Can Dogs Eat Potatoes – Everything You Need To Know
Did you know that some of the foods we consume on a daily basis as humans are extremely toxic to dogs and may even be fatal to them?
It’s true, and we’ll discuss and answer the common question can dogs eat potatoes.
The short answer is yes, dogs can eat potatoes but there are a few rules. If you do give your dog potatoes, make sure they are baked or boiled without any additional ingredients. Never feed a raw potato to your dog. Raw potatoes contain solanine, which can be toxic to some dogs. However, a potato’s solanine content drops when it is cooked, hence making it safe for your dog.
Can Dogs Have Potatoes?
Only fully cooked potatoes without any seasonings are appropriate for dogs. Even too many cooked, unseasoned potatoes can make your dog sick from solanine, so you shouldn’t give him potatoes every night.
To keep them healthy, dogs should only consume potatoes on special occasions.
Dogs should not eat potatoes that have been fried in oil, such as French fries or potato chips, or that have had butter or salt added. Potatoes, which can cause blood sugar spikes, shouldn’t be given to your dog if they have diabetes.
But why can’t I give my dog potatoes ever night?
A dog’s body is designed to obtain the majority of its nutrients from animal protein. Too many carbohydrates can lead to obesity or other health issues in dogs. Carbs do play a role in your dog’s diet however, we recommend complex carbohydrates as they are much better for your dogs health.
Can Dogs Eat Potato Skins?
Even though potato skins are often tasty, just like potato’s, you should only occasionally give them to your dog. Here’s why: Oxalates are present in potato skins. In moderation, oxalates are perfectly okay.
On the other hand, if your dog consumes too many potato skins, they might experience kidney issues. Consider keeping the potato skins to yourself and only sharing small portions of cooked, unseasoned potatoes to ensure the safety of your pet.
Are Potatoes Bad for Dogs?
Potatoes contain a few ingredients, some that are safe others that are harmful for dogs.
- Solanine:
Since they are members of the nightshade family, Potatoes contain a chemical called solanine that is toxic to dogs. Potato plants should not be accessible to dogs. When cooked, a potato reduces the levels of solanine and makes it safe.
- Skin:
The skin is high in oxalates, and if your dog consumes a lot of them (for example, if he consumes half his body weight in potatoes with the skin on, which is a lot!) that could result in kidney issues.
- Salt:
If the potato has a lot salt added, it should be avoided. Eating too much salt can make your dog seriously thirsty. That means a lot of trips to the fire hydrant and it could lead to sodium ion poisoning.
- Butter
Although a small amount of butter is generally safe for dogs to consume, adding butter to your dog’s diet on a regular basis is not a good idea. Small amounts of butter won’t harm your dog, but large amounts are bad for their health and may result in chronic health issues.
Can Dogs Eat Mashed Potatoes?
Although mashed potatoes are safe for your dog to eat, the ones you eat should not be the same ones for your dog. Because mashed potatoes contain a lot of the ingredients above (salt, garlic, butter, onion powder, etc, can be toxic to dogs and can result in anemia), they should be made special for your dog.
You should only give your dog plain, unseasoned mashed potatoes. It is however safe to give your dog a small serving of plain mashed potatoes as a treat.
Are Potatoes Healthy for My Dog?
Potatoes are not the best, but they certainly are not the worst. They are simple carbohydrates and like any carbohydrate, they play a big role in your dogs health. Now of course, there are better whole grain options, but there are also a lot worse options.
Similar to humans, dogs can experience constipation from eating too many potatoes, so please give with moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes?
A popular and healthy substitute for potatoes are sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a much healthier choice. They contain other nutrients like calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. Dogs also frequently enjoy the sweet flavor.
Although they are easier to digest when cooked, and we recommend feeding them cooked to your dog, sweet potatoes do not contain the same toxin, so it is safe for dogs to chew on them when they are in the raw state.
Can Dogs Eat French Fries?
Although our favorite comfort foods are safe for dogs, they are unhealthy for them because they are fried in oil or butter and salted.
We do not recommend giving your dog French fires, but they can be safe to give, if you give only limited amounts.
Can Dogs Eat Baked Potatoes?
Yes, baked potatoes are great for dogs. Just make sure they are cooked and preferably peeled and not overly seasoned.
Can Dogs Eat Potato Chips?
Technically yes, dogs can eat potato chips. But, potato chips are not the best for dogs. They are usually loaded with a lot of salt and bad fat. This can lead to issues. We would recommend looking for some better, healthier, cleaner snacks to give to your dog.
How Much Potato Can My Dog Eat?
When giving your dog potatoes, a good guide to follow is the 10% treat rule. Meaning your dogs calories should only be 10% from these types of foods. With the skin removed, a potato the size of a tennis ball has about 250 calories.
Potatoes and Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
In recent years, there have been reports linking specific pet foods to a rise in cases of DCM
(Dilated Cardiomyopathy) in dogs. Potatoes, peas, lentils, and other varieties of legume seeds are among the main components of these pet foods.
What Is DCM?
Canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a primary disease of cardiac muscle that results in a decreased ability of the heart to generate pressure to pump blood through the vascular system.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began looking into claims that the prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs eating grain-free diets had increased starting in July 2018.
According to the FDA:
“To better characterize diets reported in DCM cases, product labels were examined to determine whether the product was grain-free (did not contain corn, soy, wheat, rice, barley or other grains), and whether the products contained peas, other lentils including chickpeas and beans, or potatoes (including sweet potatoes). Because so many products contained peas and/or lentils, a category was created for “peas and/or lentils”. More than 90 percent of products were “grain-free”, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils. A far smaller proportion contained potatoes”
The FDA, veterinary professionals, and pet owners are still actively involved in the multifaceted investigation. However, the precise reason for the apparent rise in diet-related DMC is still a mystery.
Can Dogs Eat Potato Waffles?
Yes, your dog can eat potato waffles.
Don’t give your dog too many of these waffles though, and make sure they contain safe and non-toxic ingredients.
Can Eating Potatoes Be Dangerous for My Dog?
Potato plants and raw potatoes should be avoided by dogs.
Most dogs can safely consume potatoes in moderation.
Potatoes must be completely cooked to be secure. Because of the chemicals they contain, dogs should not consume raw potatoes or large quantities of potato skins. Your dog’s health is at risk due to the solanine and oxalates in potatoes and potato skins.
But overall to answer your question, can dogs eat potatoes the answer is yes, in moderation.
Conclusion
Dogs enjoy potatoes as a tasty treat occasionally. And with moderation, your dog can safely enjoy a plain potato. Sweet potato’s are another potato to look into as well, and are even loaded with more benefits.
We hope we were able to answer your question of can dogs eat potatoes. We know there are many questions that come with being a pet owner, and our goal is to help answer those questions for you.
On our can my dog eat hub page, you can find a wealth of knowledge about the safety of various vegetables for dogs, from cauliflower to cucumbers.
Learn more about providing your dog with a varied diet and the restrictions imposed by a dog’s delicate digestive system. We provide a selection of articles on what foods are healthy, harmful, or even toxic for
And don’t worry, it’s okay to let your dog splurge a little. Just make sure the food you give them is not toxic to them and it is of course safe for them to eat!
Heck, my Jack loved some chicken nuggets from Wendy’s!
Check out our guides frequently to learn what foods are safe and which ones should never be given to dogs.
