Can Dogs Eat
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5 min
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For this blog post, ‘chips’ refers to chipped potatoes/fries/any hot potato side that you’d serve at dinnertime. Of course, there are different kinds of chips you could mean when you ask this question (banana chips, crisps, tortilla chips!), so we’ll advise on different kinds of chips later in the article.
Sadly, chips aren’t all that beneficial for a dog’s health due to their high fat and carbohydrate content. In lots of cases, they’re also probably covered in salt. Though there isn’t any harm in sharing one or two chips with your pooch (providing they aren’t drenched in salt and vinegar), chips won’t provide any nutritional benefits, and definitely shouldn’t be regarded as a regular treat. It’s best to stick to healthier foods, mentioned later in the article.
Chips are high in fat and carbohydrates and often flavoured with salt, so though plain chips aren’t toxic to dogs, they’re considered unsafe if fed regularly. The fat content from chips can lead to weight gain and digestive issues in dogs, while too many salty foods can lead to dehydration or even kidney damage.
No, don’t feed chips to your growing puppy. At this early stage they need nutritious, protein-rich foods to support their rapid growth. Some healthy, grain-free food for puppies is a much safer bet.
It’s unlikely your dog will be allergic to plain potato chips, however the high fat content in chips can cause your pooch to have digestive problems, akin to a food allergy. If you notice diarrhoea or vomiting, bloating, stomach pain or lethargy after feeding your dog chips, it’s best to avoid giving them as a snack in future.
Yes, especially if they’re covered in salt or other flavourings, which should definitely be avoided. If chips are fed to your dog often, the high fat and carbohydrate content will definitely cause unwanted effects in your dog like weight gain, lethargy, slowness and bowel issues. Though one or two won’t harm them, they’re not a healthy choice for a dog.
The only way to safely give chips to your dog is to share one or two chips, which are plain and not salted. Do this rarely as opposed to regularly, as chips carry no nutritional value to your pooch.
We know that the word ‘chips’ can refer to all kinds of foods, so here are some variants you might be wondering about…
It depends. It’s not a standard snack for a pooch (you might like to feed fresh banana instead), but banana chips aren’t toxic to dogs, so long as they’re natural without any dodgy additives or preservatives. Check the ingredients to be sure about this. Avoid the coated banana chips, such as the chocolate or yoghurt-covered variety - these can definitely be dangerous for dogs.
No. You might be eating a packet of tasty crisps next to your pup and thinking ‘can dogs eat prawn cocktail crisps?’ or ‘are salt and vinegar crisps okay for dogs to eat?’ Though these are a common treat for humans, crisps are high in sodium and saturated fat, so they don’t offer any nutritional value for our beloved pooches. Don’t offer it to your dog even as a treat; it’s best they don’t get a taste for crisps, whether they’re chicken flavour or cheese and onion.
Ideally no. The odd tortilla chip shouldn’t do your dog much harm, but it won’t do them much good either. Tortilla chips are usually high in salt and fat, without many nutrients besides! They’re a treat for humans, so dogs should generally avoid them.
No, not in the way humans eat them. It’s ok to give them a small piece of the fish without batter, and one or two plain chips (without salt), as mentioned above. However, the usual portion of human fish and chips is high in fat, carbohydrates and salt, so shouldn’t be in your dog’s food bowl.
If you want your dog to be involved in your fish supper, you could serve up a dog-friendly version of the meal with white fish, potato, and peas. This is a highly nutritious meal for a dog that’s much easier on their digestion than our fatty treat versions.
One or two. If you don’t have salt on your chips, one or two plain chips from your plate isn’t going to do too much harm. However, it also doesn’t give much benefit to a dog, so don’t do this often to avoid weight gain in your pooch.
If you’re wondering ‘can my dog eat oven chips?’, as in the kind you put in the freezer, the answer is also ‘not really’. Frozen oven chips don’t provide any nutritional value - so though it won’t do much harm to give them a plain, cooked oven chip, it’s best to choose a different kind of potato that’s much kinder to their delicate doggy tums.
It might seem obvious, but never give a dog a frozen chip. Finally, if the oven chips are a variety covered in spices or seasonings, definitely avoid those, too.
Overall, chips aren’t a recommended snack for our beloved pooches - they’re simply too high in fat, usually have a high salt content, and contain barely any nutritional value. That said, one or two plain chips are unlikely to cause them much harm - just don’t do this often to avoid weight gain and bad snacking habits in your dog.
If you want to feed your pooch a chip-like snack that’s much higher in nutritional benefits, you could try the following…
Carrot makes for a nutritious veggie for dogs. Given peeled and raw, they’re also great for chewing to calm your dog, and help clean their teeth.
Sweet potato has the same fluffy texture as potato but with lots of vitamins and fibre.
Pumpkin is a more nutrient-dense veggie that has a similar texture to potato.
For other dog food and treats for dogs that are delicious and full of nutritional benefits, check out our grain-free range of wet and dry food, dog treats and supplements intended to keep your dog happy and healthy.