Dogs Eat Potatoes
Can dogs eat potatoes? That’s a good question and it’s one that many people ask when they are about to introduce a new pet to their family. The short answer is yes and no. Just like many things that dogs and even humans eat, much of the solution actually lies in the proper preparation of the actual food item in question. In the case of potatoes, most cooked potatoes are perfectly fine as long as you consult your veterinarian beforehand.
On the other hand, potatoes that have been baked or broiled are not safe for your pooch. As a general rule, anything that’s been cooked on a stove is generally not safe, as the heat can cause serious damage to almost any type of flesh. In the case of baked potatoes, this applies most specifically to the ones that have been baked in a oven or over a campfire. Even then, it’s still best to consult your veterinary vet, just in case your dog happens to have an allergy to potatoes or any part of its body.
In terms of minerals, most baked potatoes are quite rich in both potassium and calcium, which are two very important human minerals. So whether you’re feeding your dog a whole potato (potatoes that have been cooked) or you’re simply preparing some baked potatoes for a dinner, make sure that you carefully read the label of ingredients. It’s usually okay to feed small amounts of potatoes to your canine friend, as long as you do so carefully. Here are a couple of helpful tips to help you safely and properly feed small amounts of cooked potatoes to your dog…
Can Dogs Eat Potatoes?
First of all, always make sure to buy fresh potatoes. Potatoes that have been kept for more than a day are likely to contain either limes or lemons which are highly toxic to dogs. You should also make sure that you buy your potatoes from a reputable pet food store, or at the very least, a large local food store. Most of these stores will carry a list of ingredients that they use to make their products. If you can’t find any of those on the ingredient label, look them up online (the US Food & Drug Administration provides a list of substances that are generally recognized as safe).
Second, make sure that you only give your dog small amounts of cooked potatoes. Don’t let him consume large amounts of green or red potatoes as these are likely to cause dental problems and can even cause liver disease in dogs, as well as pancreatic problems. A healthy well-balanced diet includes a good amount of green and red potatoes as well as a good amount of cooked potatoes. Any portion of green or red potatoes that you can’t properly digest should be trimmed away; this is why green potatoes are often referred to as “clawberries.”
Last, there are other valuable nutrients in potato. They include vitamin A, which can be found in canned pumpkin or sweet potatoes; vitamin B, which is found in potatoes that have been cut and then baked (not mashed); vitamin C, which can be found in both canned and fresh potatoes; vitamin D, which can be found in both canned and fresh potatoes; vitamin E, which is found in buttermilk; and folic acid, which can be found in both sweet potatoes and raisins. Although many people don’t consider cooked potatoes to be a real vitamin, studies have shown that a small, daily portion of potatoes is indeed a valuable source of vitamin A. And although dogs may not particularly like the taste of these nutrients, they do need them to maintain proper bone growth, strong teeth and strong stomachs.