Yes, dogs can eat yams.
Yams are cylindrical vegetables that belong to the plant family Dioscoreaceae. They are starchy tubers that commonly grow in tropical and temperate areas such as Asia, South America, and West Africa. With over 870 species, yams come in a variety of sizes, colours, and forms. Some cultivars are edible raw, while others are toxic until cooked. In the case of edible yams, the tubers have rough, hard-to-peel skin that softens after cooking. Its skin colour can range from light pink to dark brown, while the insides can range from white to purple.
In North America, people call yams as sweet potatoes. These can be given to dogs as long as they’re not cooked with harmful flavourings. And just like sweet potatoes, your canine can safely eat yams as long as they are prepared plainly.
How to feed yam to your dog: Speak with your veterinarian before letting your pooch try yam. He may have existing health conditions that may be aggravated by eating yams.
More importantly, dogs should not eat raw yams because of harmful tannins and compounds that may be present in them. Wash them properly, peel the vegetables, then boil or steam them until soft. Do not add seasonings like butter, salt, or spices. Mash or chop the yam into smaller pieces, then serve as is or mix with his other favourite veggies. Skip canned yams as they have sugar and preservatives.
In summary: When prepared right, your dog can get substantial nutrients from yams. Beta-carotene, calcium, manganese, potassium, and fiber are just a few examples. Diosgenin, a unique compound that improves memory and learning, is also found in yam.
Aside from yam, learn which human foods you can safely give your canine pet through our “can dogs eat” blog category.
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