Yes, plain, cooked potatoes can be good in dog food as a source of energy, vitamins, and fiber, but green parts, raw potatoes, and fried potatoes are bad due to toxins (solanine) or unhealthy fats, and they should be fed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Potatoes provide quick fuel and nutrients like vitamin C, potassium, and fiber, supporting digestion, but large amounts or unhealthy preparations (like fries) can lead to weight gain or pancreatitis.
Dogs can eat potatoes as long as they are plainly cooked and offered in moderation. Roasted potatoes, prepared without spices or butter are the best way to let your pet have a taste of a delicious spud. But avoid giving your dog raw or boiled potatoes as they're not safe for dogs to eat as they contain solanine.
Ingredients to Avoid in Dog Food
With the dramatic rise in demand for grain and gluten free pet foods over the past decade, potatoes were found to be a great nutritional carbohydrate source to use in place of rice, barley, and oats. Potatoes are very easily tolerated and digestible for most dogs and cats.
Are potatoes good for dogs? Yes - there's a whole range of health benefits to potatoes, despite the fact that they can be deemed quite carbohydrate heavy. Like any food, they should be fed in moderation to your pooch as part of a well-balanced, nutritional diet, and prepared in the most dog-friendly way.
While plain, cooked potatoes can be safe in moderation, there are some risks to be aware of. Here's what makes potatoes potentially harmful: They can contain solanine. The green parts of potatoes and potato sprouts contain solanine, a toxin that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and even nervous system issues.
There isn't one single "healthiest" vegetable, but carrots, green beans, and broccoli consistently rank as top choices for dogs, offering vitamins, fiber, and dental benefits, while sweet potatoes, spinach, bell peppers, and pumpkin also provide excellent nutrients like Vitamin A, C, K, iron, and antioxidants, but should be fed in moderation as treats.
What Should Top 3 Ingredients Be in Dog Food?
There's no single "number 1" healthiest dog food, as the best choice depends on your dog's age, breed, and health; however, look for foods meeting AAFCO standards (Association of American Feed Control Officials), with real meat as the first ingredient, and vet-recommended brands like Hill's Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin are often cited for balanced nutrition. Freshly prepared or raw diets can also be healthy but carry risks, so always consult your vet.
There's no single "number one" food, but chocolate, grapes/raisins, and foods containing the artificial sweetener xylitol are among the most dangerous and common toxic items, causing issues from vomiting and seizures to kidney failure or death; other major threats include onions/garlic, alcohol, and fatty/cooked bones that can splinter. Always contact your vet immediately if your dog eats anything suspicious.
The worst dog foods often contain cheap fillers like corn, wheat, and soy; unspecified "meat meals" or by-products; excessive sugar; and artificial colors/preservatives, with brands like Kibbles 'n Bits, Beneful, Gravy Train, and some Purina/Iams varieties frequently cited for low nutritional quality and questionable ingredients. Focus on avoiding poor-quality protein sources (unspecified meat meals), fillers, artificial additives, and dangerous human foods like chocolate, grapes, onions, and xylitol.
The "95% Rule" for dog food, set by AAFCO guidelines, means if a food is named after an ingredient (e.g., "Chicken Dog Food"), that ingredient must make up at least 95% of the product's weight (excluding added water). If two ingredients are named ("Chicken & Rice"), they must total 95% (minus water), with more of the first ingredient listed, and each must be at least 3%. This label indicates a high-quality, nutrient-dense food, contrasting with "25% Rule" (e.g., "Chicken Dinner") or "With" Rule (e.g., "with Chicken") products, which contain much lower percentages.
19 Healthy and Safe Foods You Can Feed Your Dog
No, don't let your dog eat raw potatoes. They can be hard to digest, potentially causing gastrointestinal issues. Additionally, if your dog bites off large chunks of hard, raw potato, they could choke. Cooking the raw potato breaks down the starch and lectin in the potato making it easier to digest (and easier to eat).
Dogs can eat raw bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, and zucchini. They can also eat pumpkin, squash, and sweet potatoes, but those veggies should be thoroughly cooked before feeding them to your dog.
Many dogs and cats have allergies to certain grains. The two biggies are wheat and corn. Unfortunately, many low-end commercial pet foods contain both these grains, and in quantities out of proportion to healthy ingredients such as meat.
Vets most commonly recommend brands like Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina Pro Plan due to their extensive research, scientific backing, and availability of specialized prescription diets for specific health conditions. Other trusted options often mentioned include Eukanuba, Advance, and some Australian brands like Prime100, with specific formulas tailored for life stages, breed sizes, or health issues like skin sensitivities or weight management.
Due to the range of benefits that wet and dry diets boast, a mixed feeding approach can help your dog get the most out of mealtime. Combining both wet and dry to their diet can give them some variety, where they are exposed to different textures that they will generally be more tempted to try.
Based on Dr. Marty's advice, Oprah says she now feeds her dogs a mixed diet of chicken, beef, lamb, brown rice, potatoes and carrots. Dr. Marty says most people feed their dogs diets that go against their animal nature.
Using Unsafe or Unhealthy Ingredients
There is a wide variety of unhealthy and unsafe foods to avoid when preparing meals for your dog. Potentially toxic ingredients are of special concern, including chocolate, xylitol, avocado, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, and macadamia nuts.
By excluding grains in food, dogs and cats eating a grain-free diet can develop a Taurine deficiency which contributes to the development of heart disease.
The healthiest dog food depends on your dog's specific needs, but top veterinarian-recommended brands known for science-backed nutrition and meeting AAFCO standards include Hill's Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina Pro Plan, offering options for life stages and health conditions. For sensitive dogs or allergies, limited ingredient diets (LID) from brands like Prime100 (single protein, human-grade) or raw/air-dried diets from Eureka (high meat, organs) are excellent choices, focusing on whole, digestible ingredients for better gut and skin health, but always consult your vet first.
Onion, Garlic, Chives
Onion, garlic and chives are members of the Allium species of vegetables. Allium species can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage, which can lead to anemia (low red blood cells). Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk depending on the amount ingested.
The 90/10 rule for dogs means 90% of their daily calories should come from a complete, balanced dog food, while only 10% should come from treats, training rewards, and any extra human foods or toppers, preventing nutritional imbalances and obesity. This guideline ensures essential vitamins and minerals are met through their main diet, keeping treats as occasional indulgences rather than dietary staples.
Fruits Your Dog Can Safely Eat