Can dogs eat potatoes?
Updated 5 August 2026
Cooked and plain, yes, in small amounts. Boiled or baked potato with nothing added is safe for dogs, though it is starch they do not need much of. Raw and green potatoes are the real hazard: they contain solanine, which is toxic to dogs, and should never be fed.
The detail
The cooking is what makes the difference. PDSA states that raw potatoes contain solanine, a compound toxic to dogs, and that cooking destroys much of that toxicity.
So the rule splits cleanly. A few plain boiled cubes are a safe if unexciting share; a raw potato chewed from the veg rack, or anything green, is a problem worth a phone call.
Even the safe version earns its amber rating. Potato is dense starch a complete dog food already provides, and the ways we usually serve it, mashed with butter, roasted in fat or fried, add exactly the things dogs should not have.
Potato forms at a glance
| Boiled or baked, plain | Safe in small amountsNo oil, butter, salt or seasoning |
| Mashed with butter, milk or salt | Avoid. The dairy and salt cause the trouble |
| Raw, green or sprouting | Never. Contains solanine, toxic to dogsGreen skin means bin it, not trim it |
| Chips and roast potatoes | Avoid. Fat and salt, and a pancreatitis risk in quantity |
How much is sensible
| Dog size | Sensible amount |
|---|---|
| Small (under 10kg)Chihuahua, Jack Russell | A cube or two of plain boiled potato, occasionally |
| Medium (10 to 25kg)Cocker spaniel, border collie | Two or three cubes, about a tablespoon |
| Large (over 25kg)Labrador, German shepherd | A small handful of cubes, about two tablespoons |
| Overweight or diabetic dogs | Skip it. Potato is starch with no upside for them |
Cooked plain potato
Boiled, steamed or baked potato with nothing added is safe in small amounts. Let it cool, cut it into bite-sized cubes and treat it as an occasional extra rather than a meal topper.
Plain is strict here. PDSA's guidance is small quantities with no oil, butter, salt or seasoning, and the seasoning caveat includes gravy, which usually carries onion.
Mashed potato
The potato is fine; the recipe is the catch. Household mash carries butter, milk and salt, and many adult dogs are lactose intolerant, so a bowl of leftover mash commonly ends in a loose stool.
A spoonful of plain mash made with nothing but potato is fine. Anything from the Sunday table, and anything involving cheese or cream, keep to yourself.
Raw and green potatoes
This is the firm no. Raw potato contains solanine, which PDSA lists as toxic to dogs, and green skin or flesh signals more of it. Sprouting potatoes carry the same warning.
A green potato is not a trimming job for the dog bowl; bin it where a scavenger cannot follow. If your dog chews through raw potatoes from the veg rack, ring your vet with a guess at the amount.
Potato skins
Cooked plain skin in a small amount is fine for most dogs, so a scrap of jacket potato shell is nothing to fear. PDSA suggests removing the skin for dogs with sensitive stomachs, since it is the part most likely to cause an upset.
The colour rule still applies. Green skin means solanine, cooked or not, so any green-tinged peel goes in the bin rather than the bowl.
Chips and roast potatoes
Neither is toxic, both are poor treats. Chips carry frying oil and salt, roast potatoes carry hot fat and often goose fat at Christmas, and fatty leftovers like these are a known trigger for pancreatitis in dogs.
A single dropped chip is a shrug. A portion of chips or a plate-clearing of roasties is a stomach upset waiting to happen, and salted potato snacks like crisps have their own page for the same reason.
Signs to watch for
- Vomiting or drooling after raw or green potato
- Weakness or wobbliness after a larger raw amount
- Loose stools after buttery or salty leftovers
If your dog overdoes it
A few plain cooked cubes need no action. If your dog has eaten raw or green potato, ring your vet with your dog's weight and a guess at the amount, and mention any green colouring or sprouting. Out of hours, call Vets Now or the Animal PoisonLine on 01202 509000.
Common questions
Can dogs eat mashed potato?
Only if it is plain potato and nothing else. Normal household mash carries butter, milk and salt, and the milk alone upsets many adult dogs. A spoonful of plain mash is fine occasionally.
My dog ate raw potato. What should I do?
Ring your vet with your dog's weight and roughly how much was eaten. Raw potato contains solanine, and any green colouring or sprouting makes the call more urgent.
Why are green potatoes dangerous for dogs?
The green colour signals solanine, the toxin PDSA warns about in raw potatoes, and cooking does not make a green potato safe. Bin green or sprouting potatoes somewhere your dog cannot raid.
Can dogs eat chips?
One dropped chip is harmless, but chips as a treat are frying oil and salt your dog does not need. Fatty leftovers in quantity can trigger pancreatitis, which is a genuine emergency.
Can dogs eat jacket potato skin?
A small amount of plain cooked skin is fine for most dogs, though PDSA suggests removing it for sensitive stomachs. Skip any skin with butter, cheese or beans on it, and bin anything green.
Is sweet potato better for dogs than white potato?
Slightly, yes. Cooked plain sweet potato brings more fibre and carries no solanine risk, though raw it is still hard to digest. The same rules apply: plain, cooked and in small amounts.