Can dogs eat potato salad? Maybe you’ve found yourself thinking about sharing a bite with your dog while adding a hearty scoop of potato salad to your plate during a barbecue. If humans can eat potato salad, can dogs safely eat it too?
The short answer is no, dogs can’t eat potato salad safely. While potatoes themselves might not necessarily be toxic to dogs, potato salad is almost always made with other ingredients, such as mustard, garlic, and onions, that are harmful to dogs.
Additionally, potato salad is high in fat and usually contains a lot of sodium. This means that it’s not really a food you can safely feed to your dog.
If your dog manages to eat a lot of potato salad, call your veterinarian for further advice. Here’s what you need to know about potato salad and dogs.
Why Is Potato Salad Bad For Dogs?
The main ingredient in potato salad are not necessarily harmful to dogs. But beyond potatoes, the dish usually contains some combination of mustard, onions, and garlic that can be harmful to dogs.
Additionally, many potato salads contain mayonnaise and are very high in fat, which means that it’s a food that could increase the chances of your dog developing canine obesity. Potato salad often also contains much more sodium than is healthy for a dog.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats Potato Salad?
If you discover that your dog has eaten some potato salad, it’s important to figure out both how much they have consumed and precisely which potentially harmful or toxic ingredients are included in the potato salad.
If your dog shows any immediate symptoms after eating potato salad, such as vomiting, an upset stomach, or acting lethargic and withdrawn, you’ll want to consult with your veterinarian straight away.
Depending on both your dog’s general health and the ingredients in the potato salad, they might suggest seeking out urgent medical attention.
So while you might not have to worry if your dog sneaks in just a tiny bite of potato salad, it’s a dish you should keep firmly out of reach of your pooch’s paws.
Has your dog ever accidentally eaten potato salad? How did they feel after? Let us know in the comments below!
