Bananas! A universally loved fruit. They are versatile, delicious, and nutritious. What is there not to love?

These are some reasons as to why the fruit is so popular, and a staple in many pantries. But most of the attention is given to bananas, and many people tend to overlook their larger cousins, plantains. 

The main difference, aside from their larger size, is that plantains contain a lower sugar content than bananas. They can be consumed cooked or raw. However, they are most commonly served cooked.

So an important question emerges, can dogs eat plantains? 

It is true that many fruits are good for our dogs. But there are also many that are bad for them. In this article, we will tell you whether plantains are safe for dogs to eat. Plus, some of the health benefits and potential health risks of giving your dog plantains to eat. 

Can Dogs Eat Plantains?

The short answer is yes. Dogs can absolutely eat plantains. Plantains is an okay food for dogs. 

Even though there are many types of fruits that are not good for dogs such as grapes, apricots, and avocados, plantains is not one of them. 

Plantains are good food for our furry pooches. It contains a number of health benefits for them.

Health Benefits of Plantains for Your Dog 

Plantains are rich in certain minerals and vitamins. It is rich in Vitamin C, Fiber, Potassium, and Magnesium. 

Plantains are loaded with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is great for strengthening a dog’s immune system as well as its bones. 

Plantains are a great source of fiber. Fiber helps in solving a dog’s digestive problems. Foods rich in fiber can help against bowel movement problems. 

Plantains also contain high levels of potassium. Potassium can keep your dog’s bones strong and healthy. This makes plantains a good food for older dogs.

Plantains contain high amounts of Magnesium which regulates metabolism. It also helps in a dog’s neurotransmission. 

Not only that, plantains also have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. Plantains can help in soothing coughs in the respiratory tract.

Plantains are also useful against food-borne pathogens such as Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus thanks to their antiseptic properties. They also help in lubricating things that dogs have eaten such as dog toys and such. 

However, not all parts of plantains are healthy and good for dogs. And this isn’t a food your dog should eat all the time.

Precautions To Take When It Comes To Dogs and Plantains

Too much fiber can also cause an upset stomach. So it is best to limit how much plantain you will feed to your dog. 

It is also not a good idea to give your dogs the peel of a plantain. Plantain peels contain too much fiber for your dogs.

It is also best to limit how many plantains you feed your dogs as they are high in carbohydrates.

Foods high in carbs can be bad news to dogs as it can cause obesity, and high blood sugar levels. 

Fried plantains are also not recommended due to their high caloric content. The same thing could be said about plantain chips.

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?”

Another common fruit dog owners ask about a lot are mandarins. Find out here Can Dogs Eat Mandarins?

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