It was a sad day when I found out my dog couldn’t have sweet potatoes … especially for him. I can’t even start to say the word or his ears perk up, his tail wags and I can see the beginnings of drool.
You may wonder … “What’s wrong with sweet potatoes? Aren’t they good for dogs?”
Well … there’s nothing inherently wrong with this tasty tuber on the surface. It’s actually a great source of important nutrients.
But there are good reasons to limit the amount of sweet potato your dog gets.
Why Your Dog Should Eat Less Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber. And they’re rich in vitamins and minerals like …
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Iron
But sweet potatoes are also a starchy carbohydrate. And that means like other popular pet food ingredients such as white potato and yam … sweet potatoes turn into sugar in your dog’s body.
If you want a better way to give your dog the vitamins he needs, try berries and green veggies. They are low in sugar and rich in nutrients.
How Carbohydrates Affect The Immune System
Researchers always look for new ways to keep you and your dog healthy.
Over the years, they’ve uncovered many important factors in a healthy immune system. A big one is a beneficial number of good bacteria and yeast in the body.
But where there’s good, there must also be bad.
Bad bacteria and yeast try to crowd your dog’s gut while friendly bacteria work to keep it healthy. When something creates an imbalance, the bad yeast and bacteria go wild.
And that can cause a lot of long-term problems …
- Cancer
- Liver, kidney, heart or organ disease
- Chronic bowel disease
- Obesity
- Diabetes
The starchy sugars in sweet potatoes feed the harmful bacteria and yeast. And that can lead to a yeast problem … and then an itching problem.
If you start to see the telltale signs of yeast …
- Chronic ear infections
- A musty smell to your dog
- Itching
… it may be time to find a new food.
If you read this and thought, “But my dog loves sweet potato and he’s not itchy!” … then you may be OK.
But be sure to feed him sweet potatoes in moderation because there are more reasons not to overdo it …
RELATED: How Hidden Sugars In Your Dog’s Food Are Making Him Sick …
Glycemic Load Of Sweet Potatoes
Glycemic load measures how fast certain foods raise blood sugar levels.
Starchy foods like sweet potato increase blood sugar levels rapidly.
To convert the sugar to energy, your dog’s body releases insulin, and this sends the blood sugar to your cells.
The problem is, starchy foods can create a spike in insulin. Over time, these spikes can lead to …
- Insulin resistance
- Diabetes
- Thyroid disease
- Cancer
Sweet Potato Chews For Dogs
Sweet potato chews have become a popular treat for dogs. And why not? They are an easy way to share sweet potatoes with your furry pal. But before throwing them in your cart, you want to look for 2 things:
- Check the ingredients label to be sure that the treat isn’t full of additives
- Buy organic so that you know the treats are free from pesticides and other chemicals
Are Sweet Potatoes Good For Dogs?
At the end of the day, what you need to remember is that some foods are more necessary than others.
Meaty bones, organs, fruits and vegetables that are rich in nutrients … these are all important for a happy and healthy dog.
Carbohydrates like sweet potatoes are not.
While fairly harmless in small amounts … starchy foods offer little nutritional value and can create many problems for your dog.
So next time you wonder whether you should share your sweet potato, remember …
… sweet potatoes can be a tasty treat, but they shouldn’t be a main ingredient in your dog’s diet.