Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Learn how to make sweet potato dog chews easy at home. Homemade wholesome treats for your family pet. Our dog begs for them!

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Dried Yam Treats for Dogs

I need to be honest, I have had a dog for most of my life and never knew this was a thing until six years ago. Someone gave our Corgi dog a yam treat and he loved it.

It is such a healthy treat. So, we started purchasing them regularly.

Well, that can get pretty costly. They almost fifteen dollars per bag.

Therefore, when you have a dog that walks to the hallway where they are stored and begs for one every morning, it is a good thing to learn how to make. Seriously, he does!

He also has a carrot every evening when going to bed too. When your dog is such a food hound, it is important to come up with treats that are healthy, yet not too fattening.

Yams versus Sweet Potatoes

Often, the terms sweet potatoes and yams are used interchangeably. However, they are different from one another.

Both vegetables come from the underground tuber family. The yam is drier and starchier than the sweet potato. Generally, sweet potatoes are what grocery markets carry.

The Benefits Of Sweet Potatoes For Dogs

According to Jocelyn Bishop of Red Barn,” Sweet potato is a safe, healthy, and natural treat for dogs, offering a range of health benefits (and a sweet flavor they’ll likely love). For example, sweet potatoes support a healthy digestive system thanks to their high dietary fiber content. They’re also low in fat and contain essential vitamins like  B6, C, and A.”

However, she also cautions for pet owners to “consult a veterinarian before feeding sweet potatoes to dogs, as too much vitamin A can cause bone problems and muscle weakness, and a sudden increase in fiber could create gastrointestinal issues, so start slow!”

Feeding Treats in Moderation

As with many things in life, it is good to eat treats in moderation for humans and their furry family members.

When I say that our dog gets a dried yam chew everyday. It is small. When I made my dried sweet potatoes, I do not slice them length ways. I slice them across.

This not only helps assure that they dry properly in the oven, it makes sure that the amount of treat is not too much.

Recipe Tips:

Wash and dry the sweet potato or yam before slicing.

If you slice the sweet potatoes length wise, allow an extra hour in the oven to assure that they are dry.

If you put the yam treats on a rack fitted in the baking pan, you can skip the step of turning them half way through.

You can use a sharp knife to slice the potatoes or a crinkle cutter. I think they provide a fun texture for the dog to enjoy.

Lastly, if you find that your yams stick to the baking sheet too much, the next time you make them, go ahead and put down some parchment paper first. This will make for easy clean up.

A photo of our dog Bernie is below the recipe. We just love our furry family member.

I use this Crinkle Cutter to make this shape for the yams. This is great for cutting anything you want this zig zag shape for. When I worked in the restaurant, we used this cutter to cut all of the potatoes for boasting. We sold hundreds of these potatoes everyday.

Sweet Potato Dog Chews Recipe

Learn how to make sweet potato dog chews easy at home. Homemade wholesome treats for your family pet. Our dog begs for them!

Prep Time: 5 mins

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 Medium Sweet Potatoes washed and dried

Instructions

• Preheat oven 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easier clean up if desired.
• Slice the potatoes either lengthwise or across into 1/3 inch slices; however, no smaller than 1/4 inch slices.
• Place the slices on a baking sheet. Bake for 3 hours turning half way through.

• Cool completely on a wire rack before storing.
• Sore in an air tight container. They will keep for up to 3 weeks. These also freeze well for 3-4 months.

Notes

The nutritional value is for the entire yam. Divide the numbers by the amount of slices you obtain per treat.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Yam | Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 124mg | Potassium: 762mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 32063IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

Here is another DIY idea you might be interested in.

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