Can pets eat banana?
Banana
Fine in small amounts
Dogs: In moderation · Cats: In moderation · Rabbits: In moderation · Birds: Safe
By animal
| Animal | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | In moderation | Safe. High in sugar, so a treat rather than a staple. |
| Cats | In moderation | Safe and rarely wanted. |
| Rabbits | In moderation | Very high in sugar for a rabbit. A thin slice at most, rarely. |
| Birds | Safe | Well tolerated and popular. |
What it actually does
Nothing in a banana is toxic to any common pet. The only consideration is sugar: a banana is around 12 per cent sugar by weight, which for a rabbit — whose gut is built for high-fibre, low-sugar forage — is enough to disturb the caecal flora if given often. The peel is not toxic but is fibrous enough to cause a blockage.
No reliable dose threshold has been published for this. Anything presenting a specific safe amount is extrapolating.
Body weight decides almost everything here, so what is trivial for a 40 kg dog can matter for a 4 kg one, and a bird is smaller again. Where a real published threshold exists this page gives it; where none does, it says so rather than inventing one.
Fruit
| Food | Worst verdict | Dogs | Cats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants | Toxic | Toxic | Toxic |
| Avocado | Toxic | Risky | Risky |
| Apple | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Blueberries and strawberries | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Watermelon and melon | In moderation | Safe | Safe |
| Cherries, peaches, plums and apricots | Risky | Risky | Risky |
| Oranges, lemons and limes | Risky | In moderation | Risky |
| Coconut and coconut oil | In moderation | In moderation | In moderation |
Common questions
- Can dogs eat banana?
- Fine in small amounts. Safe. High in sugar, so a treat rather than a staple.
- Can cats eat banana?
- Fine in small amounts. Safe and rarely wanted.
- What does banana actually do?
- Nothing in a banana is toxic to any common pet. The only consideration is sugar: a banana is around 12 per cent sugar by weight, which for a rabbit — whose gut is built for high-fibre, low-sugar forage — is enough to disturb the caecal flora if given often. The peel is not toxic but is fibrous enough to cause a blockage.
Related pages
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat avocado? Toxic — treat as an emergency
- Can pets eat apple? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat blueberries and strawberries? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat watermelon and melon? Fine in small amounts
- Can pets eat cherries, peaches, plums and apricots? Risky — depends on amount or preparation
- Can pets eat chocolate? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat onion, garlic, leek and chives? Also an emergency
- Can pets eat xylitol and birch sugar? Also an emergency
- Everything, for dogs 46 foods
- Everything, for cats 46 foods