Recipe Reviews for Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Read all the reviews for this recipe, and then try it out for yourself. Don't forget to come back here and let us know what your dog thought or ask questions you may have.

MY DOG LOVES THESE DOG TREATS!

by Jenn
(Clifton, NJ)

My great dane loves these! Making them at home is much more economical than buying them pre-made at the store. Is there any way to make these in the food dehydrator instead of the oven? The summer is coming, and running the oven seems like a waste of A/C power!

Chef's Comments ~ Your Great Dane is so cute with those glasses on. And that little speckled nose is just precious! :)

I know it's possible to make these in a dehydrator, but I haven't tried it myself. I would recommend reading the user guide to your particular make and model of dehydrator, to see what they recommend. Then you may need to test a small batch, to get the consistency you want.

Great Recipe!

by Carol Martin
(www.sitnstayglobal.com)

Buddy the Gamooch

These turn out fantastic, just exactly as promised and could not be easier to make! I used a Mandolin to slice my sweet potatoes and made it even easier. The dogs loved them!!! Thanks for saving me some big $$

Big paws up from Stella :)

by Lisa
(Cambridgeshire, UK)

Apart from me not being great at slicing thinly, this recipe worked well for me. Nice to try new things for my always hungry Labrador!

Sweet potato dog chews are a hit!

by Heather
(Milwaukee)

Hi! My name is Lucky!

My Dalmatian loves to chew and these treats really hit the spot! They are so easy to make too. Another major perk...they make the house smell good while baking! Thanks for the recipe.

Perfect dog treat recipe

by Nina Widlund
(Chico, CA)

Anniekins

This recipe is as simple as it looks. My dog loved them and we will be making them again.

Only change I would make is, for a medium size dog, that will eat a couple a day, triple the recipe and it will last about 2-3 weeks.

Sweet Potato Dog Chews & Baking Tip

by Diane
(Washington)

Our three rescues waiting on the couch for their treats to finish in the oven.

I put them partially standing up on a rack set in the pan and that seems to help with baking on both sides and not sticking. That also means I can bake a lot at one time in one pan (I have a very small oven).

Favorite in my house!

I've made these treats in both the oven and the dehydrator. My dogs (13 year old Chessie and 8 month old Dane) love crunch, and the dehydrator ended up working better for us. I never end up with enough of them to freeze - they disappear quickly! Next time I'll try some wrapped in chicken for something new.

My dogs love sweet potato dog treats

by Barb
(Waupun Wi USA)

the day she was adopted

My dogs love sweet potato treats. I even wrap with thin slivers of chicken before baking. I use them for both my adopted teddy bear and my 1 year old Shih Tzu as their treats before I go to work. It is the only time they receive them so it reduces the separation anxiety and last quite a long time. They look forward to them and beg while I get ready for work. Cheaper than buying and this way I know what is in their treats so it has to be healthier.

Yam Texture of Store-bought treats vs. homemade?

by Diane
(Missouri)

Our Beautiful

My dogs LOVE yams. I bought a dehydrator and ended up with something that almost looked Freeze-Dried!

They ate them, but it wasn't what I was going for.
I wanted to make the flexible, chewy treats they love so well.

Your recipe doesn't mention how to make them in a dehydrator.

The finished treats you have photographed (above) look nothing like the store-bought variety. Is there any way to achieve this texture and finish with yams in our own kitchens? If so, how?

Chef's Answer ~ You've asked a lot of questions, I'll try to answer them all. :)

The "freeze dried" look and texture of the treats you mentioned may have been over dried. If they were brittle, they were dried too long.

I don't mention any instructions on using a dehydrator because they are all a little different. Plus, most machines come with an instruction booklet that can help the owner.

The sweet potato chews in the picture are a softer and flexible texture. If that's what you are looking for, then follow my recipe.

The most important aspect of all of this is how your dogs like the treats. If they like them, that's all that matters. :)

My Dog LOVED This Dog Treat Recipe!

by Yasmin
(Woodbridge VA)

I have a Lab Mix and I decided to make him these. He loved them and he always wants more!

sweet potato jerky feedback

by Carol
(Lexington, KY)

I made this last night, using a dehydrator. It takes a bit longer -- about 8.5 hours -- but the results were the same.

My dehydrator instructions recommended blanching the sweet potato slices before drying them, supposedly to preserve the enzymes during the drying process -- and to prevent them from turning black. That added a bit more time to the process (and another pot to wash).

But the chews were so perfect looking this morning when I pulled them out of the dehydrator, I feel it was worth the extra effort. My dog loved them. They're pretty chewy, but that's the point. Not an easy gulp down. He had to work at it.

I tried a piece too. They're very sweet. The drying must bring out the sugars. I don't like sweet potatoes, but I have to admit, these were kind of tasty.

Oh, and I also used a mandolin to slice the potatoes. That way I got very straight, very uniform slices very quickly.

Moisture, even though they were cool before storing?

I just tried making these. I am wondering, is it normal that when I opened the zip lock bag that they were in there was a bit of moisture in there? I allowed them to cool completely before putting them in the bag.

Chef's Answer ~ Yes, it is normal for there to be some moisture in a closed zip lock bag. Think about jerky for humans, there's always a desiccant packet at the bottom for this very reason.

You can store a paper towel in the closed bag with the treats, that should help. If the treats won't be eaten before 3 weeks, you may want to consider storing them in the freezer.

If your treats absorb too much moisture while being stored, you can always throw them back in the oven to thoroughly dry out.

Black spots on Dehydrated Sweet Potato Treats?

(Vermont)

I have been making Sweet Potato Chips in my dehydrator and the dogs love them. I am doing them as a fundraiser for our rescue group as well.

Sometimes the potatoes get black spots on them as they are dehydrating. The finished product will actually look like it has mold on it (greenish).

What could be causing this? Do I need to blanch the sweet potatoes or cook them at a higher temperature (I was using 145 or sometimes 135 which is the setting on my dehydrator for vegetables)?

Do you think they ARE moldy or is it something I should not be feeding them?

Chef's Answer ~ Without seeing the potatoes, I can not guarantee what the spots are or are not. But, I can give some guidance for you to make the final decision.

First, sometimes when you peel a potato or sweet potato you will see little dark or black spots on them. These are usually from the places that the potato will grow runners while still on the plant. They are nothing to be concerned about. If you don't like the way they look, you can always cut them out before making your treats.

I believe that the temperature you are dehydrating them at is a fine temperature. You could always do a couple test batches at higher temps if you are concerned.

If it is not on all of the sweet potatoes that you are making into treats, a few could have gone bad. If you believe that to be the case, definitely take them back to the store.

Sweet potato dog treats for my dogs on a limited ingredient food

by GG

I have 2 standard poodles that are prone to ear infections and one of which has seizures. Since switching to fish and sweet potato limited ingredient food ear infections are gone and seizures are down from 1 every month to 1 about every six months. They haven't had dog treats in years. Now I found something they can have and they LOVE them - can't wait to try other veggies!

Any recipe for peanut butter covered sweet potatoes?

by Jean
(New London, WI, USA)

The stores are carrying them, our dogs love them, and I'd like to make them myself.

I have been dehydrating sweet potatoes for a few years now. Our 4 Alaskan Malamutes LOVE them. After I cut the potatoes, I par boil them for 5 minutes. Now I'm looking for a recipe for the sweet potatoes to be covered in peanut butter. Fleet Farm carries them, but of course the price is hefty. I would like to learn to do them myself.

Chef's Answer ~ After doing some research I was able to find the ingredient list on the treats you are referring to. They are dried sweet potatoes, peanut butter and starch. I haven't tried this, but I do have an untested suggestion that I think could work.

First, dry your sweet potatoes the way you normally do. Then using dried peanut butter powder (which you can find online) mix it with cornstarch or tapioca flour at a 2:1 ratio. For example that would be 2 tbsp of peanut butter powder to 1 tbsp of starch. Move your sweet potatoes to a baking sheet and very lightly mist with water. Then place the sweet potatoes into a gallon size freezer bag. Sprinkle in the peanut butter mixture and shake until thoroughly coated. If needed, place back into the dehydrator to crisp up.

I can't guarantee that this will work since I haven't tried it, but I think it's a good place to start! :)

Would a regular potato work with this recipe or just the sweet potato?

Haven't tried it yet but will be doing it very soon. :)

Chef's Answer ~ Yes, a regular or white potato would work, but it does not contain the same health benefits.

Sweet potatoes have more fiber, Vitamin A and Vitamin C than there more common counterparts.

I highly recommend purchasing sweet potatoes for this dog treat recipe.

What do you think, will these last up against a heavy chewer?

by Kelly
(Topeka, KS)

My dog is a pit mix and she can tear up a rawhide within an hour, will these last that long? I am afraid that this would be gone in a matter of minutes.

Chef's Answer ~ No, I don't think that these sweet potato chews the way they are would last up against a might chewer.

However, you could try making the slices of sweet potato very thick and drying them for longer. The end treat will be thick and dry and may last long enough for a good chew. :)

Sharing this recipe with all

by Cheryl
(Lancaster, CA)

Found this article after getting our cocker spaniel Gertie from the local animal shelter (during Petsmart adoption event).

Between the new home, new food & surgery a few days earlier she had extremely loose stools.

Made this up right away & she along w/ sisters to dogs really enjoyed the treats. Seemed to make a difference almost immediately!

Now w/the stories about the jerky treats from China in the news today, I have been sharing this article w/everyone today.
Thanks, this really worked!

Four paws up for these treats!

by Becky
(Lakeland FL)

I'm tired of paying ridiculous prices for dog snacks only to discover they are made in China.

So I started searching for alternatives and stumbled upon this page. My four pups absolutely LOVE these treats!!!

I only made a small batch (2 potatoes) and they have essentially gobbled them down in record time. I think it's time to invest in a dehydrator to feed their addiction and maybe try making some chicken jerky treats as well.

I'd post a photo of them savoring their snacks but they are gone before I can snap a picture. :)

My dog loves these tasty chews

by Hans
(San Francisco)

This was my first attempt at homemade dog treats.

My dog loves these tasty chews, abandoning his beloved elk antler and cow hoof in favor of the treats.

He gets the chew/tearing fun with the great nutrition of the sweet potato. I don't have to worry about how the rawhide was produced or what crazy chemicals may be lurking.

I propped the oven door open and added an extra 45 minutes to the cooking time which might be in range given the number of variables involved.

My neighbors' dogs love them too!

Great recipe, my Boston Terrier LOVES them. BUT, please peel!

PLEASE BE SURE TO *PEEL* *PEEL* *PEEL* THE SKIN *OFF* before slicing/baking. While the skin is nutritious for humans, it can be TOXIC to dogs according to the ASPCA website. Why take a chance? Just peel it, slice it, bake it, feed it to your furry friend!

Chef's Comments ~ I'm so glad to hear that your Boston Terrier is enjoying the treats. :)

By all means, if you want you can peel the sweet potatoes before dehydrating. However, I was under the impression that the skin of a potato could be a concern only if it was raw. Leaving the skin on a sweet potato and then fully dehydrating should be safe.

Butternut squash is a hit too!

by Janis
(KY)

I didn't happen to have a sweet potato but there was a lovely butternut squash sitting on my counter.....turned out great and was a big hit with my two little buddies, Andy and Katie.

Yum...I thought I heard that come from the dog.

Made this recipe for our Bouvier and boy he sure likes these - I thought I heard him say Yum or maybe it was Yam.

A simple and healthy treat that I was buying in the pet store prepackaged at first but then realized how easy they were to make.

My wife had sweet potatoes in the closet and I sliced and baked them (how easy), stored them in empty Chinese soup containers in the fridge.

Great healthy and chewy snack.

Sweet Potato Chews

by Joanie
(IL)

These are great! My dalmatians are on a low purine diet & I'm always looking for healthy meat-free treats for them. I baked up a batch of these today & they were crazy about them. What's even better is that sweet potatoes were on sale for $.25 a lb. this week! I'm going to bake a couple more batches & freeze them. Thanks so much for posting this recipe! I shared the link with my other Dal friends on Facebook too, ;-)

What about gauze or muslin on the rack?

I noticed on some websites a concern that placing the SP on a metal pan did not allow the air to circulate around them well enough (even with turning) to dry effectively. I was wondering - since the oven is only at 250F, could you not stretch gauze or muslin over the rack (& safety pin if necessary) and dry the slices directly on the fabric covered racks?

OR - I bake pies in paper bags because the crust is so much flakier and my oven stays clean. What about a single layer of paper directly on the racks?

Would either method help with the drying?

Chef's Answer ~ Wow, those are great ideas. I don't see why they wouldn't work! :) Another idea would be to put a wire rack on top of the baking sheet and then place the slices on top.

But you may not need to take these extra steps. I would recommend trying the recipe the way it is and see if you have a problem drying them. I personally live in a humid environment and I did not have any trouble getting the sweet potatoes to dry.

If you use the methods you mentioned, please come back and let us know how it went! :)

Great Dog Treats

by Liesha
(Charlotte, NC)

I added chicken by cutting into thin strips and wrapping them around the sweet potato. My dog loves them. They are safe and healthy.

Sweet Potato Chews

by M Freer
(St Paul MN)

I made the Sweet Potato Chews today after seeing them mentioned on Johann the Dog Blog. My dogs love them! In fact, my Sheltie, Jasper, keeps going into the kitchen hoping for more!

I passed the website page with the recipe on to my friends on FB and Twitter. I am so glad I bought extra potatoes!

Thanks for the Recipe!

Chef's Comments ~ How adorable! Jasper knows there's got to be more treats in the kitchen somewhere! :)

If Jasper has a taste for sweet potatoes, you may want to try our other homemade sweet potato treat:

Sweet Potato Dog Muffins

Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

What is the consistency like with this sweet potato dog chew?

A question I have for any who have made this treat, before I buy a sweet potato and attempt, what is the consistency of the treat? My dog is pretty old, but because of his previously neglected situation, his teeth are even worse than they would have been at this age had been taken care of, and most store bought chew treats are too hard for him to chew. Would appreciate feed back asap!

Chef's Answer ~ You actually have control over the consistency of the sweet potato chew. Since it is cooked, or rather dried, at such low temperatures, you can check it along the way and take it out before it gets too hard. The recipe as it is will make treats that you can tear into pieces. It is not so dry that you could break apart.

Another great option for a dog that may love sweet potatoes, but needs a soft treat, try the sweet potato dog treat muffin for a soft easy to chew homemade dog treat.

I hope this helps. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Great for a dog with food allergies

My dog has food allergies and sweet potato seems to be one ingredient he can have.

He loves to eat these, however next time I think I will cut them thinner, as some of them were still mushy after the recommended baking time. May even try a food dehydrator.

Do you need to prop open the oven door for this dog treat recipe?

This recipe sounds great for my Beagles. Some recipes call for leaving the oven door open a little. Should I do this? Thanks

Chef's Comments ~ You're right, many sweet potato dog treat recipes instruct you to do that. However, by increasing the temperature by 50 degrees and the amount of time the slices are in the oven, we found that propping the door open was not necessary.

There is a delicate balance between a dried sweet potato that is slightly chewy, and one that has sharp dried edges. We prefer chewy to the extra dried variety that can break or have sharp edges.

Since sweet potatoes are relatively inexpensive, you could try a batch the way we recommend, and then another batch with the door open to see what you and your dogs prefer. :)

Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Does it make a difference whether or not you put the potato strips potato-side or peel-side down?

Haven't made it yet, just wondering for when I do make them.

Chef's Comments ~ No, it will not make a difference. Also, you'll only have a couple slices that will have a peel side, whereas the majority of the slices will be just the flesh of the sweet potato. Not to mention, you'll be flipping the slices half way through the baking time, so you can start the peel side up or down, which ever you like.

I hope this helps, and I hope your dog likes the homemade dog treats! :)

To make the sweet potato dog chew easier to cut

by Geo
(Pueblo, CO)

I washed the sweet potato, then put it in the microwave for a couple of minutes, took it out and wrapped in foil for about 5 minutes, then sliced it.

I also sprinkled the slices with lemon or lime juice to keep them from turning brown as they cook. Frecklez LOVES them, either chewy or crisp - she cares not which way, just that she get some!!!

Sweet Potato dog treats in a Dehydrator

by Jackie
(Southern Oregon)

You said that a dehydrator is recommended however, you didn't provide a recipe for that, you only included oven directions. Maybe it's just me and using a food dehydrator is self explanatory but I would have been interested in knowing how long and at what temperature. Looking forward to trying this healthy recipe for my 7 dogs!

Chef's Answer ~ Each dehydrator will be a little different due to the difference in shapes and wattage capacities. It's best to consult the manual of your dehydrator machine. If you don't have the manual, often you can find the specific make and model manual online.

The temperature you choose will depend on if you want the dried sweet potatoes to be "live", as in with the enzymes and such still intact or if you just want to dry the sweet potatoes.

If you want RAW, then a low temperature, usually not above 115 degrees. To dry the sweet potatoes you can use a higher temperature such as 140 degrees.

The time it takes to dry the sweet potatoes depends on the temperature you choose, the size and thickness of your slices and the humidity in your environment. You will need to factor at least 4 hours, but will need to check for your desired amount level of dryness.

I hope this helps. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

This is AWESOME!!!

by Joanne
(annapolis, md)

Thank you sooo much for this recipe! I was spending a lot of money on a store bought brand of sweet potato chews ($16 for a 1 lb bag!). One of my 2 large dogs (a 10 year old flat coated retriever) is allergic to grains and chicken products, making it virtually impossible to buy treats for her. It was a mixed blessing finding the sweet potato dog chewz in the store because she could now have treats, but at an expense to me.

I ran out of the chewz and was looking to see if another store may be selling the bag for a lower price. That's when I found your site and this wonderful recipe!

I never thought of just putting the yams in the oven! I thought I would have to go out and purchase a dehydrator.

MY DOGS LOVE THEM!!

Thanks again!
Joanne

I am looking for a Dog "Sweet Potato Chicken Jerky" recipe like the ones the American Kennel Club sells

Chef's Comments ~ Since we have not made this specific dog treat recipe, I will not be able to give you any tips.

However, I found a great resource that should be able to help you, you can find it here:

http://www.make-and-build-dog-stuff.com/special-and-healthy-chickenapple-treats.html

I would substitute the apple in the above recipe for sweet potato to get the treat you are looking for.

I hope this helps. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Sweet Potato Dog Treat Cutting Tip

by Chris
(stonington, ct, USA)

The sweet potato can be a challenge to cut. I found using the Cuisinart blade attachment efficient and easy.

Thanks for the Sweet Potato Dog Treat Recipe

by Tammy
(Southern Utah)

As the "mom" of a slightly pudgy Chihuahua and a slim and trim Chihuahua, it was difficult to find a dog treat that they both like and had the nutrition and less fat content that I needed for my pudgy fur-baby.

My pudgy Chihuahua pouts if she is denied what the slim Chihuahua gets, and I feel bad denying her treats. This recipe fits the bill PERFECTLY. Now both Chihuahuas and "mom" are happy - My Chihuahuas absolutely LOVE these treats, and they are so incredibly easy to make. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

Sweet potato dog chews

by Annie
(Illinois)

Our dog loves them. Just curious, your recipe suggests that they be stored in the fridge. But when I see them in the stores, they are shelf-stable. Can I add something to them so they can be out on the shelf instead of refrigerated? A simple citric acid as a preservative could do it, right?

Chef's Answer ~ I'm so glad to hear your dogs love them! :)

You may be able to add a preservative to them to keep them fresher longer. I haven't tried it, so, proceed with caution.

A lot of commercial sweet potato chews are very dry, considerably drier than a home cook may make, so that is one reason they last longer in stores. The more moisture in any treat, the quicker they will spoil. Another trick up their sleeve is the packaging process. I'm sure they squeeze out as much excess air as possible since this is the other culprit for treats to go bad.

The recommendation to store these treats in the fridge is to keep them as fresh as possible, for as long as possible. You can also freeze these treats if your dogs will not be able to enjoy all of them before they spoil.

I hope this has helped. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Checking plant relations ... are Sweet Potatoes safe for dogs?

Sweet potatoes are in the same family as morning glory (convolvulaceae), and could be poisonous to dogs.

Chef's Comments ~ Every pet owner should be cautious regarding what they feed their pet. You are right to be concerned.

Dogs should not eat the plant part (stem, leaves, etc.) of any potato plant. They should also not eat the green or unripened part.

According to my research Sweet Potatoes properly served are safe for dogs.

You can also check out this article from webMD:

http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/features/people-foods-your-dog-can-eat

Thanks for being concerned about your dog and others. :)

My Golden has bad allergies & Loves these dog treats!!!

(NY)

My dog (golden) has bad allergies...I found them by accident at petco - figured I'd try them.

Well!!! She loves them and literally beats me up for them. And this dog is a PITA with food (think that kid who will only eat spaghetti with ketchup).

Bought a dehydrator because it's cheaper than $15 a bag. I definitely give this dog treat recipe 2 thumbs up!!!

Sweet Potato Dog Treats are a Fantastic Find!

by Emily

What a fantastic find!! So simple, all natural and my dog just loves them!! He eats sweet potato all the time, so this was just another great way to cook for him. So much cheaper than the ones I had bought, the potatoes I bought were huge, and were about .79 each, made about 15 per potato. The bag I bought had about 20 strips in it and cost 14.99!! Thank you for posting!!

Dog Treat is Too Chewy

by Susan

I love these treats however my one dog loves them but the other doesn't like the chewy, she likes them more crisp. I keep trying to bake them longer but they still are very chewy. Can someone help?

Chef's Answer ~ Leaving the slices in the oven longer should result in a drier treat. However, is it possible you live in a humid environment? This will make drying the treats longer more difficult.

You could also try drying the sweet potato slices on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. This may help the air flow around the treats and dry them out more.

It's also possible that your slices are too thick to dry completely. Cut the slices as thin as you can to achieve a quick and even drying treat.

I hope this helps. I'd be happy to give more suggestions if you can tell me more about how you are making this dog treat. If all else fails, make this homemade dog treat for one dog and another crunchier dog cookie for the other. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Does the sweet potato dog treat leave stains like carrots do?

by SCcontainergarden
(South Carolina)

Just wondering about the staining issues with the sweet potato. My dog loves carrots too but I have to make sure she eats these outside because the carrots bleed.

Chef's Answer ~ I haven't heard of anyone having an issue with these chews bleeding on fabrics. Since they are dried, they should not have very much moisture left in them to get onto anything. But, if you're concerned, you may test it out. Give your dog one outside first, and see if there's a problem. But, my thought is that it should be safe for an indoor treat. :)

Smaller Round Sweet Potato Dog Treats

by Lisa McCormick
(Parkside, PA)

Instead of cutting the potato lengthwise (as shown in the photo above the recipe), I cut round pieces - this was easier on my wrist, made smaller treats, as well as cut down on the baking time.

Keeping the temp at 250 degrees but baking for 2 hours - turning half way through.

My Golden Retriever is on an allergen free diet & sweet potato treats is one of the few things that are OK for him to eat. This way I can make treats that BOTH my dogs can eat & save money!

Thank you for putting this on your website!

Dark Spots - is this normal?

by Marty
(Livonia, MI)

I wasn't sure if my two Cairn Terriers would like these, but since the male developed kidney disease, I wanted to have an alternative chewie for both dogs.

I couldn't believe how quickly they ate them and I have made them more than one time. The ones I just made have some dark spots and I don't recall if the other batches had these. Is this normal and are they still okay to give to my dogs?

Chef's Answer ~ I'm so glad to hear these dog treats were a hit! :) If the dark spots are burnt pieces, I would take those off before serving to your dog. If not, I think they'll be just fine for your dog to eat. Use your best judgement.

I hope this helps. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Thank you!

My fussy Bichon LOVES these homemade dog treats!

by Shari Augustyn
(Buffalo, NY)

we have a very finicky Bichon who has stomach problems since he was young. He LOVES these homemade treats!

I have wasted so much money buying treats from the pet stores only to throw them out or give them away to my daughters dogs. My dog never refuses these sweet potato chews. They are great and healthy, too.

Dog Treat Did Not Retain Orange Color

by Kathy

I was wondering if there was a trick to retaining the color. Mine turned out very brown and the smaller/shorter pieces were very hard. My puppy was able to eat a small piece in under two minutes but I could hear her crunching the pieces up.

I will try thicker pieces next time for a softer "chew" but if you had any tips on the color, love to hear them.

Chef's Answer ~ The only thing that comes to mind, since you said the smaller pieces were dark and very hard, is that the treats were cooked too long.

Another thing to keep in mind is that sweet potatoes vary in flesh color. If yours started out lighter, then the finished treat would be lighter, too.

I hope this helps. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Adding vitamins?

by Carly
(Chicago, IL USA)

I'm curious if anyone has tried adding vitamins or other nutrients to the treats. I'm thinking about glucosamine/chondrotin, vitamin E, salmon oil, etc. I know many of these can be found in liquid or oil form.

Thanks!

Chef's Answer ~ It may be a good idea to add liquid or oil based vitamins to the top of these chews AFTER they are dried.

It's very important to note that the efficacy of vitamins will go down greatly if they are heated.

If the only way to get healthy vitamins into your dogs diet is to add them to these sweet potato chews after they are baked, I think it's a great idea. :)

If you have vitamins or supplements in pill form, I would highly recommend making a softer homemade dog treat and hiding it inside the treat. Again, only adding the vitamin after the treat has been baked.

Are sweet potato skins ok for dogs? I heard they are toxic

by Heather
(WI)

Just wondering about the skins are they toxic to dogs?

Chef's Answer ~ My research has shown that sweet potato skins are safe. However regular potato skins are not safe for you dog to eat.

If you are concerned, feel free to peel your sweet potatoes before serving to your dog.

I hope that helps. Happy Dog Treat Baking! :)

Sweet Potato Dog Chews - Can I Add Flavorings?

by Angela
(California)

I was wondering if you can add a flavor to the sweet potatoes before baking. Have you tried this?

Chef's Comments ~ I don't see why you couldn't sprinkle an herb or safe spice onto the sweet potato slices before baking. To help the seasonings stick, you could lightly spray the slices with a non-stick cooking spray, and then sprinkle one or both sides with your season of choice.

The only concern I can see is that some pre-packaged spice mixes contain a high amount of salt, sugar and/or preservatives. These would not be a recommended addition.

I think dried parsley would be a beautiful contrast of color. Or you could lightly dust the slices with cinnamon for a warm aromatic treat.

I hope these ideas and suggestions help you to "spice" up these sweet potato dog chews! :)