Who doesn't love potatoes? These delicious tubers are extremely versatile: they can be boiled, baked, fried, and used as a base for many sweet recipes too.
They are good for us in the right amount, but can pets eat them? Is it okay to give potatoes to dogs, or are there any contraindications?
Can dogs eat potatoes?
Yes, dogs can eat them. They are a good source of carbohydrates and are gluten-free, which dogs can struggle to digest.
They also provide fiber and are high in vitamins and minerals, including:
Retinol (Vitamin A)
Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2)
Niacin (Vitamin B3 or PP)
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5)
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6)
Folate (Vitamin B9)
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Vitamin D
Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
Choline (Vitamin J)
Vitamin K
Beta-carotene
Iron
Magnesium
Calcium
Potassium
Manganese
Sodium
Zinc
Phosphorus
Fluoride
100 grams of potatoes provide about 85 calories, compared to 140 calories for boiled pasta and 230 for boiled rice.
Potatoes can occasionally serve as an alternative to rice if the dog shows signs of boredom with its usual food.
How many potatoes can a dog eat?
Potatoes should be given to dogs only occasionally. Potatoes (like tomatoes and tobacco, other plants in the nightshade family) contain Solanine, a substance that is toxic to dogs.
This alkaloid can have harmful effects on a dog's health, causing disturbances in the nervous, liver, heart, motor, and digestive systems.
Symptoms of Solanine poisoning include:
Diarrhea
Vomiting
General weakness
Lethargy
Cooking and removing the skin and green parts significantly reduce the problem.
Therefore, it's important that the potato to be cooked is fresh, without sprouts or green parts, peeled, and cooked thoroughly. It should not be unripe.
This substance is toxic to both humans and animals, so the same rules applied to feeding dogs also apply to us.
How to cook potatoes for dogs?
The best way to cook potatoes for dogs is simple boiling. The potato should be boiled after peeling and removing any deteriorated parts, and then served mashed or in small pieces.
If the potato is not fresh and looks wrinkled or has sprouts, it's better to discard it, as solanine levels increase with aging.
Alternatively, potatoes can be baked or steamed. Of course, always without salt or other seasonings.
Definitely avoid fried potatoes and bagged chips, which are high in fats, salt, and spices, including garlic powder in some cases, which is toxic to dogs.
How to boil potatoes in the best way for dogs?
The best way to eliminate the toxicity of Solanine is to boil the potatoes in cold water, or better yet, put them in the pot when the water is still cold, not when it starts to boil.
This process will help neutralize the alkaloid and make the tuber safe for animal consumption.
The potato must be cooked thoroughly, all the way to the center. It will be ready when you can pierce it with a knife and the center is as soft as the outer part, and you can mash it with a simple fork.
What types of potatoes can dogs eat?
Dogs can eat all common types of potatoes: white, yellow, red, purple, or black fleshed.
They can also eat sweet potatoes (or yams), which are rich in vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and beta-carotene.
Can dogs eat potato skins?
No, dogs should not eat potato skins, as Solanine is primarily concentrated in the outer part of the tuber and the green parts. For this reason, the skin should always be removed.
And while cooking almost entirely solves the problem, why serve potatoes with the skin when peeling them takes just a moment?
When can I give potatoes to my dog?
You can give Fido a few pieces as a snack between meals, or occasionally replace the carbohydrate portion of a meal in a homemade diet.
Potatoes should still be given as a complement to the meal rather than as an extra, as they are quite calorie-dense.
Can puppies eat potatoes?
Yes, puppies can eat potatoes, but with moderation and the same precautions needed for an adult dog.
Can dogs eat raw potatoes?
Definitely not. They are toxic due to Solanine, and raw starch is not digestible for humans and dogs.
Dogs do not naturally eat raw potatoes, and if yours does, it might have nutritional deficiencies, not be sufficiently fed, or have a nervous problem that compels it to chew anything.
What to do if a dog eats raw potatoes?
If a dog eats a raw potato or potato plants, it's advisable to take them to the vet.
Aside from Solanine, potato plants are sprayed with very powerful chemicals, especially those used to combat the Colorado potato beetle (an insect that eats potato plants) and the terrible molluscicide.
Therefore, it's better not to hesitate and immediately call your trusted veterinarian, who can monitor the dog for signs of poisoning.
And if my dog has eaten too many potatoes?
If the potatoes are cooked, there probably won't be more severe consequences than a good case of diarrhea, or nausea and vomiting.
Your dog might suffer from flatulence (i.e., releasing all the air in the stomach), but nothing extremely worrying.
