Without a doubt, mashed potatoes are a household staple all over the country. They are a highly popular food choice that many of us humans eat on a regular basis. However, can our furry friends eat mashed potatoes, too?
Could mashed potatoes be healthy and beneficial to them? Or are they bad for them and cause some health problems? Even worse, are they toxic for dogs?
In this article, we will answer all those questions about dogs and mashed potatoes.
Can Dogs Eat Mashed Potatoes?
Well, the answer to the question “can dogs eat mashed potatoes?“ is yes. But keep in mind that that answer comes with a lot of precautions.
To begin with, potatoes are not toxic for dogs. So that means, eating potatoes will not harm them. Which is great news!
However, unlike humans, dogs are not built to eat excessive amounts of carbs. So that means that mashed potatoes or potatoes, in particular, should not be a part of your dog’s regular diet.
In short, mashed potatoes are not bad for your dog’s health. It’s just that your dog must not eat them regularly.
Health Benefits of Mashed Potatoes For Dogs
Mashed potatoes also have a fair amount of health benefits to them.
To start, they have carbs. And although we said earlier that too many carbs are not recommended in your dog’s diet, a small amount is totally fine. Carbs are a source of energy for our dogs.
Aside from that, potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals include vitamin C, vitamin B6, iron, and magnesium.
Vitamin C can help in strengthening our dog’s immune system. Magnesium can help in the absorption of both minerals and vitamins.
Precautions To Take If You Feed Your Dog Mashed Potatoes
However, there are some things to watch out for if you are going to give your dog mashed potatoes.
Mashed potatoes often include ingredients like salt, pepper, butter, garlic, and more. And we do know that garlic is a big no-no for our dogs.
Salt is also a bit of a problem for dogs. Especially too much of it.
Sometimes, mashed potatoes also have dairy products like milk and butter in them. And if your dog happens to be lactose intolerant, you want to watch out for these ingredients.
So, if you’re gonna feed your dogs with mashed potatoes, here’s how to do it safely.
Let’s start with the seasoning you put in mashed potatoes. If you are going to serve mashed potatoes to your dogs, you should avoid seasonings as much as possible. Because, like we said earlier, some ingredients like salt and garlic are bad for dogs.
Your best bet is to try keeping it as plain as possible. Try adding some rich and lean protein food too to balance it.
Ideally, if dogs were to eat mashed potatoes, they should have it in small, controlled portions. The potatoes shouldn’t have any other ingredients such as salt, pepper, and other seasonings. And adding a little protein such as meat could help add flavor and make it more appetizing for your dog.
Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs
This article is part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”
Find out “Can Dogs Eat Pancakes?” in the next article of this series.
