Can my dog eat chips?
Technically, yes. But it is not a healthy food for your dog.
Chips are the ultimate junk food.
Junk food is not good for a human's health, therefore, making them not good for your dog's health. Sometimes I look down at what I'm eating and think to myself "Would I give this to my dog?" If not, why am I eating it? Personally, I love sharing what I eat with my dog, but I soon realized that my unhealthy dietary choices are also unhealthy for my dog's body.
Best Serving practices for chips
Avoid harmful flavoring and seasonings. Quite a few flavored chips have onion and garlic flavoring which are harmful to dogs. Doritos, tortilla chips, and Frito's are some of the chips that have onion and/or garlic flavoring on them. Though the amount on a potato chips is not fatal, it can cause digestive issues such as diarrhea, stomach pains, bloating, and/or vomit. In these cases, digestive upset can show up immediately or up to 2-4 days after your initial consumption. Keep an eye on your dog's behavior and bowel movements and seek out veterinary attention if you are concerned.
Avoid giving your dog too many chips. Chips are high in fat and salt. Golden are smaller than we are and proportionally depending on their activity level, they require less calories than human adults. With that in mind, high levels of fat and salt are not good for your dog's health. Salty foods can lead to excessive thirst and urination, which is not healthy for your dog.
The greatest potential danger of chips for dogs is sodium poisoning. According to Rover, based on the research of The National Academies of Sciences:
An average adult dog weighing 33 pounds has a daily allowance of only 200 mg of salt and 14 g of fat. For reference, 1 oz or 15 classic potato chips contains 170 mg of sodium and 10 g of fat. (other varieties may vary).
This means that if your dog chows down a family size bag of potato chips, it can lead to sodium poisoning.
Symptoms of sodium poisoning includes diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, lethargy and potentially seizures. These symptoms can show up shortly after consuming a large amount of chips. Get your dog to a vet as soon as possible.
Can my dog have Potatoes?
Avoid giving your golden mashed potatoes that are flavored with garlic. Also avoid green potatoes and raw potatoes as it can cause stomach issues and other health problems in your pooch.
A healthier alternative to white or red potatoes is cooked or dehydrated sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a healthy treat option for your dog.
Super Simple Sweet Potato Dog Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 sweet potato
- 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 eggs
Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Prick sweet potato several times with a fork.
2) Heat sweet potato in a microwave on high until tender, about 6 minutes. Cut potato in half and scoop flesh out of the skin into a bowl; discard skin. Mash potato with a fork or potato masher and transfer about 1 cup to a large bowl. Save any remaining sweet potato for another use.
3) Mix whole wheat flour, applesauce, and eggs in the large bowl with the sweet potato until a dough forms. Turn dough out on a well-floured surface and roll dough to about 1/2-inch thick. Cut out shapes using a cookie cutter or cut dough into strips with a pizza cutter. Arrange cookies on an un-greased baking sheet.
4) Bake until crisp, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire rack.
Other Great Treat Ideas for Your Golden Retriever
If you're looking for other great treat ideas for your golden retriever, check out our new book! It's filled with easy homemade treats that are good for you dog and your dog will love them.
