Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes? Yes: Safe Amount by Weight

Safe

Yes, dogs can eat sweet potatoes!

Cooked, plain sweet potato is a nutritious treat for dogs. It provides fiber and vitamin A. Never feed it raw, and skip butter, sugar and marshmallows.

Sweet Potatoes for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	Safe
Calories	About 13 kcal per tablespoon of cooked sweet potato
Main benefit	Fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and B6
Main risk	Raw sweet potato is hard to digest and can cause blockage
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How many sweet potatoes can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One tablespoon of cooked sweet potato has about 13 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if sweet potatoes were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max sweet potatoes per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	2.5 × tablespoon of cooked sweet potato
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	4.5 × tablespoon of cooked sweet potato
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	7.5 × tablespoon of cooked sweet potato
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	10 × tablespoon of cooked sweet potato
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	12 × tablespoon of cooked sweet potato

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and B6
Soft and easy to digest when cooked
Dehydrated slices make a chewy treat

Risks

Raw sweet potato is hard to digest and can cause blockage
Sweet potato casserole has sugar, butter and sometimes marshmallows
High in carbohydrates for overweight or diabetic dogs

How to feed sweet potatoes to your dog

Bake, boil or steam with no seasoning
Remove skin for sensitive dogs
Mash or cube a small amount

What if my dog ate too much sweet 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.

Sweet Potatoes and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have sweet potatoes?

Yes. Cooked, plain sweet potato is a nutritious treat for dogs. It provides fiber and vitamin A. Never feed it raw, and skip butter, sugar and marshmallows.

Can dogs eat raw sweet potatoes?

No. Raw sweet potato is hard to chew and digest and can cause an obstruction.

Are sweet potato dog chews safe?

Plain dehydrated sweet potato chews are generally fine. Check for added ingredients.

Are sweet potatoes linked to heart disease in dogs?

The FDA has investigated grain-free diets heavy in legumes and potatoes for links to DCM. Small amounts as a treat are not the same as a diet built on them; ask your vet about food choice.

Can puppies eat sweet 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 Sweet Potatoes?