Can Dogs Eat Potatoes?

Potato is a common vegetable consumed by humans and their pets. You and your pet can choose to eat potatoes in any form. Be it baked, roasted, or fried. Many experienced veterinarians state that potatoes are safe and can be a part of a healthy diet. It contains numerous essentials and vitamins.

Hence, potatoes are beneficial for the health of your furry friend. Potatoes are easily digestible. They help boost the energy levels of your dog as per vets. This vegetable is full of starch and makes one great topping for kibble.

Potatoes can sufficiently be served as an accompaniment along with the other foods you usually give your dog. The skin of the potato shouldn’t be peeled off. By doing this, you will be providing your dog with more minerals and fiber it requires.

Having said this, one thing that needs to be kept in mind is that whatever preparation of potatoes is given to your dog, ensure it is not raw or semi-cooked. Cooked ones make it easier for your pooch to chew and digest it.

Feeding your dog with potatoes may not necessarily be limited to his food; if you have some potatoes left on your plate and do not wish to consume them, you can pour them into his bowl, which he will happily eat.

How to prepare the perfect diet for your dog?

The diet for your dog needs to be carefully prepared, as their constitution and digestive system are different from ours. Dogs need a well-balanced diet to grow in the initial months of their development and to keep them healthy throughout life.

The majority of their diet should consist of meat and healthy fats. Fruits and vegetables are also necessary, but they should make up 10 to 20 percent of their diet chart.

Proteins are vital. They contribute to strengthening the muscles and improving the coat and the dog’s skin. If you want your dog to be healthier and look better, add more fiber, minerals, and moisture to your furry friend’s meal by adding broccoli and apples.

Broccoli and apples are the most useful for dogs as far as fruits and vegetables are concerned. There are other things that your pooch can enjoy, in both, meat and veggie sections. Turkey has been popular with dog lovers as far as a well-planned diet is concerned, but it is advisable not to give turkey regularly.

Apart from potatoes, sweet potatoes have also been a hit, along with pumpkin. But ensure that mashed potatoes should never be given to your dog due to their high butter content, which certainly would not suit your dog’s stomach and could cause several digestive-related issues.

Other types of food, which are safe and healthy, are green beans and cranberries. Raisins and chocolates are to be avoided at all costs.

Read Also: Freeze-Dried Dog Food: Pros and Cons

Raw Potatoes vs Cooked Potatoes

The primary reason consuming raw potatoes is advised against dogs is mainly due to the presence of solanine. Solanine is a compound generally found in the family of nightshades. It can be poisonous. Potatoes, and tomatoes, are part of the nightshade family. This question might come to your mind whether it’s poisonous or not.

How does it not affect humans? The answer is that the amount of solanine present is not enough to cause any harm to humans, but the amount is enough to harm your pooch. Also, the number of potatoes consumed matters in dogs.

On the other hand, cooking the potato significantly reduces the amount of solanine, making it safe for your furry friend to have them. When given to dogs, pottery must be in either baked or boiled form and without additives.

How good are potatoes actually for your dog?

Let us talk a little about the history of this widely consumed vegetable. Cultivation of the potato has been going on for a long time. The first cultivation dates back thousands of years ago in Peru and Bolivia. It was the Spanish who introduced this vegetable to Europe.

It was the Spanish sailors who first started cultivating the crop. As time passed by, potatoes got introduced to Ireland. Perhaps that is how it became more popular with the western world. Potatoes are rich in vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium.

These undoubtedly are essential nutrients that we, and our dogs, need for a healthy life. So, well-cooked potatoes are beneficial for your dog. Having said this, one must remember that even though potatoes are helpful for your dog in more than one aspect, they should never be part of your dog’s staple diet.

In other words, they should not be part of his regular diet. Apart from being rich in the above-mentioned essential nutrients, potatoes are also rich in carbohydrates. Now, this is something that makes you and your furry friend fat. If your dog is fat or obese, it is best to avoid potatoes.

Regular consumption of potatoes can make your dog fat. As we all know, getting fat can cause health-related problems for humans and dogs. Research has shown that it affects dogs more as their overall constitution is weaker when compared to humans.

Conclusion

Potatoes have their share of good and bad aspects. It is advisable to give a well-planned and well-balanced diet to your dog. And if your dog is prone to certain illnesses or diseases, it is best to consult a veterinarian to plan a diet.

There could be certain compounds present in certain types of food that could be instrumental in aggravating the illness.