dogs with pre-existing conditions – for example of the kidneys, liver or pancreas, or with diabetes – and dogs with allergies often need their own rules. If your dog has symptoms or you're unsure, ask your vet.
Recipes that fit your dog
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