Can Dogs Eat Potatoes? Yes, in moderation: Safe Amount by Weight

In moderation

Yes, in moderation

dogs can eat plain, cooked potatoes in small amounts. Never feed raw or green potatoes, which contain solanine, and skip fries, chips and mashed potatoes made with butter, salt or garlic.

Potatoes for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	In moderation
Calories	About 11 kcal per tablespoon of plain mashed potato
Main benefit	Cooked potato is an easy-to-digest carbohydrate
Main risk	Raw potatoes, green skins and sprouts contain solanine
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How many potatoes can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One tablespoon of plain mashed potato has about 11 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if potatoes were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max potatoes per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	3 × tablespoon of plain mashed potato
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	5 × tablespoon of plain mashed potato
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	8.5 × tablespoon of plain mashed potato
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	12 × tablespoon of plain mashed potato
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	15 × tablespoon of plain mashed potato

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Cooked potato is an easy-to-digest carbohydrate
Provides potassium and vitamin B6
Used in some limited-ingredient dog foods

Risks

Raw potatoes, green skins and sprouts contain solanine
Fries and chips are high in fat and salt
Mashed potatoes often include butter, milk, garlic or onion

How to feed potatoes to your dog

Boil or bake plain, then cool
Peel and remove green spots or sprouts
Offer a small spoonful as a treat

What if my dog ate too much potatoes?

Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell.

Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.

Potatoes and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have potatoes?

Yes, dogs can eat plain, cooked potatoes in small amounts. Never feed raw or green potatoes, which contain solanine, and skip fries, chips and mashed potatoes made with butter, salt or garlic.

Can dogs eat raw potatoes?

No. Raw potatoes contain solanine and are hard to digest. Always cook them first.

Can dogs eat French fries?

It is best not to. Fries are fried in oil and salted, which can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis.

Can dogs eat potato skins?

Small amounts of cooked skin are usually fine, but remove any green areas, which contain solanine.

Can puppies eat potatoes?

Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete puppy food.

More "can dogs eat" guides

Browse lists: all vegetables dogs can eat · human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat

Sources

This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.

Can Dogs Eat Potatoes?