I often hear that potatoes are toxic to dogs. But then how is it possible, that they are often a part of high-quality dog food? Are they harmful, suitable or even beneficial for dogs?
Many people believe that potatoes are harmful to dogs, but not all potatoes are alike! Only raw unpeeled potatoes are toxic because of the solanine they contain in their raw state. Not even boiled potatoes are entirely suitable for dogs, as they digest potato starch poorly and they could cause intestinal problems in large quantities.
So why do potatoes appear in high-quality dog food? The key is the way in which they are processed - extrusion (simplified processing at high temperature and pressure). This radically reduces the content of antinutrients and natural toxins. This means that the dog only gets the valuable and highly digestible components from the potatoes.
The digestibility of starches after extrusion is even similar to the digestibility of animal proteins. In addition, potato starch crystals perfectly clean the surface of the intestines and significantly improve the health of the digestive tract, as well as the immune system.
So what benefits do potatoes offer dogs? They particularly contain a large amount of minerals such as magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc and calcium. They are also rich in vitamin C, A, B and E. Thanks to their carbohydrate content, they are also a great source of energy.
Another advantage is that they don't cause allergies unlike grains, which dogs can't even digest. These allergies result in digestive and skin problems. Potatoes are also less caloric than grains.
Some dog food contains up to 50% of potatoes, particularly for dogs with higher energy demands. Conversely, dogs with diabetes would not be able to eat so many potatoes.
Do you have any experience with potatoes? Have you noticed a difference between potatoes and grains in your dog's diet?
Kitten Lady describes her activities as kittens’ advocacy and humane education. This all is done by young beautiful Hannah Shaw. She’s a kitten rescuer, spreads the principles of humanity and is an unwavering advocate of animal rights. She decided to...
Several kinds of hedgehog are kept as pets. The most common one is the four-toed hedgehog or an African pygmy hedgehog in other words. This pet which is not very common but is becoming more and more popular can live up to 9 years in captivity and...
More than one artist fell in love with these creatures and looked for inspiration for work in them. One of them was Ernest Hemingway. He is the author of the well-known saying “One cat just leads to another”. He really kept a large number of cats (in...
We have an active and healthy lifestyle. Or at least we try to have. In relation to that, we don’t only think about our own food but also about our dogs’ food. The trend of barfing has already come to the Czech Republic, too. It is a method of feeding...
If you go camping for the first time, it is good to prepare for all various reactions of your furry friend. Do you travel with it by car and by public transport with no problems? Is your dog okay when not sleeping at home, e.g. in a mountain cabin? It...
As the name of this breed suggests, you can’t expect much hair on an American hairless terrier. This small or medium size muscled dog has hair only on its muzzle and eyebrows. But the interesting thing is that puppies are born with an undercoat which...
Let us get this straight, what is monoprotein food? It is wet food (i.e. cans and pouches) which contains only one type of meat, muscles and bowels. And why is it better than common wet food?
A meat bomb in a form of a dog paté or can doesn’t have to be only a reward. If you are planning to go on a long hike – to the mountains or to the valley – you can make the use of a dog meat can. Dogs in move, usually when doing any sport outside, need...
The cause of diabetes is a lack of insulin (a pancreas hormone) or the inability of the body to use it effectively (i.e. the resistance of tissues towards insulin). And it doesn’t matter if you’re a person or an animal. With diabetes, the sugar is...
Runner Dion Leonard could talk for hours about the bond which is created between a man and a dog and also about how an unknown Asian crossbreed dog becomes one of the most famous dogs on planet Earth. He bumped into a dog companion at the ultra-trial...
Even when you cannot or don’t want to take your dog on your holiday with you, you still have many options what to do with it. You can take him to your relatives, accommodate it in a dog hotel, use dog-sitting and other things. It’s not that easy with...
Cats can also be heroes and put their lives at risk to save someone from risky or life-threatening situations. The first cat hero I will introduce you to is Scarlett. She showed her heroism in the most natural form – she saved her kittens. She took...
