It's that time of year...time for sweet potatoes!
I love sweet potatoes, they are a super yummy and really good for me.
Sweet potato chews are a great alternative to the ever present rawhide chews, which contrary to pupular belief, really aren't good for dogs. They present a choking hazard, and they don't digest very easily and could become lodged in the intestines creating a dangerous health hazard. In addition, many rawhides are processed with chemicals which aren't good for dogs either.
So what's a dog to do? Make some yummy sweet potato chews!
Mum wanted to make some for me and Gracie the other day. She looked up a great recipe online and guess what, we loved em! Here is the recipe, courtesy of The Dog Treat Kitchen:
Sweet Potato Chews for Dogs
Wash a sweet potato (organic is best and we like to peel them). Cut down the middle lengthwise. Then cut long lengthwise slices about 1/3 of an inch wide and place them in a single layer on a cookie sheet (use a stainless steel, for healthier cooking).
Put in the oven at 250 degrees for about 3 hours. This leaves them kind of chewy, but you could also bake them a little longer to get them crunchy.
Oh, and you can waffle cut them for more fun...Enjoy!
With the huge environmental impact of meat production, it's great to see alternatives like this. It looks like it would be tasty, too.
ReplyDeletethis is great! Blitzkrieg loves dried sweet potato chewies and only one store that I know of carries them. If we're out and they're out I have a unhappy dog on my hands. I'm going to try this once our current stash is gone.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great sweet potato recipe. What a wonderful alternative to the regular rawhide chews for dogs! I'll be sure to make this tasty treat for my dogs.
ReplyDeletemy dog LOVES sweet potatoes!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea! Perfect Thanksgiving treat for our dog. And maybe we'll make some sweet potato chips for us humans too. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. My Shadow will love these.
ReplyDeleteJust came across your page and I LOVE it!! Just checking in to see if I should peel the sweet potatoes or not-- I've visited some sites that say the skin can be toxic. Let me know-- hope to make these for my big boy soon!
ReplyDeleteLOVE your page! Just checking to see if I should peel the sweet potatoes--- I've seen some sites that say the skin can be toxic. Thanks- hope to make these for my big boy soon!
ReplyDeleteWelcome everyone!!!
ReplyDeleteHope your pups like 'em :)
And yes, Kristy, I like to peel them first, especially if they aren't organic. :)
Does anyone know if these are just as chewy and hard as rawhides? I didn't know rawhides were dangerous, but now that I do, I will be switching. The only reason I give my dogs rawhides is because if I don't give them something to chew, they'll chew things they aren't supposed to! So.. hopefully these will work as a great substitute for the rawhides. And keep them entertained just as long.
ReplyDelete-Sylvia
Cigars
My dog will love these! I'm always looking for homemade treats for her, will make these next month.
ReplyDeleteA friend posted a link to your recipe. Great to know about this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSherry
Alanis & Miro Airedales
Great recipe! Question: how long will these last for and what is the best way to store them for maximum shelf-life?
ReplyDeleteHi Jack, thanks for barking in!
ReplyDeleteWe like to keep them out in an opened bag and let the moisture dissipate a little, then we will store them in the fridge...we keep them for about 4-5 days or so, since we like to eat them up pretty quickly :)
For those of you asking, ALL potato skins are toxic to dogs. The sprouts you find on potato's are especially toxic. Also, if you come across a green spot on a potato, it is also especially toxic (to dogs and humans). Dogs have a low threshold for SOLANINE, which is what is in potato skins and sprouts. COOKING DOES NOT CHANGE THE FORM OF SOLANINE!!
ReplyDeleteAs little as a few potato skins can have your dog fighting for his or her life, so PEEL the potato's before you do this. The author should edit her recipe to reflect that it is a REQUIRED step. These treats are very good for your dog in many ways, inexpensive, easy and even pretty fun - but it would be a shame if someone didn't peel a potato and fed these treats to a toy sized dog - the results would possibly be fatal.
Thanks for the recipe, it's a good one! Just wanted to warn everyone about peeling ALL potato's before feeding them to their dogs!
While we always take extreme precautions and peel our taters, we wanted to share info from the ASPCA about the potential dangers of potato skins in general. http://www.aspca.org/Pet-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-expert-poison-control/potatoes.aspx
ReplyDeleteThis is great!! A few years back we discovered that our german shepherd has a food allergy and is on a vegetarian diet. I have to get her treats at a petstore the next town over. This is perfect for a two minute trip to the store and a happy healthy dog :)
ReplyDeleteYes, potato skins can be dangerous to dogs, but Yams/Sweet potato peels aren't.
ReplyDeleteDifferent plant families. They're not even botanically potatoes. They come from the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae) while potatoes are from the Solanine family.
However, sweet potatoes can get moldy, so at least clean them well.
Can you please tell me the best way to store them and how long do they last. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWe like to keep them out in an opened bag and let the moisture dissipate a little, then we will store them in the fridge...we keep them for about 4-5 days or so, since we like to eat them up pretty quickly :)
DeleteThanks for the information.
ReplyDeleteI always buy too many sweet potatoes so this is a great tip.
ReplyDelete