Hi

My better half tells me its wrong to feed dogs potatoes or white bread as it casues dogs to have fits. Is this correct? I've never heard of this before?

John

Very many years ago (in the 50s perhaps?) there was a bleaching agent used in white flour that was used in both bread and dog biscuits that caused fits in dogs (and possibly people as well). This agent was banned from use shortly afterwards and all was well again. Bread, dog biscuits etc can be bad for dogs if they are wheat intolerant, but most are fine with it. Raw potato is bad, but cooked is fine.
:)

My dogs get the odd jacket potato as a treat :)

Daisy

My Spanish adore raw potatoes they go absolutely barmy when potatoes are being peeled!!  They don't get many but I must admit they love them.  If I grew potatoes I'm sure that they wd. end up digging them up :d  What's harmful about them ?

Peeled and cooked (boiled then mashed, no added dairy product :o) potatoes are in fact very good for dogs - particularly as a substitute for other bulking agents in a bland diet after say a tummy upset.  They are much more gentle on the stomache and intestinal lining than rice for example which is more commonly used.

Raw potatoes with skins on can cause digestion problems especially if there  is any green on the skins.

Regards, Teri ;)

Don't have green skinned ones :d  You try stopping a Spanish, I don't know why but many of them really enjoy potato peel and a lot of them don't like doggy chocolates, funny appetites they have.

mine are always nicking potatoes when ive been shopping and have never come to any harm as of yet!!mind you they eat anything!!:)

My vet has just reccomended I put my Cavalier on a fish and potatoe diet, so they can't be that bad.

Bev

After finding our Manchester Terrier Cross had a severe case of dust mite allergy we were advised to feed her on boilled pork and potatoes for a week or so to let it calm down while aplying aloe vera oil. I doubt it would have been advised by a vet if it was likely to cause further health prolems.
GM

Hi Glenmoray,
Our Flatcoated Retriever also has a bad dust mite allergy. How are you treating it in the long term?
Thanks
Sharon

Hi All

Many thanks for the info. I guess my other half's info was out of date. Our two (Angus the Westie and Frankenfurter the Dachshund) have had a "mini" Xmas dinner of Turkey, roast potatoes and sprouts (!) and they loved it.

Cheers

John