Can Dogs Eat Mashed Potatoes?

Mashed potatoes are a delicious human food consumed in different parts of the world.  While enjoying this delicacy, you may be tempted to scoop out some of it for your furry friend. But can dogs eat mashed potatoes?

Yes, but they are not healthy for your dog. Mashed potatoes can cause health threats to your pup depending on the ingredients used in cooking them. Thus, it’s good to counter-check the contents of the mashed potatoes before giving them to your dog.

What Do Dogs Eat?

Some dogs are not selective about what they eat. They will eat what you give them. However, others tend to be pickier. More selective dogs are difficult to properly feed since they can’t take any meal you serve them.

A common canine meal for dogs comprises a complete wet or dry feed and some type of supplement in specific cases. Foraging can be included in the meal if the pet is allowed to roam or it is feral, and of course, some treats are part of most pets’ diets.

The diet of each dog breed will vary depending on their weight, age, and health condition. For this reason, it’s essential to know when providing food to your pet, what constitutes healthy preferences, and what doesn’t.

An inappropriate meal can put your pet at risk of having difficulties digesting their food and absorbing nutrients properly. And that’s something you don’t want!

Let’s focus on potatoes since that’s why you visited our page today. We will discuss how mashed potatoes can affect your pet’s general health and well-being.

Further Reading: Can Dogs Eat Human Food? The Answers in 2022

What are Mashed Potatoes?

Potatoes are starchy root veggies from the nightshade family of vegetables. They are produced under the soil, and they’re pulled up from the ground when harvesting.

Mashed potatoes are a type of cooked potatoes that are crushed after cooking. There are several types of mashed potatoes that can be made and prepared in various ways, including boiling or baking the potatoes before pounding.

Many people cook mashed potatoes with spices, butter, and other mix-ins like cream, herbs, and veggies.

Mashed Potatoes Nutrition

Potatoes contain a good amount of Vitamin C, which helps protect the body’s system and keep the body functioning and running well. But when the potato is boiled and pounded, the quantity of these vital vitamins reduces.

Regardless, here are some nutritional benefits your pup will derive from mashed potatoes.

Contains Antioxidants

Several studies have indicated that potatoes are a good source of anti-inflammatory substances which helps in fighting different types of inflammation.

Mashed potatoes are a source of antioxidants such as quercetin and vitamin C. Research indicates that the antioxidants might help lessen cancer cell growth, reduce inflammation and enhance general health.

Helps in the Digestion Process

Potatoes contain a healthy amount of fiber to facilitate digestion. Your dog requires a balanced amount of fiber in its meals to keep their digestive tract healthy and functioning properly.

Lower Blood Sugar Levels

Mashed potatoes have potassium and fiber that might help control blood sugar levels. This will be helpful to those with diabetic dogs or trying to stop their dogs from getting diabetes.

Can a Dog Eat Mashed Potatoes and Butter?

Butter is highly fatty and salty, and this is not good for your pooch to eat. Consuming a lot of buttery mashed potatoes will cause an upset stomach and result in weight gain.

Can a Dog Eat Instant Mashed Potatoes?

A dog can eat instant mash since they don’t contain any extras that are harmful to them. Nevertheless, there are some seasonings and additives in there that your pooch doesn’t need. These include salt and nitrates. Too much of these may cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, high temperatures, and seizures among others.

Can a Dog Eat Frozen Mashed Potatoes?

A dog can eat frozen mash once it’s boiled. It is not harmful as most brands only include potato, pepper, milk, and salt as the ingredients.

However, do not feed your pooch mash that is still frozen. The amount of salt in frozen mashed potatoes is not ideal for your pup, but it should not cause any severe reactions if the mash is eaten in small amounts.

Benefits of Potatoes for Dogs?`

Potatoes are one of the common ingredients in most dog food recipes. Provided the mashed potatoes are plain and have little milk, they are safe for your dog and can provide several minerals and vitamins.

Related: 25 Best Dog Foods for This Year

Examples of such vitamins include Vitamin C and B6. Vitamin C is important in keeping the pet’s immune system strong and helps it battle against diseases. Additionally, it helps the body absorb iron, keeps the bones and joints strong, and helps the dog maintain healthy body cells.

Vitamin B6 assists the body break down amino acids to produce proteins. If the dog is not having enough vitamin B6 in the diet, it will lead to a deficiency that might cause anemia, kidney stones, patchy skin, and poor growth.

Minerals such as manganese, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, and niacin are also found in mashed potatoes. Phosphorus and magnesium help the pet’s body absorb nutrients such as calcium. Furthermore, potassium is an essential electrolyte that keeps your dog’s cells and organs functioning.

Side Effects of Potatoes for Your Dog?

The only thing that makes mashed potatoes bad for dogs is that they are starchy and contain many calories and carbs. Obesity in dogs is a huge issue and increases the dog’s risk of other diseases like cancer or diabetes.

Another issue with potatoes is that most of the other included ingredients are not ideal for dogs. When making mash at home, make sure it’s plain. However, you can add some little milk and butter since they are safe for the pooch to eat.

Better still, you can prepare a good dog-safe mash with potatoes and water. Pets don’t need seasonings and spices to flavor their meals. Even though a plain potato meal may be boring to us, it’s safe and easy to digest for the dog.

Also, note that some pets are lactose intolerant. So if you make mash that has a lot of milk, butter, and cream, your pooch will get flatulence, diarrhea, and a sore stomach.

Similarly, a lot of salt or butter in the mash will cause a couple of problems for your dog. Too much butter will make the mashed potato fatty, which will upset the dog’s stomach. While salt is good in small quantities, a lot of it will cause dehydration and, in large quantities, will poison the pet.

Can Mashed Potatoes Make Your Dog Sick?

Like other meals, taking a lot of mashed potatoes will make a dog sick. Consuming too much of any substance will upset the pet’s stomach and lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Furthermore, the meal’s dairy, salt, and fat content can irritate the dog’s gut and cause diseases. Nevertheless, plain mashed potatoes fed in strict moderation will not cause any severe illness.

If the mashed potatoes contain other ingredients, such as chives, onions, or garlic, then don’t feed them to your dog. These extras are harmful to your dog and can lead to anemia and other serious illnesses.

Final Words

Dogs can have a few mashed potatoes, provided they are plain. But if the mashed potato is debauched and contains a lot of extras, such as cream, chives, and butter, you shouldn’t give it to your pup. These extras can make the dog sick or might be toxic.

Potatoes are good carbs to sustain your dog’s energy and offer them some additional essential vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6 and C. These vital minerals help in strengthening your pooch’s immune system, skin, bones, and regulating iron levels.

Further Reading:

• Can Dogs Eat Tater Tots?
• Can Dogs Eat Beets? What Are The Benefits
• Can Dogs Eat Guava? Is Guava Good For Dogs?
• Can Dogs Eat Chips?
• Can Dogs Eat Hash Browns?