Can beagle eat boiled potato
Can Dogs Eat Potatoes?
Baked, boiled, mashed, or fried, potatoes are a beloved staple food. When prepared in a healthy way potatoes can be a great source of vitamins and minerals for people, but are they safe for dogs too?
So, can dogs eat potatoes? Dogs can eat cooked potatoes. However, you should never feed raw potatoes to your dog, since they contain a toxic compound called solanine. Properly prepared white potatoes can be a great source of vitamins and minerals. Cooked, mashed, or roasted plain potatoes can be a healthy treat for dogs.
In this article, well tell you everything you need to know about feeding potatoes to your dog. Keep on reading to find out how to prepare and include potatoes into your pups diet!
Are Potatoes Good for Dogs?
Properly cooked white potatoes with potato skins removed are safe for dogs to eat. This starchy vegetable is used in many dog foods and can be a healthy treat when fed in moderation.
Mashed, baked, or boiled potatoes are a good source of vitamins C and B6, and also contain potassium, iron, and magnesium. Potatoes are naturally rich in dietary fiber and can encourage healthy digestion in dogs.
However, if your dog has diabetes, you shouldnt let them eat potatoes since this starchy veggie can cause blood sugar spikes.
Benefits of Potatoes for Dogs
Including potatoes in your dogs diet can be beneficial for their overall well-being and offer certain health benefits. However, this is only true if you feed your dog cooked potatoes, so make sure that potatoes are properly prepared before you serve them to your dog.
The biggest benefits of potatoes for dogs are:
1. Potato Boosts Immune System
Potatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that is involved in many functions within your dogs body. Vitamin C reduces inflammation, helps repair tissues, and supports a strong immune system, making your dog more adept at fighting diseases.
While white potatoes contain more vitamin C than sweet potatoes both varieties will boost your dogs immunity and improve their overall health.
2. Potatoes Promote Brain Health
White potatoes are a good source of vitamin B6, a key nutrient that supports proper growth and development in puppies. This essential vitamin is also involved in several functions and promotes healthy brain function, heart health, and assists in water regulation.
3. Potatoes for Good Digestion
All types of potatoes are an excellent source of fiber, which is necessary for proper digestion and better nutrient absorption. Eating fiber-rich foods such as potatoes can help regulate your dogs bowel movement and help soothe mild cases of constipation and diarrhea.
4. Potatoes Boost Muscle Growth
White potatoes are naturally rich in potassium which is an essential mineral that is involved in many functions in your dogs body. Potassium encourages the rapid growth of muscle cells thus supporting muscle growth and strength (source).
This mineral also promotes bone health, boosts your dogs cognitive function, and helps your dog to digest and absorb nutrients from their pet foods faster.
Risks of Potatoes for Dogs
While cooked potatoes can be a healthy and nutritious treat, eating a raw potato can be very dangerous for dogs. The most common risks of feeding dogs potatoes are:
1. Solanine Poisoning
Potatoes like tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of plants and both contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to dogs. Solanine is naturally produced in green potatoes, potato skins, potato foliage, and is present in raw potatoes.
Eating raw potatoes can cause solanine poisoning in dogs which can lead to heart problems, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal problems (source). Therefore, never feed raw potatoes to your dog, and if your pup manages to steal some, call your vet right away.
2. Intestinal Blockage
Dogs who eat raw potatoes may experience symptoms of mild or severe gastrointestinal upset, depending on the amount of potatoes ingested. Abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea are all symptoms of an upset stomach or intestinal blockage.
If your pooch managed to steal a few larger pieces of raw potatoes and is experiencing any of these symptoms, take them to the vet as soon as possible. If your dog has an intestinal obstruction, surgery may be the only course of treatment.
3. Weight Gain
While not essentially bad, potatoes are high in carbohydrates and can easily contribute to weight gain and obesity. Dogs that have diabetes or need to lose weight, shouldnt eat potatoes at all, since the high carb count can cause more harm than good in the long run.
How Much Potatoes Can I Give My Dog?
Like all other human foods, potatoes should make up only up to 10 percent of your dogs daily calorie intake. Potatoes can serve as a substitute for a complete and balanced food and you should feed them to your dog as treats in moderation.
If you arent sure how much potatoes your dog can eat, talk with your vet. They will be able to tell you the exact amount based on your dogs age, activity level, and size.
How to Feed Potatoes Your Dog?
Potatoes are a favorite food of many dog owners and their pups. The best thing about potatoes is that they are extremely versatile and dogs can eat them in many different ways.
Bear in mind, dogs should only eat plain potatoes that are prepared without seasonings, oil, butter, or salt.
Raw Potatoes
Dogs eating raw potatoes can develop an upset stomach, solanine poisoning, or intestinal blockage. Hence, as mentioned earlier, you shouldnt feed raw potatoes to your dog.
Cooked Potatoes
Cooked potatoes are perfectly safe for dogs to eat as treats in moderation. Lets check out the most popular ways you can feed cooked potatoes to your dog!
- Boiled potatoes
- Roasted potatoes
- Dehydrated potatoes
- Mashed potatoes
- Oven-baked, plain potato chips
Conclusion
Most dogs love to eat potatoes, and this starchy vegetable can be a good source of essential vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay healthy. Feed only cooked potatoes to your dog, in moderation, as treats.
Dont feed raw potatoes to your dog, since they contain solanine and can also cause digestive upset and intestinal blockage. And if by any chance your pooch eats raw potatoes watch them for symptoms of poisoning and digestive upset and call your vet right away.
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Can Dogs Eat Potato Skins? Heres What You Need to Know
Last Updated on April, 2024
Your dog just swiped a few potato peels off the trash can and is munching it down in his favorite corner. Or maybe hes feasting on the potato skin fries you made for yourself.
Before you go into your full-blown panic mode and rush to the vet, take a second and read on for the actual verdict on potato skins.
YES!!! Dogs can eat potato skins in small amounts but only if boiled or cooked thoroughly.
Potato skins contain both nutritional benefits and potential health risks.
It is important to avoid giving dogs raw potato skins and to opt for unseasoned and properly cooked potatoes in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Potato Skins?
Dogs can eat potato skins in small amounts sparingly but only if boiled or cooked thoroughly. Do not include potato skins as a part of your dogs daily diet or as dog treats because high quantities daily can lead to specific health issues.
Well explain these limitations step by step.
Nutritional Content of Potato Skins
Are potatoes and potato peels good for your furry friend?
Generally speaking, yes, it is.
Cooked potatoes are on the list of human foods you can give your pet because they dont carry any imminent health risks, but only if served unseasoned and cooked thoroughly.
Potatoes and Potato peels contain impressive nutritional components like Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Iron, Magnesium, and Potassium. Thats a whole lot of vitamins and minerals.
Then whats all the controversy about?
Potato peels also contain a massive amount of carbohydrates.
Whats important to keep in mind is that your furry friend has evolved from wolf ancestors a pretty long time ago (almost 11,000 years). So, although they have evolved to be compatible with their human companions starch and grain-rich diets, their genes are still hardwired to thrive in diets rich in protein and fat.(1, 2)
Potatoes and potato skins, while being rich in carbs, do not have a considerable percentage of fat or proteins. This is why it shouldnt make up much of your pets diet.
There are other foods you can opt for that have all the vitamins and minerals from potato skins but are simultaneously high in protein and fat. Organ meats, fermented food, bone broths, and milk are some nutritious dog food.
Another point that pet parents should be mindful of is the presence of oxalates in potato peels.
Oxalates are harmful chemicals that bind with calcium in the blood to form calcium oxalate. This reduces your dogs calcium levels.
Also, calcium oxalates can lead to kidney stones. These dangerous conditions are caused only if oxalates are taken in high concentrations.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Potato Skins?
Cooked skins are acceptable in moderation, but raw potato skins should be completely off-limitsfor your dogs diet.
Raw potatoes contain a toxic compound called solanine, the same poison found in the Nightshade plant.
There are especially high solanine concentrations in any green-colored areas on the potato peels or sprouting areas.
Acetylcholine is a compound required for the functioning of your dogs nervous system.
Solanine prevents the breakdown of acetylcholine, causing it to build up to toxic levels inside organs like the liver. It also affects the normal functioning of your dogs nervous system.
In addition to solanine, raw potato skin contains another toxic chemical called chaconine. Chaconine can irritate the digestive system, cause tremors, and affect the function of thekidneys.
The risk of poisoning in your dog from eating raw potato peels depends on several factors: your dogs overall health, age, and size, the amount of peels consumed, and the levels of solanine and chaconine present in those peels.
Generally, the toxic range of green potato peels is within the range of 0.1 to 1% of the dogs body weight.
Common symptoms of poisoning by green, raw potato skin include:
- Diarrhea
- Muscle weakness
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Paralysis
- Seizures
- Heart arrhythmia (Irregular heart rate)
That being said, there is absolutely no need to rush to the vet if your dog sneaked a few potato skins off the counter.
A few skins cant do much harm. If you are worried, just watch your pet for any unusual symptoms or signs of digestive issues before contacting a professional.
Also, take special care if your dog is diabetic. Potatoes, in general, cause blood sugar spikes in dogs with diabetes. In contrast, raw potato peels can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. So, if your dog is diabetic, avoid potatoes altogether.
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potato Skins?
Cooked Sweet potatoes, also called red potatoes, are entirely safe for your dog.
Sweet potato peels can even be eaten raw because they do not contain solanine.
But cooking is recommended because it makes it easier for your pet to digest it and prevents any choking hazards.
Not only is it safe to eat, but sweet potato skins are quite nutritious because they contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and dietary fiber.
Can Dogs Eat Seasoned Potato Skins?
Any potato dish (mashed/boiled/baked potato) or potato peels you give your dog should be cooked and completely unseasoned.
Your favorite seasonings, like onion powder and garlic powder, are poisonous to your pup and can lead to anemia (reduced oxygen levels).
Adding salt is another NO. Salt disrupts their sodium balance and can lead to dehydration if given in large amounts.
What looks like a pinch of salt for us is a considerable amount for your furry friend, especially if he is small.
What are the Possible Health Conditions Caused by Potato Skins?
As mentioned above, oxalates in potato peels can lead to kidney problems. Solanine poisoning is also possible if large quantities of green potato peels are consumed.
Problems with the digestive system, nervous system, and cardiovascular system and even death can result in extreme cases.
In addition, research by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) points to a possible link between increased potato/potato skin consumption and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (A heart condition where the heart cannot generate enough pressure to pump blood).
Can Dogs Eat Potatoes?
Potatoes are generally safe for dogs if cooked thoroughly and unseasoned. They are even included in some dog food brands.
When giving your dog potatoes, it is better to peel the skin off. Yes, cooked skins are safe in small quantities, but peeling the potatoes makes it easier for your pet to digest them and removes any pesticides/ chemicals/ preservatives on the skin.
Other guides and tools you might need when training your dog:
Final Thoughts
While potato skins can be included in your dogs diet in small, cooked amounts, they should not be a regular feature due to their high carbohydrate content and potential health risks.
Always opt for cooked, unseasoned potatoes and avoid raw skins, especially if theyre green or sprouting. Remember, moderation and careful preparation are key to keeping your furry friend healthy and happy.
If youre amused by the thought of dogs contemplating the culinary delights of potato skins, youll get a kick out of our other intriguing reads: Can Dogs Eat Frosting? (because who hasnt wondered about dogs at a birthday party) and Why Do Dogs Eat Their Puppies? (a bit less cute, but equally fascinating).
