Can Dogs Eat Yams? Is It Safe And Healthy For Your Pup?

The dog is a pet wolf descendent and has a great connection with humans.

Dog food is also similar to the food that humans eat as a dog's diet has developed the capacity to live on a starch-rich diet. Food entraps or attracts the majority of dogs and their preoccupation can lead to mischief.

They are powerless to stop themselves. In moderation, sweet potatoes and yams are both good for dogs to eat. The point of concern about is whether when you cook yams, should you include nutmeg or xylitol? These are both harmful for a dog. The safest and healthiest method to prepare sweet potatoes for your dog is to cook them without any added sugar or seasonings. They can be either microwaved, boiled, or baked. Many spices can cause gastrointestinal problems in dogs, and some can even be toxic. They are high in vitamin A and fiber, both of which are good for a dog and contain several other nutrients as well. As a result, they are extremely beneficial to your dog's cardiac and digestive system. They are very low in natural sugars, making them excellent for blood sugar control. It's also crucial not to feed your dog food high in sugar. The drawbacks of feeding yams to dogs is they may cause choking or intestinal blockage. When large pieces of food are ingested and clogged in a dog's gastrointestinal tract, it might lead to intestinal blockage. A blockage can be a serious condition and could require the assistance of a veterinarian. Also, to minimize choking or intestinal obstruction, dogs that eat yams should be either mashed or chopped into little pieces. Yams in general are usually not harmful for dogs. But some of its varieties are considered toxic for dogs. Tannins, which are found in some yam skin, are the toxic component of the yam. Because yams are only toxic when eaten raw, it's recommended not to feed dogs a raw yam as a treat.

If you enjoyed this article, why not also know about can dogs eat peas and can dogs eat grapefruit here on Kidadl?

Can my dog eat purple yam?

Purple yams are safe for dogs to consume. They are actually more nutrient dense than white potatoes. They're also known as ube and are quite nutritious for your pet if cooked simply.

Purple yams, like sweet potato, are starchy root vegetables with a high nutrient content. It is also rich in antioxidants and contain anthocyanins, kind of a polyphenol antioxidant. It is rich in vitamin C, boosting the immune system of dogs. It is also helpful in controlling blood pressure levels and improving gut health. Like sweet potatoes, raw purple yams are usually not considered healthy for dogs eat. So, you should always cook and mash or cut yams into small pieces. Also, the peel of yams and sweet potatoes can be toxic and should not be included a dog's diet. The peel contains tannins which might be detrimental to your pet's health. It is important to feed your pet in small amounts since excess consumption of sweet potatoes and yams can be harmful.

Why are yams good for dogs?

Yams have various medicinal properties and are considered one of the most healthy dog foods. They help in improving kidney and liver function, acts as an antioxidant, and are fiber rich.

Yams are high in nutrients including magnesium, manganese, potassium, calcium, and vitamins especially vitamin B6, A and C, iron, and zinc. These are all healthy for your dog's general health. Yams are specifically high in beta carotene, which enriches the dog's diet with vitamin A. Vitamin A supplementation can help your dog fight cancer and protect against heart disease. Vitamin B6 helps in the production of red blood cells and strengthens the immune system. Vitamin C aids in the removal of harmful free radicals and can help decrease inflammation. These vitamins and minerals maintain muscle function and nerve communications. They also help your dog's digestion. Yams are rich in fiber which improves the gut health of your pet. Fiber results in production of good bacteria in its intestines, which removes constipation. Yams are a good root vegetable supplement for dogs since they contain very low amounts fat and sodium. They are starchy in nature and rich in carbohydrates. They are nutritious and can help your dog's general health. Diosgenin, a phytosteroid found in a yam, is used to cure inflammation of the joints. The diosgenin in yams improves kidney and liver cell function. Yams function as antioxidants and anti-carcinogenic agents. Yams aid with blood sugar regulation, especially in diabetic dogs. Yams contain dioscoretine, which increases insulin sensitivity.

How much sweet potato can I give my dog?

Sweet potato should be introduced slowly to dogs, approximately 1-2 oz (28.3-56.7 g) at feeding time. Larger breed dogs can have a little more.

The portion size when feeding yams or sweet potatoes is very important. It is essential to feed your dog in small amounts, otherwise over-feeding might be detrimental to its health. A teaspoon of cooked yams will be enough for little dogs, while a tablespoon would suffice for larger dogs. Yams are also heavy in carbohydrates, which can raise sugar levels, fat levels, and weight if consumed in excessive quantities. The amount fed should be strictly within the calorie range. Also, an excess amount of food should not be fed to a dog. While yams, or sweet potatoes, are nutritious and fiber rich vegetables and great treats, they may have harmful effects as well.

Difference Between Yams And Sweet Potatoes

Although both yams and sweet potatoes are root vegetables. they are variations in structural, flavor, texture, color, and health benefits. Often they are confused as the same vegetable but they have several striking differences.

Yams are root vegetables. They are like sweet potatoes, cultivated in the tropics and come in a variety of colors ranging from white to crimson. They are cultivated in Africa. Yams have a cylindrical shape, are starchy, and have a woody appearance. Sweet potatoes are cultivated in America. The orange-colored ones are the most popular. Sweet potatoes are also available in white and purple varieties. Almost all store bought canned yams are actually sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes and yams share many of the same minerals and vitamins because they are both tuberous root vegetables. Yams are more starchy and drier than sweet potatoes which have a sugary flavor. Many different sweet potato varieties are found but grocery shop yams are imported from Africa. The skin of firm sweet potatoes is golden, while the meat is light or white. Because they both have copper skin and orange meat, a soft sweet potato resembles a yam.

Can dogs eat both cooked and raw yams?

Cooked yams are always preferred over raw yams. It is advisable not to feed your dogs raw yam, since some might be toxic in nature and are also difficult to chew.

Raw yams should not be fed to a dog as they are detrimental to its health. Raw yams contain solanine and oxalates, both are poisonous to dogs. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps may occur if your dog eats raw yams. Oxalates can harm your dog's kidneys, stomach, and neurological system. Intestinal obstruction and digestive issues can also be caused by raw sweet potatoes and yams. Whereas, cooked yams in appropriate amounts are best for your dog. Various recipes made with cooked yams such as baked, boiled, and steamed yams are considered safe for consumption by your dog. Also hazardous additives should be avoided. It should be cooled properly before feeding. Boiled yams are easier for them to digest and safer to ingest. The peeling of yams is always necessary before cooking it. Fried foods, as well as canned ones, with a high syrup content are not recommended for dogs. Dogs can eat frozen yams but the ingredient list should be checked before feeding processed food to dogs.

Preparing Yams To Feed Your Dog

The introduction of a new food, yams in a dog's diet, should be slow. Yams should be given in little amounts to check for an allergy or intolerance. Gradually with time the amount of yam provided can be increased over weeks.

Cooked yams are best for your dog. Various recipes made with cooked yams such as baked, boiled, and steamed yams are considered safe for consumption by your dog. Also hazardous additives should be avoided. Yams should be baked without the skins and cut into tiny pieces. It should be cooled properly before feeding. Boiled yams are the most safe to ingest. Peeling of yams is always necessary before cooking it. Fried foods are not recommended for dogs. The grease and oil are bad for a dog's tummy. Dogs can eat a few yam fries without becoming sick, but the amount they should consume depends on how the fries were prepared. Without additional spices, yam fries for dogs are simply sliced and baked. Sweet potatoes are frequently coated with syrup in canned yams. The extra sugar should be avoided by dogs. Candied yams or yams in syrup should not be eaten by dogs. They contain too much sugar, which may affect their blood sugar regulation. Also, consumption of a high-fat diet leads to weight gain in dogs. Dogs can eat frozen yams but the ingredient list should be checked before feeding them.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for can dogs eat yams then why not take a look at can dogs eat kale or Saint Bernard dog facts.