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Which yellow root veggie is chock full of Vitamin A (beta carotene), Vitamin C, and Vitamin B6, and is a healthy source of dietary fiber and beta-carotene*? It’s the sweet potato—a veritable superfood for dogs. Many people want to know if dogs can eat sweet potato – you can check out our post on that topic here, and get loads more information about food safe for sharing with dogs on our information dedicated page.
Even still, you may be thinking “sweet potato for dogs, is that really healthy?!” Well, yes; so much more than their white potato cousins, sweet potatoes promote digestive health, are a powerful antioxidant and can help combat pet obesity. This healthy veggie is great on its own as a treat, or as a star ingredient in your top dressing, home-cooked dog food, or favorite dog cookie recipe.
Dr. Gary Richter, veterinarian and member of Rover’s Dog People panel of experts, advocates for including foods like sweet potatoes into your dog’s diet. He explains, “the closer to fresh, whole food diets you feed, the healthier your dog is likely to be.”
via flickr/carbonnyc
We’ve rounded up our favorite sweet potato snacks and mix-ins for dogs, along with tasty dog treat recipes in case you feel like baking something for your best friend.
Dehydrated sweet potato for dogs
Simple, sweet, and snack-errific, dehydrated sweet potato rounds make a yummy treat any dog will enjoy. The simplicity makes it ideal for dogs with food allergies. This healthy dog snack can be made chewy or crunchy, depending on how long you cook it.
Place evenly sliced sweet potato pieces on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Bake at 250 degrees for 3 hours; add another 30 minutes or so for a crisper result. Allow to cool completely to assess texture.
You can make these in a food dehydrator if you have one, or just buy pre-made treats for convenience.
Dehydrated sweet potato dog chews
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These natural treats are grown and made in the USA and contain just one ingredient. Sweet potatoes.
DIY grain-free sweet potato dog biscuits
If you’re a baking maven, this recipe from Bake at Midnight is easy to throw together and roll out for your dog.
You can substitute any kind of flour you like for the oats, cornmeal, and whole wheat flour in this recipe. You can also substitute canned sweet potato or even sweet potato baby food if that’s what you have. You definitely need a bone-shaped cookie cutter, though.
Natural Balance grain-free sweet potato dog cookies
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These limited-ingredient sweet potato treats made by Natural Balance contain your choice of protein, sweet potato, and not much else. This Amazon add-on item comes in six flavors and three different sizes.
Sweet and nutty KONG stuffing recipe
Ingredients: Freshly boiled white rice, steamed and mashed sweet potato, and a spoonful of peanut butter.
Method: Mix and mash together the rice, sweet potato, and peanut butter.
Fill the KONG and it’s ready to serve. Alternatively, wait until the rice and sweet potato have cooled, and then freeze the Kong to use later. When frozen, this mix is a great boredom buster.
This recipe courtesy Canine Mind from their wonderful KONG stuffing page.
Sweet potato KONG Stuff’n spread
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When you’re a dog mom on the go, a pre-made staple like this yummy spread can help you stay on schedule.
Just squirt this puree directly into a KONG, and add some kibble or cookies. If your best friend cleans out a KONG too fast, try freezing it for a few hours. Make them work for it!
Freeze-dried liver and sweet potato mix-in or treat
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Sprinkle this over your regular dog food for a huge nutritional boost your dog will love.
This two-ingredient freeze-dried product can be used dry, or you can add warm water to create a hearty stew.
DIY sweet potato mix-in for kibble
You can add sweet potato in any of its convenient forms to your dog’s kibble for a flavor and nutrition boost.
Sweet potato baby food, canned sweet potato puree, or frozen sweet potato cubes can take dinner from same old to savory. While you’re at it, a little cooked, plain protein will give your dog’s dry food a hearty nutrition boost, too.
*Beta-carotene is converted by the body into vitamin A and acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to support immune system health.
