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Pawrennial

Can dogs eat potatoes?

Only with care.

Plain, cooked potato is fine for most dogs as an occasional treat. Raw potatoes and green potatoes (or green skins and sprouts) contain solanine, a natural toxin. Skip fries, chips, and mashed potatoes made with butter, milk, and salt.

Raw and green potatoes

Potatoes turn green when exposed to light, a sign of more solanine, a toxin found in plants of the nightshade family. Raw potatoes, green potatoes, green skins, sprouts, and potato plants should all be avoided. Cooking doesn't make green potatoes safe.

Cooked, plain potatoes

Boiled or baked potato with no butter, oil, salt, cheese, or seasoning is fine in small amounts. Cook it until soft and mash or cube it. Potatoes are starchy, so they're a poor choice for diabetic or overweight dogs.

Potato foods to avoid

  • French fries and chips: fatty and salty
  • Mashed potatoes with butter, milk, salt, or garlic
  • Loaded potato skins, gratins, and potato salad (often with onion)

Helpful tools and guides

Frequently asked questions

My dog ate a raw potato. What should I do?

A small piece of raw, non-green potato usually causes no more than stomach upset. Call your vet if it was green or sprouting, if your dog ate a lot, or if they vomit, seem weak, or are wobbly.

Can dogs eat potato skins?

Cooked skins that aren't green are OK in small amounts. Never give green skins.

Can dogs eat french fries?

A single fry won't hurt, but they're fatty and salty, so don't share them.

Sources

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Tools for your dog