Sweet Potato in Dog Food

Sweet potato is one of the raw materials that are hard to imagine grain-free dog food without, especially in recipes that quite deliberately go without wheat or maize. As a mild carbohydrate source, it has established itself in recent years as a popular alternative to classic grain. We explain what makes sweet potato a raw material, why it can be interesting for dogs and how NANDOO uses it.

What is sweet potato?

Botanically, the sweet potato is not related to the classic potato at all, but belongs to the morning glory family. For dog food it is peeled, dried and usually processed into flakes or flour, which is then worked into the recipe. Unlike grain, it is naturally gluten-free, which makes it interesting for gluten-sensitive feeding concepts.

In appearance and taste, sweet potato is reminiscent of the classic potato, but differs clearly in its nutrient composition, among other things through a higher content of beta-carotene, the pigment that gives it its orange colour. In pet food it has become established mainly alongside the trend towards grain-free food.

Why sweet potato for dogs?

Sweet potato is considered a well-tolerated carbohydrate source and is handled without problems by most dogs, including those who react sensitively to classic grain. Its carbohydrates are digested comparatively slowly, so energy is made available over a longer period rather than in short bursts. For active dogs with a regular exercise load, this can be a practical side effect.

Besides that, it brings fibre that contributes to regular digestion, as well as beta-carotene, which your dog's body can convert into vitamin A. This exact combination makes sweet potato a fixed component of many grain-free recipes, especially in combination with high-quality meat as the main ingredient.

Sweet potato at NANDOO

At NANDOO, sweet potato is part of several grain-free dry food recipes, used there as a mild, well-tolerated energy source. Openly declared, so you know exactly what proportion it has in the respective recipe. You can find an overview of our dry food recipes in our dry food category.

Sweet potato shows how a single plant-based ingredient can take on several roles in a recipe at once, from energy supply to digestibility. You can find further raw materials and their significance for canine nutrition in our raw materials glossary.