Can I Feed My Dog Sweet Potatoes?
If you've been wondering if sweet potatoes are good for your dog… Yes they are! Sweet potatoes are nutritious, packed with vitamins and fiber, and taste great!
The same nutritional benefits that make sweet potatoes so healthy for humans also make them healthy for dogs!
Tips for Feeding Sweet Potatoes to Your Dog
- Make sure sweet potatoes are cooked until soft (and cooled, of course) before feeding them to your dog. Sweet potatoes can be boiled, steamed, baked, or even dehydrated, but not fried! Raw sweet potatoes are hard to chew and may be difficult for your dog to swallow and digest.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into bite-sized cubes. Never feed your dog sweet potato skins, as they can be difficult for your dog to digest.
- Serve the sweet potatoes plain, without extras like butter, salt, oil, seasonings, cheese, onions, extra sugar, etc. That means no potato skins, French fries, potato chips, baked potatoes with toppings, mashed potatoes made with milk and butter, and so on.
- Feed sweet potatoes to your dog in moderation, as they do contain carbs, sugar and fiber. A teaspoon to a tablespoon at one time should be fine, depending on the size of your dog. And if your dog has never had sweet potatoes before, start with an even smaller amount. Like people, all dogs are different; some may like sweet potatoes, some may not, and some may get an upset stomach when eating a new food.
- Sweet potatoes should be used as a treat now and then, not as a meal replacement, and should comprise no more than 10% of your dog's caloric intake.
- Use extra caution and consult with your dog's veterinarian if your dog is diabetic or overweight, as sweet potatoes have a high glycemic index.
Can I Feed My Cat Sweet Potatoes?
If you're wondering if cats can eat sweet potatoes, yes they can, if they're prepared the same way that sweet potatoes are prepared for dogs. But although sweet potatoes are not toxic to cats, they should be fed to cats in very small amounts, much less than what should be fed to dogs. Cats do not digest sweet potatoes the same way that humans and dogs do, nor do they get the same benefits that sweet potatoes offer. That's because dogs are omnivores and cats are carnivores, so they process foods differently. Cats are more likely to experience weight gain and digestive issues if they eat sweet potatoes too often or in too large of a serving. In very small amounts, sweet potatoes can help with constipation in cats. But in general, unless your cat is begging for sweet potatoes, there are better treats out there for cats.
