Is Sweet Potato toxic to dogs? A Complete Guide

Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes Raw or Cooked?

Sweet potatoes (and their cousin, yams) affect your dogs body differently depending on whether and how theyre cooked. Heres a look at different ways to prepare sweet potatoes and whether or not theyre OK for dogs.

Raw Sweet Potatoes: No

Raw sweet potatoes are too fibrous for your dog to safely digest. If they eat large quantities of raw sweet potato, it can build up in their digestive system and cause an intestinal blockage. Also known as a gastrointestinal obstruction, a blockage is a serious and sometimes life-threatening condition.

Dont feed your dog raw sweet potato. If they eat it when youre not looking, watch them carefully for the next few days. Vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, low energy levels, hunching, and whining are all signs of an intestinal blockage. Take your dog to the vet immediately if you notice any of these signs.

Is Sweet Potato Safe for Dogs?

In short, yes! Canines can safely eat sweet potatoes as long as they are cooked and peeled. Raw sweet potatoes aren’t ideal because they can upset your dog’s stomach and cause an intestinal blockage. The plant contains trypsin inhibitors that can impact your dog’s ability to digest protein – cooking destroys these compounds.

It’s also crucial that you don’t feed your dog any part of the potato vine since it’s toxic to them. Ingesting any part of a sweet potato vine can lead to acute poisoning. The vines from sweet potatoes can adversely affect your dog’s brain, heart, liver, and kidneys.

Symptoms that are associated with sweet potato vine poisoning in a dog include:

  • Seizure
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Drowsiness
  • Hallucination
  • Dilated pupils
  • Reduced heart rate
  • Excessive urination
  • Low blood pressure
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Drooling or salivation
  • Gastrointestinal issues
  • Numbness in their paws
  • Liver and kidney damage
  • Irritation around the mouth
  • Even in small amounts, eating a vine from a sweet potato can severely hurt your dog’s health! If you have a garden in your backyard that contains sweet potatoes, your dog shouldn’t access that area. If your dog has ingested them raw or any part of the vine, you need to take them to the vet immediately!

    Are Sweet Potatoes Good For Dogs?

    If you’re a sweet potato fan, you might be wondering if your dog can eat it too. Sweet potatoes are nutritious and delicious for both people and dogs! These delicious vegetables are packed with nutritional value, and dogs go absolutely bonkers for the flavor!

    Sweet potatoes are an excellent addition to your dog’s diet if they’re prepared properly and given in moderation. Dogs can eat sweet potatoes that are cooked, peeled, and made especially for them. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of this tasty treat!