Dogs can eat potato skins, but it depends on how big the dog is and their general health. This article will explore how much of a potato’s skin a dog can safely consume, what types of potatoes are best for dogs, and whether or not dogs should be eating potato skins at all.
How much of a potato’s skin is safe to give to your dog?
Potato Skin Allergies in Dogs
If you’re giving your dog anything from the nightshade family, such as raw potatoes or green tomatoes, you need to watch out for a common canine allergy. If there’s any swelling near the mouth or eyes within hours of consumption stop giving it to them immediately! A more serious allergic reaction can occur with ingestion of a high concentration of nightshade plants, which includes the stems and leaves as well.
If your dog gets a hold of a regular grocery store skinless potato, safe feeding according to most vets would be about 1/8th or possibly a half an ounce per ten pounds of your dog’s body weight. For example, if you have a 30-pound dog you would give them around 3 ounces of potato without the peel, but less if they have been fed recently because that amount will fill them up. The same goes for any size potatoes you choose to feed – just measure out what your pup needs at the time and no more!
Potato Skin Poisoning in Dogs
About 40 percent of dogs have issues digesting raw potatoes because they contain a type of toxin called solanine. Solanine is toxic to both humans and dogs – it can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramping. In serious cases, it has been known to lead even to seizures or coma.
As long as you cook your potatoes before feeding them to your pup you should be fine, but baked potatoes have been known to cause issues with digestion for some dogs because there may be small amounts of raw potato left in the skin that has not been fully cooked. In this case, just throw out the skin! Don’t feed your dog anything from the nightshade family if they have any history of digestive problems such as loose stools or stomach upset – other members include eggplants, tomatillos, peppers, and tomatoes.
What are the best types of potatoes for dogs?
Russet Potatoes are Best for Dogs
As long as you cook them first, Russet Potatoes are generally the best type to feed your pup because they’re better digested by both humans and canines alike. They have a low glycemic index so they don’t cause any sudden spikes in blood sugar levels which also makes them ideal if your dog is suffering from pancreatitis, diabetes, or obesity. Because they contain less moisture than other varieties of potatoes they’re also easier on their stomachs. This means that there’s more room for filling them up with healthy stuff!
There are many kinds of potato breeds, but not all of them are good for dogs. Even if you’re using organic potatoes from the grocery store just make sure they’re Russet Potatoes and not any of the other less healthy breeds such as blue, red, or purple potatoes.
Potato skincan dogs eat cooked potato skins?
If your dog can eat potatoes and their skin then they can eat potato skins. If your dog doesn’t have any health issues, such as allergies or an upset stomach, then it should be fine to eat a small amount of cooked or raw potatoes with the skin on. You may want to watch them for signs of an allergic reaction if they’ve never had potatoes before however.