Horse owners do everything they can to ensure that their animals have the best things in life.
This includes medical care, physical activity, social interaction, and a nutritious diet. As with most pets, many owners want to provide their horses with occasional treats, but worrying about the potential effects a new food can have on an animal causes them to pause.
Plenty of owners wonder “can horses eat bananas?” Keep reading to discover the full answer, precautions to take, and the nutritional benefits that bananas provide.
Can Horses Eat Bananas?
Horses can certainly eat bananas. Because bananas are a nutritious source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin D, and magnesium, they’re most appropriate to give to a horse as a treat.
Potassium aids the muscles and nervous system, and it’s an essential nutrient for your horse’s heart health. Vitamin C can boost your horse’s immune system and facilitate the repair of cell and tissue damage. Magnesium is an essential mineral for bone health, and it helps regulate a horse’s insulin levels.
Additionally, when given to a horse in moderation, bananas can ease the animal’s digestive system and relieve mild gastrointestinal upsets.
Precautions When Feeding Treats
As mentioned, horses can eat bananas as a treat, which means that they should only be fed on occasion. A good rule of thumb to follow is to feed only a couple of bananas to your horse in a given week.
While most horses tolerate bananas well, it’s a good idea to introduce your horse slowly if they’ve not yet tried this treat in the past.
Feed the animal only a few small pieces of banana at a time, then keep an eye on him or her to note any potential reactions. If you notice a new behaviour or symptom that causes you concern, contact your veterinarian.
Benefits of Bananas as Treats
On top of bananas being a healthy option to serve your horse as an occasional treat, there are a couple of additional benefits to keep in mind.
- Horses usually find bananas highly palatable. They’re soft, sweet, and many horses tend to enjoy them as a treat.
- Because of their texture, bananas can be beneficial for horses dealing with dental issues. Biting down on hard food can be painful for horses with sensitive teeth, but bananas are so soft that they’re virtually painless to eat.
- Bananas can be used to contain medications. If your horse is prescribed medication and it’s difficult to administer, hiding pills or powders in a slice of banana can make it easier to ensure your horse is sticking to a medication routine.
- Banana peels are also nutritious, so if your horse wants to eat the peel, consider it a healthy treat to give in moderation.
Feeding Bananas to Horses – Conclusion
Now that you know bananas are perfectly safe in moderation for most horses, try introducing your horse to bananas. Offer him or her a couple of small slices and if the animal enjoys the treat, consider giving them on occasion.
If you have any concerns, reach out to your equine veterinarian to ask questions and receive advice.
