Mary Allen
You want to cook yourself a delicious dinner and chop up sweet potatoes. Suddenly a piece falls down and before you can react, your sweet four-legged friend has already snatched it away.
Now you’re wondering, “Can dogs eat sweet potatoes?”
As you probably know, raw potatoes are toxic to dogs due to the high solanine content. But what about sweet potatoes?
We explain it to you!
In a nutshell: Can my dog eat sweet potatoes?
Yes, your dog can eat sweet potatoes in small amounts. Sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants and proteins, which are responsible for fighting free radicals.
At the same time, the glutathione contained in the antioxidant increases the physical activity of your four-legged friend. Glutathione is essential for numerous vital processes in your dog’s organism.
How Healthy Are Sweet Potatoes For Dogs?
Sweet potatoes are rich in nutrients. It is interesting that the sweet tuber contains all vitamins except for vitamin D and vitamin B12. At the same time, it contains more beta-carotene/vitamin A than any other vegetable.
The minerals and trace elements are also impressive:
- sodium
- potassium
- magnesium
- calcium
- phosphorus
- sulfur
- chloride
- iron
- manganese
- zinc
What is special about the sweet potato is the high fiber content. Accordingly, the tuber is an ideal source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber supports the intestines and serves as a food source for certain intestinal bacteria.
These bacteria are responsible for the formation of short-chain fatty acids and can help prevent inflammation in the body. At the same time, they protect your four-legged friend’s own cells.
Good to know:
For even better bioavailability, you can add some oil, such as hemp oil or linseed oil, to the sweet potatoes.
The sweet potato is a true vitamin bomb.
It is ideal as a light diet, as it is considered to be very digestible. You can feed them to your dog even if he suffers from diarrhea or other digestive problems from time to time. As a rule, the intestine reacts positively to sweet potatoes.
The same applies after an illness has been overcome. The nutrients can help the organism to get fit again quickly.
If your dog has diabetes, you can also feed the sweet tuber. It has the positive property that it regulates blood sugar.
If your dog doesn’t like regular potatoes, sweet potatoes can be the perfect alternative.
However, the sweet potato is considered a carbohydrate-rich food. If your furry friend is on a diet and needs to lose weight, you should avoid sweet potatoes.
Are Raw Sweet Potatoes Toxic to Dogs?
Unlike potatoes, raw sweet potatoes are not poisonous. The reason is that the sweet potato does not belong to the nightshade family but to the morning glory family. That’s why your dog can nibble on the raw tuber without hesitation.
Your furry friend can eat the sweet potato with the skin on. It contains the secondary plant substance called Caiapo. It is said to have a positive effect on anemia, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol levels.
If your dog does not tolerate raw sweet potatoes very well, it is advisable to only feed them cooked through.
Dogs with kidney disease should not eat sweet potatoes
Sweet potatoes do not contain solanine, but they do contain oxalic acid. Excessive amounts of oxalic acid can impair the absorption of essential minerals such as calcium, potassium or magnesium. For this reason, you should only feed your furry friend small portions of raw sweet potatoes.
Cooked sweet potatoes contain significantly less oxalic acid.
If your dog has kidney problems, he shouldn’t eat any foods that contain oxalic acid.
If you are unsure whether you can feed your dog sweet potatoes, you should ask your vet just to be on the safe side.
Attention danger!
If your darling has kidney problems such as kidney failure or kidney stones, he should not eat sweet potatoes because of the oxalic acid they contain. The disease can be aggravated by consumption.
Conclusion: Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes?
Yes, your dog can eat sweet potatoes. He can eat them raw and cooked. Sweet potatoes contain so many vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that you should definitely include them in your dog’s diet from time to time.
If your darling suffers from kidney problems, he should not eat sweet potatoes because of the oxalic acid they contain.
Do you have questions about dogs and sweet potatoes? Then leave a comment now!