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As a holistic vet, I get a lot of questions about a wide variety of foods. Pet parents always want to feed their dogs nutritious foods that will keep them healthy and happy for years. But we also want to make sure certain foods are safe for our dogs and served in an appropriate manner. In consultations, I often get questions such as “Can my dog eat sweet potatoes?” “Are canned potatoes okay?” “Should I steam them or boil them?”.
In this article, I am going to go over the types of potatoes that are safe for your dog to eat and which ones might be dangerous. I will share some quick nutritional tips and health benefits to adding potatoes to your dog’s diet.
Can Dogs Have Sweet Potatoes?
Dogs can have sweet potatoes as long as they are cooked correctly and fed in appropriate amounts. Sweet potatoes should be cooked and have the skins peeled off. Your dog can have sweet potatoes every day as part of a nutritionally complete and balanced homemade food recipe but should not account for more than 20% of your pup’s diet.
Sweet potatoes are high in multiple important B vitamins as well as vitamin A. Vitamin A plays an important role in maintaining a strong immune system and keeps eyes healthy. Additionally, sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin C and fiber.
I have found that most sweet potatoes are best served when they are cooked, but not over-cooked. We want to keep some of those starchy carbohydrates intact. The type of fiber that comes from sweet potatoes acts as a pre-biotic. Prebiotics are the main food source of probiotics, those good bacteria that live in your dog’s digestive system.
What Types Of Potatoes Are Safe For Dogs To Eat?
Dogs can eat a variety of different types of potatoes and they can supply some health boosting nutrients. Potatoes are packed with potassium which helps support a healthy heart, normal muscle response, and balanced nerve signals. Red potatoes are the healthiest choice of white potato and contain more vitamin K than other potato varieties. They are also a great source of Niacin (B3), a B vitamin that helps balance stress hormones and can help in managing your dog’s anxiety.
Technically, potatoes (other than sweet potatoes) do fall in the nightshade category. Consuming nightshade plants does bring in some controversy. Research has not provided a clear answer either way, but some people with arthritis feel better when they remove nightshades from their diet. I have not seen any major change when dogs are fed these ingredients. If you notice a difference in your dog then you can safely stick with sweet potatoes.
In my personal experience, I have found that my dogs digest potatoes better when I remove the peels. Peeling and chopping the potatoes before cooking is one way to remove the peels. Alternatively, you can score the potato skin before cooking, and after cooking the peel will slide right off.
What Types Of Potatoes Are NOT Safe For Dogs To Eat?
Any potato that is highly processed or highly seasoned should be given in moderation or avoided. This includes potato chips, french fries, Instant Potatoes, AuGratin Potatoes, fried or baked potato skins and potatoes highly seasoned with garlic and spices.
Avoid feeding raw potatoes, potato peels or green or sprouted potatoes to your pup. Potatoes in this state contain a chemical called solanine, which can be toxic in high amounts to some dogs (and people). Sweet potatoes and yams do not contain solanine, however should still be cooked and peeled prior to feeding to your dog.
What Are the Best Ways to Prepare Potatoes for My Dog?
When cooking potatoes for my dogs, I have found the easiest way is to peel them and dice them into small cubes. I then either boil them on the stove or simply throw them in the InstaPot or slow cooker.
Some other ways to prepare potatoes and sweet potatoes are to bake, mash, roast or grill them. Any way you slice it, your pup will love them!
These are a couple of my favorite sweet potato treats your pup is sure to love!
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