Can dogs eat sweet potatoes? Yes, they can. Most dogs love sweet potatoes, and they make a great addition to their food once in a while. These root vegetables are loaded with high levels of fiber, beta-carotene, and potassium. They also contain low concentrations of sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol.
Before including sweet potatoes in your dog’s diet, here are a few important things you should know.
What are the health benefits of sweet potatoes for dogs?
Lots of essential nutrients can be found in sweet potatoes. It is rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, beta-carotene, powerful antioxidants, and phytochemicals.
Minerals such as copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and potassium are found in sweet potatoes. It is also high in dietary fiber and low in fats. Your dog can obtain several health benefits from eating this vegetable, including:
- Low susceptibility to heart diseases
- More protection from certain types of cancer
- Stronger immune system
- Healthier skin, eyes, muscles, and nerves
- Quicker healing from sickness or injuries
- Swift recovery from inflammation
How much sweet potatoes can dogs eat?
The answer to the question ‘Can dogs eat sweet potatoes?’ is a yes. However, feeding your dog sweet potatoes should be done in moderation. A teaspoon of plain sweet potatoes is recommended for small dogs. Larger dogs can consume a maximum of a tablespoon of plain sweet potatoes.
Consult the vet before incorporating it into your dog’s regular meals. This is to make sure that it suits his specific nutritional needs. If the vet approves, slowly introduce sweet potatoes to your dog to prevent digestive problems.
What can happen if dogs overeat sweet potatoes?
Always avoid overfeeding sweet potatoes to your dog as it can lead to a handful of health problems, which include:
Vitamin A Toxicity
Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A. In small amounts, it is quite beneficial to your dog’s health. However, excessive quantities of vitamin A in your dog’s body can lead to poisoning.
Mild vitamin A toxicity cases may lead him to experience loss of appetite, lethargy, weight loss, muscle weakness, constipation, and limping. In severe cases, paralysis, convulsions, and death may occur.
Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
Sweet potatoes are less likely to cause an immune response in dogs. That’s why it is commonly used in limited ingredient diets for dogs with allergies, such as grain-free dog food.
Caution is a must when opting for these types of dog food. Research suggests that they usually contain potatoes, peas, lentils, and other legume seeds, which are believed to cause the development of canine dilated cardiomyopathy.
DCM is a cardiovascular disease that causes reduced heart pumping function. As a result, this enlarges the heart and puts dogs at risk of suffering from congestive heart failure or sudden cardiac death.
Can diabetic dogs eat sweet potatoes?
Sweet potatoes are not the best snack for diabetic dogs and overweight pooches. Sweet potatoes have a high glycemic index, leading to a quick rise in blood sugar levels.
Moreover, too much sweet potatoes may cause a spike in insulin. This can cause serious health issues such as cancer, thyroid disease, and insulin resistance.
Can dogs eat sweet potato skins?
Sweet potato skins are not safe for dogs. It has trypsin inhibitors, making it difficult for your furry friend to digest proteins. Allowing him to eat sweet potato skins puts him at risk of suffering from indigestion, stomach upset, and intestinal obstruction.
Aside from sweet potato skins, do not let your dog eat the vegetable’s vines. It has toxic compounds that can harm his brain, heart, kidney, and liver. If you are growing a sweet potato plant in your backyard, make sure that it is securely fenced to keep your dog from chewing on its vines.
If your dog accidentally ingested a sweet potato vine, observe him for signs of toxicity.
These include dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, and difficulties in swallowing. If he shows these symptoms, take him to the vet immediately.
Can dogs eat raw sweet potatoes?
No, raw sweet potatoes are not okay for pooches. The presence of trypsin inhibitors makes it harmful for dogs because it is hard to digest. Dogs eating raw sweet potatoes are in danger of choking, digestive upset, and intestinal blockage.
It is advised to serve cooked sweet potatoes to your dog instead. Cooking the vegetable removes the trypsin inhibitors, making it easy for your dog to digest.
Can dogs eat sweet potato fries?
Processed starchy vegetables, including sweet potato fries, French fries, potato chips, and baked potatoes, are unhealthy for dogs. They are high in fat, salt, and sodium which can cause health problems to dogs. Regularly feeding your dog these types of food will make him more vulnerable to pancreatitis and obesity.
Can dogs eat purple sweet potatoes?
Yes, purple sweet potatoes are safe for dogs to eat. They have higher nutritional content than regular sweet potatoes. Your pup might prefer it because of its fruity taste. Still, snacks should contribute to less than 10% of a dog’s total diet.
Can dogs eat sweet potato pie?
Sweet potato pie is a delectable treat for humans but dangerous for dogs. Butter, sugar, milk, and nutmeg are commonly used as ingredients for sweet potato pie. It is a very unhealthy mix that can result in alarming health problems such as toxicity, lactose intolerance, obesity, pancreatitis, and diabetes.
Can dogs eat dehydrated sweet potatoes?
Boiled, steamed, baked, or dehydrated sweet potatoes are good dog snacks. Serve it plain to your furry companion. Avoid adding oil, butter, salt, spices, chives, onions, and garlic.
How Should I Prepare Sweet Potatoes for My Dog?
Now that you know the answer to the question ‘Can dogs eat sweet potatoes?’. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind when preparing sweet potatoes for dogs:
- Opt for organic sweet potatoes. These are less subjected to chemicals, making them a healthier snack than commercial ones.
- Check for mold or spoiling as it can endanger your dog’s health and cause digestive problems and poisoning.
- Make sure to wash sweet potatoes thoroughly. This will remove harmful chemical residues and bacteria.
- Always peel off the skin. Then, steam or boil the peeled sweet potatoes until they are soft. Serve it plain, and do not add any seasoning.
- To prevent choking and indigestion, avoid giving your dog cooked sweet potatoes that have a hard texture. Make sure to cut up well-cooked sweet potatoes into bite-sized pieces.
Home-made Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Sweet potato cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup mashed sweet potato
- 1 egg
- 1 ¼ cup gluten-free flour
- 2 tablespoon oil
- Additional flour for rolling
Procedures
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium mixing bowl, add egg, oil, and mashed sweet potato.
- Beat until smooth.
- Fold in the gluten-free flour and knead until a dough forms.
- Flour the counter or a large cutting board and roll the dough to about 1/4” thick.
- Cut into shapes with cookie cutters. Reroll the scraps and continue cutting them into shapes.
- Place cookies on a baking sheet 1/2” to 1” apart.
- Bake for twenty minutes.
- Rotate the pan, flip cookies, reduce oven temperature to 300°F, and bake for another thirty minutes.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Serve it to your dog. Store leftovers in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge.
