Wondering what to bake for your pup’s birthday? A sweet potato cake will do the trick! Also, why wait for their B-day when every day is a special occasion with your furry friend?
From pancakes to tater tots to fries, hash browns, and hummus, sweet potatoes are the ideal, versatile treat we know as a simple vegetable.
So, is sweet potato cake for dogs good? You bet!
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Why Use Sweet Potatoes For Dogs?
Dogs also want to enjoy eating food as humans do. However, we should be conscious and careful about what we feed them to ensure these four-legged buddies’ happiest and healthiest versions.
While buying or making food for dogs, you should consider whether they help with these aspects:
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Keeping muscles and joints healthy
- Having healthy skin and coat
- Strengthening the immune system (especially in puppies)
- Maintaining intestinal health
It is essential to see what your dog eats to ensure they get a healthy, balanced diet.
Luckily, one food that tastes good to dogs and provides them with several health benefits is sweet potato. Therefore, they make a great addition to a dog’s diet.
Sweet Potato Cake Recipe for Dogs
Looking for a sweet potato cake recipe that your dog cannot resist?
This recipe calls only for pantry-friendly ingredients. So, you wouldn’t need to hit the local store and worry about spending a fortune to whip up a cake your pup will love.
Here is the recipe:
Ingredients For The Cake:
- 200g Korean Sweet Potato
- 150g Chicken Breast
- 1 Large Egg
Ingredients For The Frosting:
- Option 1: 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- Option 2: Shredded Coconut
Instructions for the cake:
- First things first, peel off the sweet potatoes and cut them in smaller pieces.
- Then, boil the chicken and sweet potatoes. Boiled sweet potatoes should be soft enough to mash.
- Next, puree the sweet potatoes in a blender until it looks like mashed sweet potatoes.
- Remove the sweet potato puree from the processor, and blend the boiled chicken. When it turns into little pieces of chicken, add 1 egg (only egg white and keep the yolk for later), to give it a more puree-like texture.
- Now, get a small bowl and plastic wrap, put the wrap in the bowl, and start filling the edges with the sweet potato mash.
- When the edges are filled with sweet potato fill the inside with the chicken puree. When the small bowl is full, flip it on baking paper.
Instructions for the frosting:
- For the frosting we have 2 options. The first option is to use Greek yogurt. If you want to go for this option, simply coat the cake with the yogurt.
- The second option is to use shredded coconut. If you go for this option, use the egg yolk from before to coat the cake. Then, put the shredded coconut on a separate plate and coat the cake with it.
Benefits Of Sweet Potatoes For Dogs
Sweet potatoes are large starchy tubers that we eat as root vegetables. They contain complex carbohydrates and are native to the Americas.
Many people associate yams with sweet potatoes; however, true yams aren’t related to sweet potatoes. So, you shouldn’t confuse the two.
Sweet potatoes have fewer calories, more vitamins & minerals, and more fiber than white potatoes. Therefore, they are healthier alternatives and make a better option for giving to dogs.
Here are the reasons why sweet potatoes are beneficial for dogs:
They Are High In Fiber
Just like humans, dogs also benefit from eating foods high in fiber. Dogs that suffer from digestive disorders like constipation and diarrhea need plenty of dietary fiber.
Fibers also help dogs maintain a healthy weight and keep their colon health optimal.
They Are Low In Fat
When prepared healthily, sweet potatoes contain a low amount of fat. That’s not true when you’re talking about your favorite casserole of sweet potatoes cooked in milk, butter, and sugar!
Feed your pup sweet potatoes on its own, and it will enjoy a delicious treat without all the fat you otherwise get from other foods.
They Are A Good Source Of Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamin A
If your dog needs some Vitamin A, sweet potatoes are a great option. It is a fat-soluble vitamin that stays in the liver cells until required for use. Your dog needs vitamin A for the following reasons:
- Good Eye Health– Sweet potatoes contain a good amount of beta-carotene, a substance linked to eye health and improved vision. Without Vitamin A, your dog might suffer from low-light vision and weak eyesight.
- Healthy and Shiny Coat – Vitamin A will help dogs with dry, flaky, and itchy skin, as well as dull coats. These issues are symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency.
- Muscle Growth – Vitamin A deficiency also results in muscle deterioration. Sweet potatoes have amino acids that help maintain strong and healthy muscles.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is another essential vitamin that your pup needs to process amino acids in its body. It helps in red blood cell and glucose generation, immune response, gene activation, nerve function, and hormone regulation.
Vitamin C
Humans cannot self-produce Vitamin C in their bodies, but dogs can. However, adding this essential ingredient to its meal can help fight antioxidants and cognitive aging and reduce inflammation.
Manganese
Dogs do not produce Manganese naturally. So, it is our duty to provide it in their diet. This mineral helps in digestion and nutrient absorption in the body.
It can also aid in skeleton formation and internal organ function.
Iron
Hemoglobin produces in the body when Iron comes together with protein and copper. Without hemoglobin, the body doesn’t develop red blood cells as it should, and it causes anemia.
Calcium
We’ve all learned during childhood that calcium deficiency causes weak muscles. However, calcium also helps in muscle building, hormone secretion, and nerve function.
If your dog is low in calcium, it might have these issues-
- Panting
- Weakness
- Muscle twitching
- Low appetite
- Vomiting
- Fever
Magnesium
Dogs are very active creatures, meaning they need all the energy they can get from food. Sweet potatoes contain magnesium that provides energy from the cellular level. This mineral provides them the energy for heartbeats, muscle movement, and even thinking!
Potassium
Without potassium, your dog can suffer from weakness, muscle cramps, low energy, and stomach issues. Potassium is also essential for nerve, enzyme, and muscle functioning.
How To Introduce Your Dog To Sweet Potatoes (If You Haven’t Already)
Sweet potatoes are safe for pups to eat when given correctly. Although they contain a myriad of benefits for your furry friends, moderation is the key to providing them with the right amount of nutrients they need.
Here are the best ways to introduce/feed your pup sweet potatoes:
- Buy dog food that contains sweet potatoes.
- Treat your dog to Dried sweet potatoes. Freeze-dried versions of this root vegetable contain all the nutrients with reduced moisture, making them a great treat or snack.
- Add small chunks of boiled or steamed sweet potatoes to your dog’s meal to subtly get him accustomed to it.
Boiling or steaming is a healthy way to cook sweet potatoes and retain their nutrients. Peeling their skin is ideal for easy digestion and better taste.
Start small when you’re just beginning to add sweet potato to the dog’s diet. A teaspoon or two is an ideal amount to see how your dog likes it. If your dog has certain dietary restrictions or you have a question regarding its diet, you can always talk to your vet.
Sweet potatoes shouldn’t be your pet’s primary nutrition source, as it lacks the macronutrients that other foods provide. Also, your dog wouldn’t want to eat the same food repeatedly, like we humans don’t!
Besides making sweet potato cakes for dogs, you can also try baking biscuits, pupcakes, baked chips, and fries using these sweet and delicious root vegetables. Your dog will surely appreciate the creativity and gesture!
Conclusion
Baking a sweet potato cake for dogs is a fun activity for pet owners, too. The excitement and anticipation for how your dog would react alone are worth the trouble.
So, if you’re in need of a delicious birthday cake for your pup or are just looking for ways to reward its loyalty and friendship, it will love our delicious sweet potato cake recipe.
Try it out today and see your four-legged buddy gobble down the treat in one go!
