Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes? Yes, Cooked and Plain
Yes, dogs can eat sweet potatoes, as long as they are cooked, peeled and plain. Baked or steamed sweet potato is soft, naturally sweet and full of fiber, and both the AKC and VCA describe it as a good occasional treat. Raw sweet potato is hard to digest and can cause a blockage, and the holiday versions, from candied yams to sweet potato pie, bring sugar, butter, spice and sometimes xylitol that dogs do not need.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why cooked sweet potato is safe
Sweet potato is a starchy root with no compound known to poison dogs. Cooked, it supplies fiber, beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium, and VCA lists it among healthy fall foods for dogs. A few soft cubes are filling for their calories, which makes them handy for dogs that need low-fat treats.
It is still a carbohydrate, not a protein. The AKC points out that too much vitamin A over time is not good for bones and muscles, and that dogs that are diabetic, overweight or not very active should have only a little because of its effect on blood sugar. Keep it a side, never the main event.
Raw sweet potato and the skin
Do not give raw sweet potato. It is dense and fibrous, hard for a dog to chew properly, and chunks that are swallowed whole can upset the stomach or lodge in the intestine. Cooking softens it so it passes easily.
Peel the potato before or after cooking. The skin is not toxic, but it is tougher to digest, and a dog that gulps can choke on a leathery strip. Make sure the flesh is soft all the way through, like mashed potato, before you serve it.
A note on grain-free diets
In 2018 the FDA began looking into reports of dilated cardiomyopathy, a heart muscle disease, in dogs eating some commercial foods that list peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes high in the ingredients. The AKC added a note about this to its sweet potato advice. The investigation has not shown that sweet potato as a treat causes heart disease.
The practical point is about balance. A spoonful of sweet potato as a snack is not the same as a diet built around it. If you feed a grain-free or home-prepared diet, or are thinking of switching, talk it over with your vet.
How to prepare sweet potato for your dog
Wash and peel the sweet potato, cut it into chunks and steam, boil or bake until soft, with no butter, oil, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon or marshmallows. Let it cool, then mash it or cut it into cubes about the size of a blueberry for small dogs or a grape for large ones.
You can freeze mashed sweet potato in an ice cube tray for portion-sized treats, or spread a thin layer in a lick mat. Dehydrated sweet potato chews are popular, but they are hard and dense, so supervise and choose a size your dog cannot swallow whole.
If you like to share small snacks, a lick mat or a treat ball makes a little go further and slows a fast eater down.
How much sweet potato by dog size
Under 20 lb: about one teaspoon of cooked sweet potato. Between 20 and 50 lb: about one tablespoon. Over 50 lb: up to two tablespoons. Offer it a few times a week rather than daily, and count it as part of the 10 percent of calories that treats should make up.
Start with half these amounts. Some dogs get gas or loose stool from the extra fiber. Puppies can have a small taste of cooked, mashed sweet potato once they are on solid food, but their main meals should stay a complete puppy diet.
Thanksgiving: sharing sweet potato safely
At Thanksgiving, set aside a few pieces of plain baked sweet potato before you add anything to the dish. Candied yams, sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and pecans, and sweet potato pie are high in sugar and fat, and some recipes use nutmeg or xylitol. Keep those plates off the coffee table.
If your dog helps themselves to the casserole, watch for vomiting and diarrhea. If a dessert contained xylitol, chocolate, raisins or macadamia nuts, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 right away. A fee may apply.
Signs it disagreed, and other veggies to try
Mild upset after sweet potato looks like gas, soft stool or a single vomit within a day. Call your vet the same day if vomiting repeats, your dog seems in pain or stops eating, or a large raw or dried chunk was swallowed and they are straining.
Other good vegetable treats include plain canned pumpkin, steamed green beans and carrot sticks. Regular white potato should only ever be cooked and plain, too.
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 sweet potato?
No. Raw sweet potato is hard to chew and digest and can cause stomach upset or an intestinal blockage. Always cook it until soft, and serve it plain with the skin removed.
Can dogs eat sweet potato skin?
The skin is not toxic, but it is tougher to digest and can be a choking risk. Peeling the potato is the safer choice, especially for small dogs and dogs that gulp their food.
Can dogs eat sweet potato fries?
Restaurant sweet potato fries are fried in oil and salted, and some are seasoned with garlic or onion. Skip them. Bake plain cubes at home without oil or salt instead.
Can dogs eat sweet potato pie?
It is best avoided. Sweet potato pie is high in sugar, butter and spices such as nutmeg, and some recipes use xylitol. Give your dog a little plain baked sweet potato instead.
Is sweet potato better than white potato for dogs?
Both are safe only when cooked and plain. Sweet potato carries more fiber and beta-carotene. Neither should replace a complete dog food, and both are best as occasional treats.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
