Can Dogs Eat Plantains?

Looks like every time you start munching on a plate of fried plantains, your dog stares at you like they’ve never eaten a day in their life. With their big eyes, either judging you or trying to make you feel guilty for not sharing some with them. The good thing is that you did not fall straight for it and came here looking for the right answers. And we have them for you! 

The banana doppelganger, plantains are basically bigger and firmer versions of banana. We humans often like them in the form of chips. Luckily, dogs can enjoy cooked plantains without any harm as well. They can also provide some nutritional benefits to your dogs. Here are a few potential benefits of plantains for dogs – ^{(1) (4)}

Hold your horses yet. Before you head straight to the market or fill your dog’s food bowl with plantains, there’s another side to the story that you need to know. 

While plantains are not toxic to dogs, there are some risks associated with them. Here are the most common and important ones – 

Cooked plantain is safe but feeding it raw can cause a choking hazard in dogs. A Dog’s teeth are not the best for grinding fruits and vegetables. Uncooked plantain can pose a serious choking threat for dogs. Even you should not eat raw plantains by the way. 

As plantains are mostly eaten in the form of chips, the oil and seasonings used can cause some serious gastrointestinal problems for your dog. They can cause an upset stomach or other dangerous digestive issues, such as vomiting or diarrhea. As a result, your dog can get dehydrated. 

All the unused energy that is stored in the form of glucose in a dog’s body turns into fat. This can keep building and cause obesity which can put strain on the joints. It can also cause inflammation in the pancreas leading to pancreatitis which is a pretty severe medical condition in dogs and can even be fatal. 

You should also consult your vet before feeding plantain if your dog has diabetes. 

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Plantains?

Dogs can and should only eat cooked plantains. Raw plantains are too hard to digest for both, humans and dogs. The best way to feed plantains to dogs is to either roast or steam them, peel off the outer layer and then cut them into tiny bite-sized pieces and feed your dog. You can even boil or grill ripe plantain, mash them and add them to your dog’s food bowl. ⁽²⁾

Do remember that, even if done the right way, you should feed plantains to dogs only in moderation as an occasional treat. Always start with a few small bites and wait to see any reaction. 

Can Dogs Eat Plantain Chips?

Chips come with oil and seasonings like salt and other spices. These can be bad for your dog’s digestive health and cause problems like diarrhea and vomiting. All the unhealthy fats and calories can cause weight gain and other related problems. 

Plantains already have a high glycemic index. Frying or baking them can produce more sugar and increase the glycemic index. Feeding chips can hence increase the risk of diabetes as well. ⁽⁴⁾

Can Dogs Eat Plantain Leaves?

There are basically two types of plantain – herb and fruit. We’ve talked about the fruit version. The leaf version is more interesting though. It’s made up of a series of wide green leaves from 1-6 inches in length. These leaves can provide multiple benefits to your dog including – ⁽³⁾

You can feed plantain leaves to your dog in the form of juice or tea or just add some fresh leaves to your dog’s food.

These leaves can provide benefits to your dog externally as well. You can use them to treat minor cuts, scrapes, burns and bug bites. They contain aucubin and tannins that fight infection and kill germs. 

More About Spot Pet Insurance

There are going to be a lot of food-related questions that you’ll have to keep finding answers to. But there will be times when your canine ends up feasting on things they are not supposed to. You may also unknowingly feed them foods that can cause digestive upset and other problems for them. Some may be minor, but others might be severe and may even surgery. At such a time, worrying about your pet would be more important than worrying about all the medical bills. This is where pet health insurance helps. You can save up to 90% of all expenses and much more. 

Spot accident and illness plans can be used with any licensed vet in Canada or the U.S. Whether you are home, or traveling to the U.S., veterinary services your pet receives for the diagnosis, treatment, or management of covered conditions can be eligible for reimbursement. Spot’s accident and illness plans can help cover a variety of conditions including broken bones, lacerations, aggression, kidney disease, diabetes, and more. With the addition of Wellness Riders for an extra cost, you can also receive reimbursements for wellness exams, certain vaccinations, dental cleanings, and more. 

Learn more about dog insurance or get a free quote!