can dogs eat purple potatoes

Can Dogs Eat Purple Potatoes? A Guide to Serving This Colorful Vegetable Safely

Purple potatoes are becoming more popular at farmers markets and grocery stores, adding a pop of color to an otherwise ordinary tuber. Their vibrant hue comes from antioxidants called anthocyanins—the same compounds that give blueberries and blackberries their rich color. But are purple potatoes safe for dogs to eat? Can our canine companions enjoy these colorful spuds as an occasional treat?

I’ve dug into the details on feeding purple potatoes to dogs including potential benefits proper serving sizes, and preparation methods. Read on for the complete guide on whether pups can eat purple potatoes and how to share them safely.

An Overview on Feeding Potatoes to Dogs

Potatoes, including the classic white variety and purple-hued ones, are part of the nightshade family. Other nightshades like tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers also contain low levels of toxins called glycoalkaloids. Thankfully, the small amounts found in potatoes are not harmful to dogs when served cooked and in moderation.

In fact, potatoes can offer great nutritional value when given to dogs in limited quantities. Plain white or purple potatoes can provide carbohydrates for energy, dietary fiber for digestion, vitamin C for immune health, and minerals like iron and potassium. Potato skins are indigestible for dogs and should be removed before feeding.

As with any human food, potatoes should only make up a small portion of your dog’s diet. But overall, both white and purple potatoes can be a safe, healthy treat when prepared properly.

Potential Benefits of Purple Potatoes for Dogs

Along with being generally dog-safe, purple potatoes offer excellent nutritional value for pups when fed occasionally. Here are some of the top vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial plant compounds found in purple potatoes.

Powerful Antioxidants
The vivid purple color of these potatoes comes from antioxidants called anthocyanins. These compounds help counteract oxidative damage from free radicals in your dog’s body and offer numerous health benefits, including:

• Improving immune system function
• Protecting cells from damage
• Reducing inflammation
• Lowering the risk of chronic diseases

So by introducing purple potatoes as the occasional treat, you can provide your pup with a boost of free radical-fighting antioxidants.

Vitamin C
This immune-boosting vitamin promotes healthy skin and gums in dogs. It also supports collagen production and iron absorption. Purple potatoes contain about 30 milligrams of vitamin C per one cup of chopped, cooked potato.

Vitamin B6
Important for nerve health, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) also aids in metabolism and red blood cell production in dogs. Purple potatoes provide a modest amount, with approximately 0.4 milligrams per one cup serving.

Dietary Fiber
The skin and flesh of potatoes offer insoluble fiber that promotes bowel regularity and helps maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Fiber also provides a prolonged feeling of fullness, which can prevent overeating.

Carbohydrates
Dogs need carbohydrates in their diet for energy. Purple potatoes have a lower glycemic index than many carb sources, providing more sustained energy rather than spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels.

Minerals
This colorful tuber contains beneficial minerals like iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. These support bone health, oxygen transport, muscle function, and enzyme activity.

As you can see, adding a few cooked purple potato pieces to your dog’s bowl once or twice a week can provide valuable antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, and plant compounds. Just be sure to serve them plain and prepared properly (more details below).

Are Cooked or Raw Potatoes Better for Dogs?

Always cook potatoes before feeding them to dogs. Raw potatoes are difficult to digest and contain higher concentrations of toxins like solanine. Thorough cooking helps break down the complex starches in potatoes, making them easier on your dog’s digestive system.

Cooking also enhances the flavor, which makes potatoes more enticing and enjoyable for pups. Try baking, microwaving, or boiling purple potato pieces to the proper consistency for your dog. Avoid frying them, as the added fat is unhealthy.

Some simple ways to prepare cooked purple potatoes for dogs include:

• Baked: Chop into small pieces and bake until tender.

• Microwaved: Dice potatoes into bite-size pieces, add a splash of water and microwave until soft.

• Boiled: Cut potatoes and boil until they reach the desired tenderness. Drain and set aside to cool before feeding.

• Mashed: Peel, boil, and mash the potato with a bit of the cooking water. Allow to cool before serving.

Always let cooked potatoes cool completely before feeding to prevent burns. Only add water or low sodium broth when cooking potatoes for dogs—no butter, oils, salt, garlic, onions or other seasonings. Plain cooked potato is healthiest.

What is the Ideal Serving Size of Potatoes for Dogs?

To avoid potential issues, potato should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s total daily calories. Exact serving sizes vary based on your dog’s weight and activity level. Here are some general potato serving guidelines based on your dog’s size:

• Small dogs under 10 lbs: 1-2 tbsp cooked potato

• Medium dogs 10 – 50 lbs: Up to 1/4 cup cooked potato

• Large/giant breeds over 50 lbs: Up to 1/2 cup cooked potato

Start by introducing your dog to purple potatoes slowly, with just a bite or two at first. Observe for any signs of stomach upset or diarrhea after eating potatoes. If your pup tolerates them well, gradually increase potato serving sizes up to the recommended amount based on their weight.

Ideally, substitute a small portion of your dog’s regular food with the potato instead of adding excess calories on top of meals. Purple potatoes can also be used for homemade dog treats if chopped into bite-sized pieces and baked until chewy.

Tips for Choosing and Preparing Purple Potatoes Safely

When cooking purple potatoes for your dog, follow these tips for selecting, storing, and preparing them properly:

• Purchase organic whenever possible to avoid pesticides.

• Choose firm, smooth potatoes without sprouts or green skin.

• Wash thoroughly before cooking to remove any dirt.

• Cook potatoes within 1-2 days of purchasing for optimal freshness.

• Always peel off the skin before feeding, as it is hard to digest.

• Dice, bake, boil, or mash to your dog’s preferred texture.

• Let potatoes cool completely before serving to prevent burns.

• Avoid ALL seasonings, butter/oils, salt, onions, garlic, or other add-ins.

By selecting high-quality purple potatoes and cooking them simply and thoroughly, you can safely share small amounts of this colorful veggie with your pup.

Potential Precautions and Risks

While potato is generally safe for dogs in moderation, there are some potential precautions to keep in mind:

Weight Gain
Too much potato could lead to weight gain in dogs, so adjust food amounts accordingly if substituting for kibble. The carbohydrate content provides energy but also extra calories if overfed.

Digestive Upset
Feeding too much potato may cause vomiting, diarrhea, gas, or constipation in some dogs. Introduce slowly and discontinue use if you notice any stomach issues.

Toxicity
Glycoalkaloid poisoning from overconsumption of potatoes is very rare but possible. Always feed potatoes cooked and avoid allowing dogs access to eat raw potatoes or skins.

Allergies
Some dogs may have potato allergies or intolerances. Monitor for signs of allergy such as itching, ear inflammation, or skin irritation after feeding potatoes.

By using potatoes as an occasional treat and watching for any individual reaction in your dog, you can safely provide the nutritional benefits of purple potatoes. Introduce them slowly and in conjunction with your dog’s balanced main meals for optimal health.

The Takeaway on Feeding Purple Potatoes to Dogs