Certain types of fruit can make for great snacks to feed your pup, but can huskies eat bananas?
In short, yes. Bananas (without the peel) are good for huskies for several reasons. They contain lots of nutritional value and are quite low in calories, which means they are a great option in moderation for your pup.
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of bananas for huskies, how to feed them safely, and more.
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Why Huskies Can Eat Bananas
Bananas may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about your husky’s favorite foods. However, dogs are omnivores, which means they need meat, fruits, and vegetables in their diet.
Some human foods are toxic for dogs. However, bananas are perfectly safe for them. They also have plenty of nutrients that are good for your pooch.
Banana Nutrition
Bananas were the first food declared a “Superfood” by the American Medical Association, and for good reason.
Bananas contain lots of nutrition:
- Vitamin B6
- Fiber
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Vitamin C
- Manganese
- Biotin
- Copper
In addition, one ripe banana contains 110 calories, no fat, and 3 grams of fiber. They also contain 28 grams of carbohydrates and 15 grams of sugar.
Bananas are a nutritional powerhouse, but you should feed them to your husky in moderation due to their sugar content.
How Much Banana Can a Husky Eat?
Foods like bananas are great for your husky, in moderation. Large dogs can eat 1/2 of a banana in a day. It can be tempting to give your pooch a whole banana, but it’s too much.
Bananas do have a high amount of sugar. This isn’t a bad thing in proper amounts, but just like us, dogs don’t need to overdo their sugar intake.
It’s also important to note that foods like bananas are considered treats or supplements to your husky’s diet.
Treats, including healthy fruits, should make up no more than 10% of their daily calorie intake. Too much of a good thing can lead to unhealthy weight gain.
How to Feed Your Husky Bananas
If your husky enjoys bananas, there are a few ways to offer it to them. Don’t give them banana peel. We’ll discuss why in an upcoming section.
The simplest way to give them a banana is to peel it and give it to them fresh. You can slice it and use it as a training treat, or give them the whole amount, which is half the banana.
You can mash up the banana, and mix it with their regular food. This can be helpful if they are picky, or getting bored with their regular meals.
If they enjoy Kong toys, stuff a piece of banana into the Kong, and freeze it. They will enjoy the smell as well as the challenge of chowing down on it.
If you want to keep it simple, you can freeze a whole banana. Just be sure to cut it into slices before serving. When fresh, bananas are soft and don’t pose a choking hazard.
However, frozen banana is harder, and your pooch could choke if they attempt to swallow it whole or in large chunks.
Lastly, you can slather the banana with peanut butter. Just be sure that the peanut butter doesn’t contain xylitol, which is present in low-calorie or sugar-free options. Keep in mind that peanut butter is high in calories as well.
6 Key Benefits Of Bananas For Huskies
Now that we know about the good stuff bananas contain, let’s take a closer look at these nutrients, and how they can benefit your husky.
1. Vitamin B-6 Has Numerous Benefits
Vitamin B6 is vital for overall husky health.
It is responsible for glucose generation, as well as red blood cell and nervous system function. The list doesn’t end there – it is also beneficial for eye and brain health, as well as arthritis which is common in active breeds like the husky.
2. Fiber for Digestion
Bananas are high in fiber, which also provides several benefits for your husky. Bananas have long been recommended for gastrointestinal problems for both dogs and humans.
If your pooch has constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting, reach for a banana. The fiber can relieve constipation or diarrhea, and help calm the digestive system.
It’s also great for the digestive tract, even when your pooch is feeling well. It can be fermented into a fatty acid by probiotic bacteria in your husky’s intestines.
This fatty acid helps prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
Fiber is also thought to reduce the risk of colon cancer in dogs.
3. Potassium for Muscle Health
Potassium is actually an electrolyte, which is essential for many functions within your husky’s body.
Potassium is necessary for creating nerve impulses. In other words, if there’s no potassium in the body, your pooch wouldn’t be able to move.
Potassium helps the muscles grow, contract, and relax properly as well. This is why we get muscle cramps if our potassium gets low.
Potassium is particularly important for highly active breeds, including huskies.
Potassium also plays a role in heart health, because the heart is a muscle. It aids digestion, and it can boost brain function.
Lastly, potassium contributes to bone health. Dogs that have optimal levels of potassium have a higher bone density. Over time, pooches with healthy potassium levels have more calcium in their bones as well.
4. Vitamin C for Immunity
Unlike us, dogs can produce vitamin C themselves. However, vitamin C in their diet is still beneficial. Vitamin C is particularly important when your pooch is sick or stressed, and may be helpful for dogs who have a fever.
In fact, stress is the most common cause of low vitamin C levels. This applies to both physical and mental stress. Dogs who are extremely active, like huskies, can deplete their vitamin C levels quickly.
In these cases, their bodies will often need more vitamin C than they can produce themselves.
Vitamin C is essential for the immune system. Research has revealed that it can treat distemper, which is often fatal in dogs.
It’s also a potent antioxidant, which means it can help remove free radicals and toxins from your husky’s body. This promotes overall health and reduces the risk of cancers.
5. Magnesium for Well-Being
Magnesium is essential for more than 300 processes within the body. It’s second only to potassium in the amount that’s found in your husky’s body.
Magnesium’s functions include nerve and muscle function, heart health, and bone density. It also helps the body absorb other vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorous.
Over 30% of dogs who are critically ill have very low magnesium levels. Magnesium is key to your husky’s overall body function and health.
6. Trace Minerals
Trace minerals found in bananas include manganese, biotin, and copper.
Copper helps your pooch make red blood cells and aids in iron absorption. Biotin helps them maintain healthy skin and coat, and contributes to joint health. Manganese is essential for healthy joints.
What About Banana Peels?
No, you should never feed your husky a banana peel.
They aren’t toxic, but they do pose a few dangers for your pooch.
Because they are so fibrous, they are difficult to break down. This can cause your dog to choke when eating the peel. It can also cause an intestinal blockage after they eat it.
Even if they avoid these worst-case scenarios, they can’t digest the peel. The best-case scenario is the peel coming out without being broken down into small pieces and offering no nutritional value.
It can cause stomach upset, including vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite.
What to Do If Your Husky Eats a Banana Peel
Despite our best intentions, our dogs sometimes eat things they shouldn’t. If your husky eats a banana peel, you’ll need to monitor them.
Your pooch will probably be fine. However, it’s a good idea to give your vet a call. They will likely tell you to monitor your pooch, but they may ask you to bring them in.
If they have an upset stomach, you’ll need to call your vet so they can monitor the situation. You should also watch for severe vomiting, weakness, and an inability to poop.
These can be signs of a bowel blockage, which requires immediate veterinary care.
What Other Fruits Can Huskies Eat?
Bananas aren’t the only fruit huskies can enjoy. Just like us, it’s good for huskies to get different types of fruits and other foods in their diet.
Huskies can indulge in most fruits, just like most other dog breeds.
These include:
- Apples
- Berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries)
- Watermelon
- Pumpkin
- Pineapple
- Cucumbers
- Peaches
- Cantaloupe
- Cranberries
They can also eat oranges, but they may steer clear of them. Most dogs don’t like citrus fruits. They are also acidic, so they can cause mild stomach upset if your husky has a sensitive stomach.
Fruits Huskies Can’t Eat
The list of fruits that huskies shouldn’t eat is, fortunately, much smaller. However, it’s important to know what to avoid feeding your pooch.
Fruits you shouldn’t feed your husky include:
- Cherries (pits are toxic)
- Avocados
- Grapes & Raisins
Summing It Up
Can huskies eat bananas then?
Well, to put it one way, many huskies are bananas for bananas.
It’s a great way to supplement their diet and indulge them at the same time. You can even share a banana with them. Just be sure to give them bananas in moderation and avoid the peel.
Want to learn about other husky snacks? Check out some of our other articles below for some quick and easy foods you can give your husky:
