Are Potato Skins Food for Dogs | Dangerous Foods for Dogs

Are Potato skins food for dogs? Well, even if they can be dog food, are they safe? Let’s unravel the truth in the below paragraphs!

We all want to feed the best diet to our dogs, ensuring they get all the nutrients for a healthy and long life. As we spend loads of money on good and high-quality dog food, there is always an urge to feed them off our plates or give them home-cooked food. While it may feel innocent enough to provide them just a little of that home meal, dogs’ digestive systems and dietary requirements are quite different. Dogs mostly rely on a high-protein diet to keep them strong, healthy, and energetic. Home meals can sometimes cause health issues if one is not careful about them. 

Potatoes are a starchy vegetable rich in carbohydrates which is not necessarily a dietary requirement for canines. But whether it is okay to feed them without causing any severe reactions is essential to understand. Keep reading to find out the answer to the following question- are potato skins food for dogs.  

Are Potato Skins Food for Dogs?

Raw potatoes have solanine and oxalate, making them an unsuitable food item for dogs. These compounds are toxic to dogs and can cause severe health problems. Hence, you must never feed raw potatoes to your dogs. However, you can give a moderate amount of cooked potato to your dogs. It should not make up more than 10% of their diet and should be unseasoned without salt, oil, or butter. Once cooked, it gets rid of solanine, and the amount of oxalates is minimal. Hence, you can then feed it to your pet without any severe reactions but should not be a regular part of their diet. 

If they accidentally grab and eat the potato skins, you must monitor their health for any intestinal discomfort and consult the vet if the symptoms worsen. 

What Not to Feed Dogs?

1. Chocolates

Chocolates are one of the strictly prohibited foods for dogs as they can cause severe digestive problems in them. They can even be fatal if consumed in large quantities. It leads to heart issues and affects the metabolism due to the compound methylxanthines present that is toxic to the dogs. 

2. Onions

Feeding onions to dogs can cause anemia and affect the health of the pets. It slows down the production of red blood cells and declines the metabolism in dogs. Hence, one should avoid food with such seasonings to avoid putting your dog’s health at risk. 

3. Sweets and Sugary Drinks

Unhealthy food, such as cookies and other sugary drinks, can cause health issues in dogs such as diabetes, unhealthy weight gain, and tooth decay. Unhealthy weight gain can then lead to a shorter life for your death as it can lead to heart diseases.

4. Caffeine

Intake of caffeine can cause dehydration and may also be toxic to them. It can cause severe digestive issues and may turn fatal too if consumed in large quantities. 

5. Grapes and Raisins

Even in low quantities, consuming grapes and raisins can be quite harmful to dogs. It may lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and, in extreme cases, kidney failure too. 

6. Dairy Products

Avoid feeding dairy products to your dogs as it may cause digestive problems and uneasiness. It may also cause allergic reactions and cause skin irritation. 

7. Avocados

Avocados have a fatty acid, persin, which is toxic to dogs and can cause severe digestive reactions. Avoid feeding any part of this fruit to your dogs. 

8. Macadamia Nuts or Any Other Nuts

Macadamia nuts are an unhealthy food item for dogs as they can cause weakness, vomiting, or high temperatures in them. One should be careful not to feed anything that may contain traces of these nuts. Avoid giving any other kinds of nuts, too, as the fat in the nuts is unhealthy for a dog’s digestive system.

9. Raw Meat and Eggs

Domestic dogs are not accustomed to raw food. Feeding them raw meat or eggs can cause skin diseases or an unhealthy digestive system. It contains bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli that can trigger stomach issues in dogs. 

10. Salted Food

Avoid giving food with seasonings or too much salt to your dogs. It can cause excessive urination and ultimately dehydration. It may also cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other stomach issues.

These were some of the food items that you must refrain from giving to your dogs at any cost as they can be harmful to their health. Besides these food items, you must be cautious with giving them anything and even if you do so, keep a close watch on them.