Can Dogs Eat Mashed Potatoes AndGravy?

When your dog is a picky eater, you need to find ways to make his food more palatable constantly.

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Gravy is the easy go-to option when trying to make a dog’s dish of dry mashed potatoes more enjoyable.

So, Can dogs eat mashed potatoes and gravy?

No, dogs should not eat mashed potatoes with gravy meant for human consumption.

Such gravy contains high salt levels, excessive fat, and toxic additives like garlic that are very unhealthy for your dog.

Mashed potatoes are healthy for dogs, but it becomes dangerous when topped with gravy made for human consumption.

This article will look at the risks of feeding your dog gravy meant for humans, making dog-friendly gravy, the benefits of feeding your dog mashed potatoes, and how to feed your dog mashed potatoes with gravy.

Risky ingredients in gravy and how they will affect your dog’s health

Gravy meant for human consumption contains ingredients that can cause adverse health effects on your dog.

These ingredients include:

Salt

Gravy made for human consumption usually contains excessive salt.

High salt levels translate to unhealthy levels of sodium.

When you give your dog foods that are high in sodium, you put him at the risk of suffering kidney damage, dehydration, or sodium ion poisoning.

You may observe these symptoms if your dog consumes food having toxic sodium levels: infrequent or lack of urination, diarrhea, excess thirst, vomiting, dry gums, and loss of appetite.

Once you notice these symptoms, give your dog a lot of water to drink.

If the symptoms persist, seek medical advice from a vet.

Unhealthy fat

Gravy meant for humans contains high levels of unhealthy fat.

Your dog’s stomach can’t digest a lot of fat.

When you feed your dog such gravy, he will likely suffer indigestion, flatulence, an upset stomach, or other digestive issues.

Continuous consumption of unhealthy gravy will put your dog at risk of pancreatitis, kidney failure, or a swollen pancreas.

Toxic seasonings

Gravy made for humans usually contains toxic seasonings like garlic, onion powder, and preservatives.

Even when you feed your dog in small portions, food containing onion and garlic powder will adversely affect your dog.

Your dog is likely to vomit, have diarrhea, or experience severe stomach upset.

Sugar

Some brands of gravy contain a lot of sugar. Excessive sugar levels lead to many health risks.

Your dog can develop dental problems like tooth decay due to eating gravy that is high in sugar.

You will also put your dog at the risk of getting diabetes or becoming overweight.

How to make healthy and dog-safe homemade gravy

The good news for dog lovers is that you can make healthy gravy for your dog.

Good gravy makes mashed potatoes tastier and easier for your dog to eat.

If you love your dog, you will go that extra mile to ensure that you are feeding him only healthy gravy.

This is the best way to prevent your dog from consuming the toxic ingredients in gravy meant for humans.

Here are some simple recipes that anyone can quickly fix for their dog at home:

Two ingredient gravy

You will need:

2 cups of cold homemade broth or stock
2 tablespoons of tapioca or cornstarch

Directions:

Put 1 ½ cup of stock in a saucepan and bring to a low boil.
Put the remaining stock in a bowl and whisk in the tapioca. Whisk until all lumps disappear.
Add the tapioca mixture to the boiling stock. Keep boiling until you get the desired thickness for your gravy.
Allow it to cool down and serve it with mashed potatoes.

Ground chicken gravy

You will need:

1 pound low-fat chicken, ground
2 tablespoons of tapioca flour
2 cups of low sodium homemade broth

Directions:

Put the broth in a saucepan and place over medium heat until it simmers.
Brown the meat in a skillet and break it up.
Strain the fat and sprinkle tapioca over the meat until well coated.
Pour the broth into the meat and boil over low heat until it is thick enough.
Once it cools down, use it as a topping for your dog’s mashed potatoes.

Benefits of feeding your dog mashed potatoes with healthy gravy

Mashed potatoes contain high nutritional value minerals and components that are beneficial to your dog’s health.

They include:

High dietary fiber

Mashed potatoes are high in dietary fiber, which has a lot of benefits for your dog.

Fiber will keep your dog’s gut health in check, control blood sugar, and lower cholesterol.

Mashed potatoes will keep your dog feeling full longer because high-fiber foods digest slowly.

Potassium

Potassium found in mashed potatoes is an essential electrolyte for dogs.

Dogs need these electrolytes for proper muscle development, smooth operation of organs, and good nerve functioning.

Potassium will improve your dog’s cardiac health by absorbing excess sodium in the blood.

Phosphorus and calcium

Mashed potatoes are rich in phosphorous and calcium. Do you want your dog to have strong bones?

Then include mashed potatoes in his diet.

Eating mashed potatoes will protect your dog from having brittle bones, skeletal weakness, or joint pain.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant found in mashed potatoes.

This antioxidant will slow down aging in your dog and fight free radicals that may cause health problems.

Vitamin C improves cognitive functions and has anti-inflammatory qualities.

Magnesium

Give your dog mashed potatoes to ensure that he gets the required magnesium quantity.

Magnesium ensures that all vital organs in your dog are functioning well.

Vitamin A

Mashed potatoes are rich in Vitamin A.

Vitamin A will make your dog look youthful by keeping the coat and skin looking good and shiny.

For proper eyesight during the night and day, your dog needs sufficient Vitamin A.

If your dog lacks enough Vitamin A, he may become sickly, dull, or suffer night blindness.

In conclusion, both mashed potatoes and gravy have some nutritional value that benefits your dog.

However, you should feed your dog mashed potatoes with healthy gravy in controlled portions.

Consider the ingredients of your mashed potatoes.

Mashed potatoes with dairy products, like sour cream or butter, can adversely affect lactose-intolerant dogs.

Avoid topping your dog’s mashed potatoes with gravy that you have bought ready-made.

Ready-made gravy may have some toxic ingredients that you may not know.

Avoid serving your dog mashed potatoes with gravy as a regular main dish as it may lead to excessive weight gain.

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Megan Turner

Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.

Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.