As a dog owner, it is inevitable that your pet will, at some point, consume your fallen food scraps. While most situations are not serious, it is important to know what the red flag foods are, so that you can best protect their health. What would happen if your dog ate a banana peel? Can dogs eat banana peels?
Although it may sound strange, humans can consume and digest banana peels. In fact, in some countries, banana peels are consumed as a source of vitamins and minerals. They are even a common ingredient in a multitude of cuisines. So how about your dog?
This article will inform you as to whether it is safe for dogs to eat a banana peel. We will discuss the level of toxicity, if any, and what occurs if they do eat the peel. We will also share whether they can eat bananas.
Can Dogs Eat Banana Peels?
The short answer is no. It is important that you neither feed nor let your dog consume banana peels. Banana peels are mechanically hard to chew and difficult to digest for dogs. Although banana peels are non toxic for dogs, eating a peel is still dangerous and may cause serious harm.
What Happens If My Dog Eats Banana Peels?
If they do eat one, the after-effects could range quite a bit. If your dog is lucky, she may simply vomit up the banana peel later, with no serious repercussions. Then, your dog will likely make a quick recovery.
However, a more severe reaction may include intestinal blockage. Do not fear too much, since intestinal blockage caused from a banana peel is a rare occurrence.
But it is still not worth the risk. Intestinal blockage may land your dog in the pet hospital emergency room.
Smaller breeds of dogs are at more risk of harm upon consuming banana peels. This is because they swallow their food whole without chewing.
Warning symptoms to look out for:
Watch out for these symptoms if your dog manages to eat the peel of a banana:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Reduced stool
- Straining to pass stools
- Tiredness
- Stomach pain, including excessive stretching
- Lack of appetite
Another issue your dog may have after consuming a banana peel is an allergic reaction. It is rare, but some dogs are allergic to it.
But what about the fruit itself? Is it healthy for a dog to eat? The answer to that is yes; bananas are good for dogs.
Health Benefits of Bananas for Dogs
Just as they do for humans, bananas provide a fair share of benefits to dogs. They are high in potassium, fiber, and important vitamins. However, be cautioned that they should be fed moderately at most. Too many bananas can cause gastrointestinal distress.
So, ensure that banana peels or bananas stay out of reach for dogs, and definitely be sure to peel them before giving them to your pet.
There you have it! While banana peels may be an unorthodox healthy source of nutrition for us humans, they could prove to be dangerous for our pets. So be careful when you’re discarding banana peels, or else your furry little friend might get it.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
In the next article in this series we look at can dogs eat butternut squash.
