Can Dogs Eat Potatoes? Its Benefits & Side Effects – Ultimate Guide

French fries, which are made of potatoes, are fancied by everyone: students consider it a part-time meal during their studies. But what if you are eating French fries and your innocent dog comes from nowhere and starts looking for potatoes in such an irresistible way that you want to give it to your dog. But, one thing stops you from rendering potatoes to your dogs: you do not know about the potatoes as dog food and its side and positive effects for a dog. Often you wonder that can dogs eat potatoes or not? This question stops you from letting your dog eating the potatoes since you want your dog healthy and active in every possible way.

Let’s find out in this article whether canines should be given potatoes in raw, cooked, or in other forms like French fries. This article will increase your knowledge about potatoes and them as dog food.

Can Dogs Eat Potatoes?

The answer to this question is both Yes and No.

Potato is great food. It is loaded with vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, vitamin C and other useful ingredients. But it depends, in which type your canine eats potatoes. Potatoes can be cooked and served to your dog, but they cannot be served in raw form: especially when they have green skin.

Potatoes should be given in cooked and boiled form to your canines. But it must be kept in mind that potatoes cannot be the substitute of a usual dog’s food.

On the other hand, raw potatoes and potatoes with green skin are very hazardous for your canines. A pooch at all cost be kept away from eating potatoes in its raw form or a potato with green skin because these potatoes have a high amount of solanine which is very toxic to your dogs.

It should be kept in mind that a boiled potato is good food, but it must not be cooked with other additives, sugar, salt, the large amount of oil, fats and other seasonings, to make it more savory for your fido.

What Is Solanine? – Solanine in Potatoes:

It is a toxic compound found in the nightshade family of plants like green potatoes, tomatoes and eggplant. It is produced naturally in these vegetables to deter insects. If your dog eats raw potatoes, which has enough solanine, your dog will have to face the music; food poisoning and other symptoms should be expected: Headache, Heart problems Jaundice, Shock, Slow pulse and death in some cases if your dog is too small and has ingested a large amount of potatoes, with a large amount of solanine of course, in a short amount of time.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Potatoes?

The white potatoes, which are cooked thoroughly and without any additives are good for your dog. Since cooking a potato decreased the amount of toxic compound solanine which is found in white raw potatoes. But the moderation point should not be disregarded when it comes to exposing your pooch to new food other than a dog’s usual food. Preparing them in a proper way and keeping in mind the moderation point is must when it comes to serving potatoes to your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Potatoes?

You should not expose your dogs to raw potatoes ever. Raw potatoes, if not cooked, can prove hazardous for your friendly canine. Being a part of the nightshade family of vegetables, of which tomato is also a part of, potatoes contain a very harmful compound called solanine. This solanine cannot be decimated from the potatoes altogether, but it can be reduced by cooking and boiling the potatoes in a proper way. So always keep in mind to boil or cook the potatoes for your dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Potatoes Skin?

Very harmful compounds, oxalates, are found in potatoes’ skin or peel. Your canines will suffer the most if given peels or skins of potatoes, actually indirectly oxalates, no matter in what amounts.

These oxalates in the skins of potatoes will make your dog very sick and your dog will have to face severe digestive issues like kidney problems, urinary tract related concerns and nervous system disturbance.

The green skin of the potato also contains a large amount of solanine, which is very detrimental to humans as well as for all dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Potatoes On Daily Basis?

Dogs can eat potatoes, but not on a daily basis. Potatoes are simple carbohydrate food and have a very high glycemic index. Dogs with diabetes must not be exposed to foods like potatoes, rice, sugar, and other foods which have high glycemic index let alone giving these foods to them on a daily basis.

A normal pooch should not be allowed to ingest potatoes, no matter in cooked and boiled form, on a daily basis. It will certainly induce obesity, inertia and high blood pressure, if potatoes are seasoned with sodium regularly, in him. So it is better to keep your canine away from eating too many potatoes on a daily basis.

But people often wonder about other foods which are either related to potatoes or contain potatoes in one form or other. Let’s see about other potato-related foods and their effects for the health of our dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Potatoes Chips?

Yes, dogs can eat potatoes chips, but on one condition: the chips should not be cooked in too much salt, seasoning, oil, fats. The chips should also not be served with ketchup or other sugary product. All of these ingredients will make your dog very sick and prone to severe complications like heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and other gastrointestinal problems.

It is best to serve your fido with plain chips. Your canine will for sure like these simple and plain chips on he gets them.

Potatoes And Carrots:

Yes, dogs can eat potatoes and carrots but in moderation. On a daily basis, it would not be a good idea to serve your dog with potatoes and carrots. Both can make your dog obese if given in large amount on a daily basis. Potatoes are simple carbohydrates and carrots contain a high amount of natural sugar. Both of them, if taken excessively, will lead your canines to obesity and diabetes ultimately.

It is recommended that dogs be given carrots or other food excluding their usual food, keeping in mind the rule of 90/10 which means that dog usual food should not contain more than 10 percent of other foods like strawberries, apples and carrots.

Potatoes And Eggs:

Yes, dogs can eat potatoes, in cooked form, and eggs. The eggs should be cooked thoroughly. They are a rich source of proteins, fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A and linoleic acid. Your canine will have a soft coat and shiny skin if given eggs in the right amount and in the right form.

Raw eggs should not be given to your dogs. They contain Salmonella and these raw eggs could become the cause of the growth of harmful bacteria in your canine’s gut.

Always remember to give your dog any new food in moderation by bearing in mind the 10 percent rule.

Potatoes And Peas:

Yes, your dog can eat potatoes and peas. The peas, actually green peas, like sugar snap peas, English peas and snow peas could be given in fresh, thawed and frozen form. Canned peas should not be given to dogs. They, canned peas, contain a high amount of sodium which is very bad for your canines.

Keep in mind that peas be crushed before serving to your canines. They could pose the problem of choking in small dogs. In large dogs, the whole uncrushed peas could be the cause of gastrointestinal complications.

Also, one must observe the 10 percent rule in order to be on the safe side. Peas in large amount can induce vomiting and diarrhea in your dogs.

Potatoes And Gravy:

Yes, dogs can eat potatoes and gravy if they are devoid of any added salt, fats and sugars.  Potatoes can be given to canine if they are cooked thoroughly.

Market-based gravy is not good for your dogs because it contains a large amount of fats, salts, garlic, onions, cinnamon and other seasonings. This kind of gravy will certainly expose your dog to vomiting and diarrhea.

Only homemade and plain gravy is good for your fido. You can serve your fur kid with homemade and plain gravy,

 Potatoes And Cheese:

Dogs can eat potatoes, only in the cooked form of course, but cheese is a thing which should be considered with great care when it comes to making part of your canine’s food. Cheese contains lactose towards which most of the dogs appear to be very allergic. Cheese can also cause diarrhea, vomiting and other abdominal problems if given to your dogs without any care of amount and dog’s size.

Dogs can eat cheese but it should be homemade, devoid of any salt, sugar, fats, extra oils and other seasonings. without any concern for your canine’s health.

Benefits of Potatoes For Dogs:

Potatoes are a good source of essential vitamins like Vitamin A, B, B6 and C. It also provides potassium, carbohydrate and iron. They provide good nutrition hands down.

1. Since potatoes are a great source of simple carbohydrates, they provide our dogs with instant energy, says Dr. Danielle Bernal.
2. They improve the behaviors of our canines.
3. They increase the functionality of a dog, though to a small extent.
4. To a small extent, they strengthen the immune system of a fido.

But it must be kept in mind that potatoes should always be cooked in a plain manner and no seasonings, toppings, sugar and salt should be added to make it tasty for your dog because these ingredients fade away the nutritional value of cooked potato which is already not that much like other foods.

Side Effects of Potatoes For Dogs:

Cooked potatoes work a great food for your dog’s behavior and bodily functions, but, if potatoes are given to a pooch in a raw form and sometimes in green form, it makes dogs prone to some very hazardous health conditions.

1. The consumption of raw potatoes will induce vomiting, upset stomach, gastrointestinal serious complications, abdominal pain and diarrhea in your dogs.
2. Raw potatoes and potatoes with green skin are rich in toxic compound solanine which is very detrimental to a dog’s health. It can ultimately kill your dog.
3. Potatoes are full of simple carbs. The ingestion of these simple carbs can make your canine obese in a matter of months if taken time and again without any diet plan for your dog.
4. consumption of a large number of potatoes, if the potatoes are thoroughly cooked and boiled let alone raw potatoes, will lead your dog to vomit and intestinal complications.
5. Your dog will be inactive day by day since consumption of simple carbs makes the sugar level high in the blood which ultimately shuts the brain down. The result is usually inertia and inactivity.
6. Diabetes disease cannot be disregarded when it comes to ingesting too many carbs. so in long a pooch is diagnosed with diabetes and other fatal diseases if continues to consume a large amount of simple to digest carbohydrates.
7. If potatoes are cooked and boiled but in additives like sugar, salt and other seasonings to make them more savory for your dogs, the addition of these additives will diminish the nutritional value, though to a small extent, of potatoes.
8. Ingesting potatoes dipped in these additives will havoc your dog’s teeth, rise his blood pressure and make your dog prone to severe heart problems and blood sugar related problems.
9. Solid potatoes can pose the problem of choking in small dogs, though sometimes in a large dog, and gastrointestinal obstruction in big dogs, says Grimmett.

What Foods A Dog Can Eat Other Than Potatoes To Get Nutritional Benefits?

1. Green Beans
2. Chicken
3. Brussels Sprouts
4. Broccoli
5. Lettuce
6. Carrots
7. Apple slices
8. Watermelons

The above-mentioned foods are not toxic to your dogs. Your dog can eat them, but in moderation.

Conclusion:

Dogs can eat potatoes, with great care, and they are good to eat, but on rare occasions when it comes to our dogs. Potatoes have some nutritional value, but it has, in raw form, side effects too, because it contains a toxic compound, solanine, which is very hazardous for your canines.

Since potatoes are simple carbs, it has a high tendency to make us obese as well as our dog. Dogs should not be given potatoes, therefore, in raw form, but only in cooked and plain form, without any additive like sodium, sugar, ketchup and other seasonings, since cooked potatoes have a very low amount of solanine.

But potatoes or any other food excluding a dog’s usual food should be given according to the advice of your veterinarian and age, size of your dogs. Whenever you introduce any new food in your canine’s meal, always stick to the 10 percent rule.