Can You Give Your Dog Potatoes?

As the temperatures drop even lower, I’ve decided the best way to warm up is to eat steaming piles of comfort food, specifically mashed potatoes. Obviously, my buttery, creamy dish piques the interest of my furry friend. While she can’t indulge in mashed potatoes, due to their high-fat content and seasoning, she can enjoy small pieces of plain, thoroughly cooked potato.

That being said, American Kennel Club reported that raw potatoes can have “adverse health effects” if given to your dog, as they have the compound solanine, which is lessened when the root vegetable is cooked. 

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Dogs can also eat sweet potatoes in moderation. However, PetMD warns that pup parents should only give their dogs unseasoned sweet potatoes that have been peeled and fully cooked without oil or butter. Uncooked sweet potatoes could lead to issues with dogs’ digestion. In addition, our canine companions may also have difficulty swallowing pieces of raw sweet potato or sweet potato peels. 

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Be sure to speak to your vet before introducing any new food to your dog! After all, you never know if they could be allergic, have certain health issues, or are on medicines that do not mix with the root vegetable.