Can Dogs Eat Potatoes? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

Yes, dogs can eat potato in moderation but only with the right preparation. There are certain instances when dogs may fall sick after eating potatoes, especially if they eat too many.

What happens if a dog eats potatoes?

In most cases, nothing bad will happen to dogs that eat potatoes as long as it’s only a small part of their dietary intake. Potatoes are fairly nutrient-rich despite their plain appearance. They contain a healthy balance of nutrients like vitamin C and iron. Potatoes do, however, contain a large amount of carbohydrates. You don’t want your dog to feel too full from eating potatoes. This may stop your dog from eating his regular dog food and maintaining a well-balanced diet.

How much potato is toxic to dogs?

Potatoes do contain a “toxin” called solanine, which appears in many vegetables in the nightshade family including tomatoes and eggplants. Solanine poisoning is a serious health concern and may lead to problems like difficulty in breathing. It may, however, take a large amount of potatoes for a dog to suffer from solanine poisoning. A single potato may contain 0.075 mg of solanine. According to VetLexicon, the toxic level range of solanine is about 0.1% to 1.0% of animals body weight.

You can minimize the health risks by only feeding your dog ripe potatoes. Don’t let them eat green potatoes as they tend to contain a higher concentration of solanine. It’s strongly recommended that you also cook the potatoes before feedingd them to your pets. Roasting, baking, or boiling are the safest methods of cooking the potatoes.

Can dogs eat mashed potatoes?

Yes, dogs can eat mashed potatoes but how safe it is for dogs will depend on how the mashed potatoes were prepared. For starters, the mashed potatoes shouldn’t contain any ingredients that are harmful to dogs. This means you should avoid common ingredients like garlic. Dairy ingredients like milk should also be avoided as dogs are lactose-intolerant.