Bananas are a staple fruit in our homes, usually found in our fruit bowl, and occasionally added to our salad mix or used to make smoothies. We even bake bread with them. This makes it difficult not to consider offering it to our Maltese when we are taking a bite.
Wondering if Maltese can eat bananas? Yes, Maltese can eat bananas. In fact, bananas are a great treat alternative due to all the health benefits it has. Banana is rich fiber, vitamins, and minerals which are required for healthy growth and body function.
Now we know bananas are safe and healthy for our Maltese to eat, it is important to know what benefits it has and the risks involved in feeding your dog banana.
Can your Maltese eat banana bread or banana chips? These are some questions I have done my research on and I will be answering them below.
That being said, let’s begin.
Health benefits of Banana
Bananas are famously known to be a good source of potassium and they are also contain vitamins (B6 and C), fiber and magnesium in high amounts.
Potassium is great for muscle development, blood vessel function, as well as the regulation of the body fluid’s acidity src.
Vitamin C helps in the healthy development of your Maltese’s immune system while magnesium helps in the healthy development of bones.
Magnesium also helps the body absorb vitamins as well as protein, making it a necessary trace mineral needed in your Maltese’s growth src.
The high fiber content found in bananas can be helpful if your dog is suffering from diarrhea.
Risk involved
Like every fruit, there are certain risks involved, especially if it is overindulged. This makes it necessary to only feed your Maltese banana in moderation.
One of the risks involved when your Maltese eat bananas in excess is the possibility of developing diabetes or becoming overweight.
This is due to the simple fact that bananas are high in carbs and a large portion of their calories come from sugar.
The high fiber content of banana that is useful in treating diabetes can also lead to constipation when eaten in excess.
Bananas also pose a potential choking hazard if your Maltese decides to gobble down chunks that weren’t chopped into safe to eat sizes.
It is important to keep watch of your Maltese when you feed him/her banana for the very first time. Watch for signs your Maltese is not ‘food-sensitive’ to bananas.
How much Banana can Maltese Eat?
With the various points identified as potential risks involved in feeding your Maltese banana, and the major factor being the amount of banana eaten, it is important to know how much banana you should feed your Maltese.
You can feed your Maltese only few chunks (maybe one or two) of banana a day. Never feed your Maltese one whole banana, as this would increase the potassium and sugar level in its body.
Banana should only be fed as a treat and with treats, it should only constitute 10 percent of your Maltese’s daily diet.
Can Maltese Eat Banana Peel?
Banana peels are not eaten by humans, they are to be safely disposed of.
Do not feed your Maltese banana peels, although not found to be toxic, it could lead to choking, and due to their tough nature, they would be difficult to digest, causing stomach pain, constipation and may lead to intestinal blockage.
Ensure you properly dispose of your banana peel away from your Maltese’s reach.
Can Maltese eat Banana Bread?
If you are handy in the kitchen and would often bake banana bread, you might be wondering if you can give your Maltese some freshly baked banana bread.
To be safe, do not feed your Maltese banana bread. Although a little bit might not be fatal, there are certain risks posed by the ingredients used in making banana bread.
Plain white or wheat bread is ok for dogs to eat but as stated above, some ingredients and items we include when making our banana bread can pose certain health risks and be fatal to dogs.
Some of the items and ingredients to avoid includes:
- Raisins: Often found in bread, raisins are toxic to dogs, as such banana bread baked with raisin should never be fed to dogs, even as a treat.
- Chocolate: Toxic to dogs, chocolates, depending on how dark it is, and the amount consumed, can send your dog to the emergency room. Ensure to keep your banana bread away from your dog if chocolate was used in making it
- Nuts: Nut such as the macadamia nut is toxic to dogs. Other safer nuts are high in fat and that could result in pancreatitis and stomach irritation.
- Wheat: Although not harmful to all dogs, it has been discovered that some dogs could be allergic to wheat. So, monitor your Maltese after feeding him wheat bread just to be sure.
- Garlic: Garlic contains a toxic compound called thiosulfates that can lead to vomiting and diarrhea.
- Xylitol: This is an artificial sweetener majorly used in sugar-free chewing gum, candy, and sometimes used to bake.
Xylitol is toxic to dogs and can result in vomiting, hypokalemia, seizures, coma, liver dysfunction amongst other things.
In a situation your dog ingests a banana bread made with any of the listed items, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-213-6680) immediately for advice.
It is important to never feed your Maltese store-bought banana bread as most are made with the above listed items.
How to make Banana Bread that is Safe for Dogs
You might not be able to share your banana bread with your Maltese due to the ingredients used in making it, but that shouldn’t stop you from treating him/her.
Below, I share a banana bread recipe that is safe for dogs. Now they can participate in some of that good, sweet banana bread.
Things you will need to make 6 slices of banana bread:
- 1 banana,
- 1.5 cups of whole wheat flour,
- 1/2 an egg,
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder,
- 0.5 cups of milk,
- 1/8 tablespoon of honey (optional).
How to make it.
1: Preheat oven to 150C.
2: Coat your pan with some vegetable oil to make the pan nonstick.
3: Mix your flour and baking powder together in a bowl
4: Smash your banana in another bowl using a fork. Add in your egg, milk, and honey(optional). Whisk together and add to your bowl with flour.
5: Mix until all the ingredients are perfectly blended together.
6: Scoop the dough and place it on the loaf pan. Use a spatula or spoon to distribute the dough evenly throughout the loaf pan.
7: Bake for 50 minutes. Check if the loaf is done by poking holes using a fork or toothpick. If your toothpick or fork comes out clean, your banana bread is ready.
8: Remove your loaf of bread. Let it cool off for approximately one hour and it is ready.
Following these 8 steps will give you a banana bread safe to treat your Maltese.
Quick reminder: Do not feed your Maltese all 6 slices of banana bread at once, just one or two per day should be enough.
Can Maltese eat Frozen Banana?
Freezing your bananas for smoothies is the norm for humans, so wondering if frozen banana could be a treat for your Maltese wouldn’t be inconsiderate.
Maltese can eat a frozen banana as a special treat. This can also be used to keep your Maltese busy and entertained while providing all the benefits bananas offers.
Shoving few slices of banana and treats into a Kong toy and freezing overnight can be used when you need to keep your dog mentally stimulated and busy.
Always remember not to feed your Maltese too much banana at a time.
Can Maltese Eat Banana Chips?
Banana chips or dehydrated banana are safe for your Maltese to eat as a treat. They still contain the same amount of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
They make a great healthy snacking alternative for humans and dogs alike, but like most treats, the banana chip should only be fed to your Maltese in moderation.
Avoid feeding your dog banana chips covered with granulated sugar or salt. Salt, when ingested in excess could result in dehydration, seizures, and vomiting.
Can Puppy Maltese eat Banana?
Puppies need twice as much food as adult dogs according to the National Research Council of the National Academies. This is necessary for their growth and development.
Fruits like Banana can be fed to your puppy Maltese as a treat. They contain the fiber, vitamins, and minerals necessary for healthy growth.
Bananas can also be used as a tasty treat during puppy training as well.
Fruits and Vegetables safe for dogs to eat can be fed to puppies as well, but they should only constitute 5 percent of their daily diet. It is important to feed your puppy Maltese food designated for dog (puppy) growth.
These foods are usually higher in calories compare to foods manufactured for adult dogs.
How to Make a Simple Home-Made Banana Treat
Aside from the banana bread previously mentioned, you can still make other home-made treats with banana.
What you will need:
- 1/2 ripe banana
- A scoop of xylitol-free peanut butter
- A slice of mild cheese
- Some plainly cooked, and shredded chicken
- A blender
- A Kong toy or any toy you can fill.
Instructions:
- Add the shredded chicken, banana (peeled), scoop of xylitol-free peanut butter and the slice of mild cheese into the blender,
- Blend until you get a smooth and consistent texture of the mixture,
- Take the said mixture and fill the Kong toy or any fillable toy.
- Freeze overnight.
Give this as a treat for good behavior during training or as a way to keep your dog preoccupied
In conclusion, bananas are one of the healthiest food humans can share with their dog, helping to strengthen the connection we share with our lovely dogs.
