There’s a moment between mashing the sweet potato and reaching for the butter when you can set a little aside for the dog. The serving spoon in the pot is a poor measuring tool. Reach for the measuring spoons instead.
What a portion looks like
The veterinarian-reviewed portion guide from PetMD gives examples by weight. For a 2–10 pound dog it lists a tablespoon. For a 21–50 pound dog it lists two to three tablespoons. Those are occasional portions for dogs who tolerate sweet potato. For a first taste, put just a little on the tip of the spoon and see how your dog does.
Suppose your vet sets a daily energy target of 400 calories. A 10% ceiling for all extras leaves 40 calories. If training rewards have already used 30, the remaining allowance is 10 calories for everything else. There’s no need to use the whole allowance or finish a measured serving.
Set aside the dog’s portion first
Wash and peel the sweet potato, cook it until a fork slides through, and let it cool. Mash a little plain flesh or cut it into small, soft pieces. Once the dish has butter, brown sugar, salt or seasonings mixed through it, leave that batch for the people at the table. A hard slice of raw sweet potato is a different texture altogether and can be difficult to chew.
What if today was a big training day?
Small pieces of freeze-dried beef liver still count as extras. A day with a training class may already have plenty. Tomorrow’s plain spoonful will do just as well. If your dog has diabetes, eats a prescription food or develops stomach upset after a new food, check with your veterinarian before serving more.
