Ever wondered if your furry friend can indulge in the tropical goodness of plantains? As a responsible pet owner, it’s crucial to be mindful of what goes into your dog’s diet. In this guide, we’ll explore the question, “Can Dogs Eat Plantains?” and provide you with five essential safety tips to ensure your canine companion enjoys this treat without compromising their well-being.
Plantains are a vegetable that resembles cooked bananas. They are also called vegetable bananas. Can dogs eat plantains? Yes, they can, provided you follow specific basic rules or measures. Plantains can benefit your dog due to their anti-inflammatory or anti-bacterial properties. The rich fiber eases digestive problems in your dog unless they are served in high amounts. Let us look at the differences between plantains and bananas first.
Plantains vs. Bananas
Table of Contents
A popular misconception that plantain and bananas are the same exists today. Specific phrases like ‘Plantains are fried banana slices’ often come to our ears. Plantains are almost similar looking to bananas, but bananas and plantains differ hugely in their tastes, textures, and the benefits they hold as food.
Bananas are a bit smaller in size compared to plantains. Plantains are also tougher compared to bananas, both for dogs and humans. The thick coat of plantains makes them harder and more elastic. Plantains come primarily in three different colours – green, dark brown, and yellow. Plantains are comparatively less sweet than bananas too. If you want to know, ‘can dogs eat plantains?’, then you must know that it is advised not to eat ripe or uncooked plantains, like bananas.
Cooking and serving plantains to dogs
You might be wondering about the question, ‘can dogs have plantains?’ well, they can, but you have to keep in mind never to serve raw or uncooked plantain to dogs. You can serve either boiled or steamed plantains to your dog. You can also use mashed and cooked plantains as a recovery meal if your dog suffers from digestive issues or has an upset stomach. Handy and easy-to-cook vegetables like plantains come helpful in such cases.
Still want the answer for ‘can dogs eat plantains?’ We are here to help. You have to be aware that plantains can easily taste bland in your dog’s mouth if you have not doctored it some way or the other, and your dog may refuse to eat them all together. Also, if your dog has never tasted plantains before, take it slow, like all new foods should be taken for dogs. Start by serving them 5 grams of plantain and gradually increase the quantity.
Don’t opt for frying the plantains you intend to give your dog. Frying would necessarily involve a lot of fat, which may lead to unpleasant digestive tract issues for your dog. Instead, boiling is a much better choice as an adult puppy’s recommended daily fat intake is no more than 5%. Steaming is also a good option, but it may turn the taste of plantain bland in your dog’s mouth.
Try to choose ripe plantains for your dog, as ripe plantains are less bland to taste. You can also add little bits of plantain mashed with your pup’s daily food as a form of supplement to introduce plantain to your dog. However, it would help if you remember that the benefits of plantain mostly come from the fact that they are simple and bland.
Ingredients and nutritional value of plantain
Can dogs have plantains? Of course, Yes! Plantain is a highly beneficial vegetable for dogs, superior to almost any other vegetable. Plantain has a great blend of fibres, Vitamin C, Potassium, Magnesium, and Antioxidant compounds, which makes it a highly beneficial food for humans and dogs.
Can dogs eat plantains? Before jumping straight to the answer, let us look at the nutritional value held by 10 slices or 105 grams of baked yellow Plantains – 163 calories, 43.5 grams of carbohydrates, 2.31 grams of fibre, 1.6 grams of protein, 0.168 grams of total lipid (fat), 22.4 grams of sugar, 14.4 grams of sucrose, 3.98 grams of glucose (dextrose), 4.01 grams of fructose, 2.1 mg of Sodium, 18.8 grams of starch, 0.294 mg of Iron, 501 mg of Potassium, 38.8 mg of Phosphorus, 43 mg of Magnesium, 3.15 mg of Calcium, 0.221 mg of Zinc, 0.046 mg of Copper, 0.173 mg of Manganese, 17.2 mg of Vitamin C, 0.095 mg of Riboflavin, 0. 719 mg of Niacin, 0.557 mg of Pantothenic acid, 0.221 mg of Vitamin B6, 0.0055 mg of Folate, 0.0047 mg of Vitamin A, 0.0387 mg of Beta Carotene, 0.0371 mg of Alpha Carotene, 0.0013 mg of Vitamin K.
Benefits of Plantain for dogs
As we have successfully answered the question, can dogs eat plantains? let us now split the nutrients of Plantain into two categories – 1> Macronutrients 2> Micronutrients. Carbohydrate makes up the most share of macronutrients in Plantains in the form of Sucrose, Glucose, Fructose, and sugar. A tiny bit of good amino acids and healthy fats form the rest of the macronutrients.
Micronutrients in plantain are present in abundance in the form of minerals like Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Zinc, and various others, and vitamins like Vitamin C, A, Niacin, B6, Alpha and Beta Carotene, and K. Let us now look at the potential health benefits these macro and micronutrients hold for plantain –
An abundance of minerals in any dog food is essentially beneficial to a dog, especially dogs in the pup stage. Minerals are essential in ensuring your pup’s healthy overall growth and development. Plantains can act as a mineral supplement for dogs who are not receiving a proper amount of minerals from their daily intake.
The presence of Potassium, Sodium, and Magnesium as a micronutrient in plantain ensures healthy muscle contractions in your dog while also improving cell signalling and proper transmission of nerve impulses. Vets advocate a daily intake of more than 1 gram of Potassium, 150 mg of Magnesium, and 100 mg of Sodium daily.
The presence of essential amino acids in plantain ensures that your pup maintains a healthy musculature and good joint flexibility. The presence of tiny amounts of healthy fats ensures that your dog has a healthy heart rate and an excellent cardiac rhythm.
Plantain is a vegetable that can reduce obesity in your dog and help them maintain healthy skin along with a shiny coat. Recent studies suggest that plantain can help reduce kennel cough in dogs too. Now you might have got the answer for ‘can dogs eat plantains?’
Cautionary warnings regarding plantains
Even though plantain is very healthy food for dogs that can serve as a mineral and vitamin supplement, some risk factors remain –
- Never serve raw plantain to your dog as it can lead to digestive issues, even though they may taste the same as boiled plantain. Raw plantain has a very high glycemic index, which can be harmful to dogs.
- Never serve plantain to dogs with high sugar levels, as the starch content in plantain can be harmful to dogs with such conditions.
- Don’t add seasonings like onion, garlic, or salt while cooking plantains for dogs.
Plantain Pawsibilities: Safely Introducing a Tropical Delight
In conclusion, the answer to whether dogs can eat plantains lies in responsible moderation and careful consideration. By following the five safety tips outlined above, you can confidently treat your canine companion to the unique flavors of plantains. Remember, a healthy and happy pup begins with a well-informed and caring owner. Here’s to safe and enjoyable plantain paw-sibilities for you and your furry friend!
So, can dogs have plantains? Of course, they can. Just boil or steam them and serve them to your dog and you are ready with your homemade mineral supplement for your dog.
Read More:
- What Happens If A Dog Eats Mandarins Orange?
- How Much Pepperoni Can a Dog Eat?
- How Many Tortillas Can A Dog Eat?
- Will Scallops Hurt Dogs?
- Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Dried Apricots?
- How Much Cilantro Can A Dog Eat?
- What Happens If My Dog Eat A Goldfish?
- Do Dogs Like Lobster?
- Will Yellow Mustard Hurt Dog?
