Can Dogs Eat Baked Potato Skins?

The Short Answer is:

The skin of a cooked potato can be given to your dog occasionally as a treat. A discoloration of green should not be present.

The purpose of this article is to explain “Can Dogs Eat Baked Potato Skins?“.

When it comes to a hot wholesome dinner there is nothing quite like a jacket potato topped with a topping or two. 

I’m willing to eat the whole potato skin and all. 

Some people however are not. 

The skin bothers my wife. 

After the meal is over and your plate is in the trash bin what do you do with the skin? 

Its decision time.

Was it scraped into the trash or was it something your dog could eat? 

Can dogs have baked potato skins?

By feeding your dog baked potato skins you can reduce some of your households food waste. 

And thats not all.

However while your dog may think that he has wound you around his little finger and manipulated you into giving him a treat he is actually receiving food that is packed with nutrients. 

You’ll find out why exactly this is happening when you stay with me.

What is the nutrition in baked potato skins?

Here is a list of what baked potato skins provide in terms of nutrition. 

Based on a serving size of 100 grams these values

What this shows is that baked potato skins are very low in calories fat and sodium (as long as you do not salt them before baking them).

On top of that the skins contain quite a bit of carbohydrate (although as far as potato skins go thats not too bad).

Moreover baked potato skins are an excellent source of dietary fiber.

Fiber is an important component of nutrition because it is very important when it comes to maintaining a healthy digestive system.

 Look away now if you are queasy.

The result of a good digestion system is a healthy stool which is easier to pass! 

My friends that is called a virtuous circle!

Lastly the skins contain vitamins and minerals that are also beneficial. 

The potato skin contains a lot of vitamin B6 which is helpful for strengthening the immune system. 

The skins contain relatively large quantities of iron and copper.

Copper will also support your dogs ability to have well-functioning red blood cells. 

Are potato skins better for dogs than peeled potatoes?

Peeling vegetables is part of the age-old preparation of vegetables. 

Science suggests though that we are doing this wrong from a nutritional standpoint. 

Vitamins and minerals are abundant in vegetable skins. 

Potatoes are not the only ones who do this. 

I just explained how important fiber is to a diet a few sentences ago. 

According to research vegetable skins may contain as much as 31% of the vegetables total fiber content. 

Potato skin can be more potassium-rich foliate-rich magnesium-rich and phosphorus-rich than a peeled potato when it comes to potassium folate magnesium and phosphorus. 

The amount of vitamin C is nearly double. 

I’m sure you would agree that its not too bad. 

What is the difference between baked potato skins and baked sweet potato skins?

What do you think? Lets find out shall we? 

Can dogs eat baked sweet potato skins?

When I talk about sweet potato skins I’m referring to the ones that you bake at home rather than the ready-to-eat products that firms like TGI Fridays sell which are packed with flavorings and preservatives.

I have included the same chart as before to make the comparison easier. 

Its hard to find nutritional information for baked sweet potato skins. 

However based on the sketchy details I can tell you that they are lower in calories and carbs than baked white potato skins. 

Sweet potato skins contain high levels of vitamin A perhaps the biggest difference. 

As healthy as any other vegetable orange vegetables are no exception. 

In addition vitamin A helps a dogs eyes function as well as they possibly can. 

Additionally sweet potato skins are thinner and softer than white potato skins- which might make them easier for your dog to eat. 

How many baked potato skins should I feed my dog?

If your dog is unfamiliar with baked potato skins it is best to start with just a bite or two and then see how their stomach reacts to it. 

The amounts can be increased if everything goes smoothly. 

But do not let your imagination run wild.

The skin of one potato should be fed at the most to large dogs and about half that amount to smaller ones. 

If you and your family throw away the skin after eating a jacket potato what should you do? 

You can give them to your dog by drip-feeding them over several days. 

The skins should only be fed to your dog if they are clean. 

Baked potato skins that are clogged with salt sauce or oil should be thrown away. 

Playing Russian roulette with your dogs stomach is a bit like feeding him contaminated baked potato skins. 

How should I prepare baked potato skins for my dog?

In a way I have already answered this question. 

You need to prepare baked potato skins as simply as possible if you wish to feed them to your dog. 

Its not necessary to add anything to them. 

If you feel tempted to sprinkle salt pepper or oil on them refrain from doing so. 

You can poke them with a fork all over their surface and then place them in an oven preheated to 350 degrees. 

It should take approximately one hour for them to cook at 200 degrees. 

Be careful that the skin does not go from crispy to burn in those last 10 minutes or so! 

Can dogs eat burnt baked potato skins? 

Even if you have been distracted whilst cooking your jackets and they have turned from crispy to burned you might still wonder if they are safe to feed to your pup. 

 It might be a little out there but I think your dog will be fine to eat a few mouthfuls of burned potato skin. 

Even though there are some scary stories out there about burnt food causing cancer these reports are untrue. 

Burned potato skins have little nutrition but they are made of charcoal which has traditionally been added to dog biscuits to aid digestion. 

My next question leads nicely into my final one.

Are baked potato skins good for a dog with diarrhea?

I talked a lot about the amount of fiber baked potato skins contain in this article. 

I’m also interested in foods that are high in fiber since I’m always on the lookout for quick fixes for diarrhea. 

Not for me but for my dog! 

Sweet potato is my current favorite with our dogs because it works perfectly. 

Sweet potato can change the contents of its stomach from liquid to solid in just one day. 

Fiber levels are very similar between them. 

Would potato skins be a good addition to my toolkit? 

Although sweet potatoes and potato skins contain similar amounts of fiber sweet potatoes contain much more water than potato skins. 

It seems to me that it is

Amanda (Author)

With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.

Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)

Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.