Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are a nutrient-dense, health-boosting addition to your dog’s diet. Rich in dietary fibre, Vitamins C and B6, antioxidants like lutein, and minerals such as manganese and potassium, they provide numerous other health benefits ranging from improved digestion to enhanced immune function and eye health.

Sweet potatoes have gained popularity not only in human diets but also as a beneficial addition to canine nutrition. Sweet potatoes are being used increasingly in the pet food industry as a source of carbohydrates in foods and treats. But use of sweet potatoes comes with a warning: although they offer a plethora of health benefits for dogs, they are also a carbohydrate and a starchy food, and consequently should be fed in moderation.

Main nutrients

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are compounds that help neutralise harmful free radicals in the body, reducing oxidative stress and preventing cell damage. Sweet potatoes are particularly noted for their high levels of antioxidants, including beta-carotene and lutein.

High digestibility

The high fibre content in sweet potatoes promotes a healthy digestive system. Fibre aids in the absorption of nutrients and helps maintain regular bowel movements. One study[1] showed that the sweet potato has high digestibility and significantly affects the digestion of nutrients in the dog. This can enhance overall nutritional intake.

Carotenoids

Carotenoids are found in the pigment of coloured fruits and vegetables. Sweet potatoes, particularly those with orange and purple flesh, are rich in carotenoids, which offer numerous health benefits for dogs.
Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A, which is essential for maintaining healthy vision, skin, and immune function in dogs. It also acts as a powerful antioxidant, helping to protect cells from damage and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Lutein

Lutein, well-known for its benefits to human eye health, also contributes to vision function in dogs and overall eye health, which is particularly important as they age.

Using sweet potatoes:

Sweet potatoes a versatile vegetable: they can be steamed, roasted or boiled (although boiling allows water-soluble vitamins to leach into the water). They must be cooked thoroughly. The resulting cooked flesh can be used in purées, toppings, soups. Sweet potatoes must be cooked thoroughly. Skins can be quite tough to digest, so when in doubt leave them out (unless you have time to dehydrate them and turn them into dog chews).

Purple sweet potatoes

Purple sweet potatoes are used as a natural colouring agent in baking and in Asian cuisine.  On the face of it, there doesn’t appear to be a great deal of nutritional difference between purple and orange sweet potatoes. However, where purple sweet potatoes contain more anthocyanins ,the orange are richer in beta-carotene. While both anthocyanins and beta-carotene have antioxidant properties, anthocyanins are more noted for cardiovascular and cognitive benefits and beta-carotene for vision and immune function (and as a vitamin A precursor).

Which is why we use all colours! A broad spectrum of colours in a varied diet is a good rule of thumb for obtaining as wide a range as possible of different beneficial compounds.

For dogs and for us.

 

Purple sweet potatoes

Purple sweet potatoes

 

Nutritional information:

Sweet potato, raw

For full nutrient content on the sweet potato see Food Data Central and for the purple sweet potato, see Food Data Central.

Want to know more? These studies may be useful:

  • Li M, Jang GY, Lee SH, Kim MY, Hwang SG, Sin HM, Kim HS, Lee J, Jeong HS. Comparison of functional components in various sweet potato leaves and stalks. Food Sci Biotechnol. 2017 Feb 28;26(1):97-103. doi: 10.1007/s10068-017-0013-6. PMID: 30263515; PMCID: PMC6049489.
  • Lucero Matute, G., Felipe San Martín, H., Teresa Arbaiza, F., & Fernando Carcelén, C. (2003). DIGESTIBILIDAD DEL CAMOTE Y SU EFECTO SOBRE LA DIGESTIBILIDAD DE CONCENTRADOS USADOS EN LA ALIMENTACIÓN DE PERROS. Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru, 14(1), 13-17.
  • Steed LE, Truong VD. 2008. Anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, and selected physical properties of flowable purple-fleshed sweetpotato purees. Journal of Food Science73:S215−S221 doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.00774.x

Important Considerations:

  • Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
  • As some commercial foods contain sweet potato as an ingredient, check the label to see whether it’s in your dog’s food before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
  • Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
  • Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
  • I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
  • Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.