Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Potatoes? Yes, Plain and Cooked Only
Yes, dogs can eat potatoes as long as they are fully cooked and plain. Baked, boiled or steamed potato with nothing added is not toxic and is easy to digest. Raw potatoes and green potatoes are a different story, because they carry solanine, a natural toxin in the nightshade family. Fries, chips and buttery mashed potatoes are also poor choices because of the fat and salt. Here is how to serve potato safely.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read2 sources
Why cooked potatoes are fine for dogs
A plain cooked potato is mostly starch, with some potassium, vitamin C and B6. The AKC says dogs can eat potatoes in moderation as an occasional treat, and many dog foods use potato as a carbohydrate source. Cooking breaks down the starch and lowers the solanine found in the raw tuber.
Potatoes are calorie-dense, though. A medium baked potato has around 160 calories before anything is added, which is a large share of a small dog's day. That is why portion size matters more with potato than with watery foods like cucumber.
The solanine warning: raw and green potatoes
Solanine is a toxin produced by plants in the nightshade family. Levels rise when potatoes are exposed to light, which is what turns patches of skin green, and they are also high in sprouts, leaves and stems. The AKC advises never feeding green potatoes and not feeding raw potato at all.
A dog that eats a green potato or chews on sprouting peelings may show vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or muscle weakness. If you see those signs, call your vet, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435; a fee may apply.
How to cook potatoes for your dog
Peel the potato, cut away any green spots or eyes, and boil, steam or bake it until it is soft enough to mash with a fork. Firm pieces can be a choking risk, so cook it all the way through. Let it cool, then dice it or mash it into your dog's usual food.
Serve it plain. Butter, sour cream, cheese, bacon bits and salt all add fat and sodium, and garlic or onion powder in seasoned potatoes can harm a dog's red blood cells. The skin of a non-green potato is fine, but peeled is gentler for sensitive stomachs.
How much potato by dog weight
Keep potato within the 10 percent treat allowance. A practical guide: under 20 lb, one or two teaspoons of mashed or diced potato; 20 to 50 lb, one to two tablespoons; over 50 lb, up to a quarter cup. Once or twice a week is plenty.
If you add potato to a meal, take a little kibble out so the total calories stay the same. Dogs that are overweight or have diabetes should only have starchy extras like potato if the vet who manages their diet agrees.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
Mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving mashed potatoes are usually made with butter, milk or cream, salt and sometimes garlic. That combination is rich enough to upset most dogs, and butter in particular is the kind of fat that can bring on pancreatitis. A guest slipping your dog a spoonful from their plate is how many holiday vet visits start.
If you want your dog to share the meal, set aside a few chunks of plain boiled potato before anything goes into the pot. Ask guests not to feed from the table, and keep plates, the gravy boat and the trash can out of reach once dinner is over.
Puppies and potatoes
A weaned puppy can try a small amount of soft, plain, mashed potato. Make sure it is fully cooked and cool, offer it on its own, and keep the serving to a teaspoon or so for small breeds.
Puppies need a complete puppy food for steady growth, and filling up on starch leaves less room for it. Never give a puppy raw peelings, sprouting potatoes or anything green, since their small size means less solanine is needed to make them unwell.
Signs potatoes disagreed with your dog, and better choices
Too much plain potato may cause gas or soft stool. Rich potato dishes can cause vomiting and diarrhea within a few hours, and a dog that is hunched, sore in the belly, vomiting repeatedly or refusing food after a fatty meal should be seen by a vet that day.
Sweet potato is often a better option: cooked and plain, it carries more fiber and vitamin A. Plain green beans or carrots give your dog something to crunch with fewer calories than potato.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat raw potatoes?
No. Raw potatoes are hard to digest and carry more solanine, a natural toxin, than cooked ones. Cook potatoes all the way through before sharing, and keep raw peelings and sprouts out of reach.
Can dogs eat potato skins?
Skins from a well-scrubbed, cooked potato with no green patches are fine in small amounts. Do not share loaded potato skins with cheese, bacon or sour cream, which are high in fat and salt.
Can dogs eat french fries?
They are not a good choice. Fries are fried in oil and usually salted, and the fat and sodium can upset a dog's stomach. One stolen fry is unlikely to cause harm, but do not make it a treat.
Can dogs eat potato chips?
No. Chips are high in salt and fat, and flavored kinds often contain onion or garlic powder. A dog that eats a whole bag may get very thirsty or sick; call your vet if vomiting starts.
Can dogs eat mashed potatoes?
Only plain mashed potato with no butter, milk, salt, garlic or other seasoning. Most mashed potatoes made for people contain several of those, so set some plain potato aside for your dog instead.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
