What is Potato (Green) Poisoning?
Although potatoes are a healthy vegetable for humans, it is best not to feed any part of a raw potato or potato skins to your dog because of the toxins they contain. The potato, as well as other vegetables, such as tomatoes and eggplant, produces solanine as a natural defense to deter insects. Even in small amounts, your dog can have symptoms similar to food poisoning due to the solanine and chaconine. Solanine is a cholinesterase inhibitor that can prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter. This causes reduced function of the nervous system and the body’s organs by building up in the tissues, especially the liver. Solanine has also been found in other major organs such as the brain, lungs, heart, and kidneys. These toxins can make humans sick as well, but it would take a lot more potatoes than we would eat to cause even mild symptoms. However, it is best not to eat potatoes that have green skin or are growing sprouts whether they are cooked or not, and definitely never feed them to your dog.
Green potato poisoning in dogs occurs when a dog consumes too much solanine, which is a glycoalkaloid naturally produced in green or raw potatoes, potato skins, and the foliage from the potato plant. Solanine poisoning can cause heart problems, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal upset. The raw potato and skins also contain chaconine, which is toxic and can cause irritation to the digestive tract, nervous system symptoms (tremors), and kidney function disorders. If you think your dog has eaten green potatoes, skins, or foliage, you should call your veterinarian or visit your local animal hospital even if there are no symptoms.
Symptoms of Potato (Green) Poisoning in Dogs
Symptoms may vary depending on how much solanine and chaconine was in the potatoes or potato skins your dog ate, and the size and health of your dog. Most often, the symptoms will be mild, unless your dog is very small, ill, or if a great amount of potatoes have been consumed in a short amount of time. The most common symptoms reported are:
- Bleeding
- Burning of the throat
- Cardiac dysrhythmia
- Death
- Delirium
- Difficulty breathing
- Dilated pupils
- Dizziness
- Excess drooling
- Fever
- Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and nausea
- Headache
- Heart problems
- Jaundice
- Loss of sensation
- Low body temperature (hypothermia)
- Numbness and burning sensation of the tongue, mouth, and lips
- Paralysis
- Progressive paralysis
- Seizures
- Shock
- Slow pulse
- Slowed breathing
- Swelling of tongue or lips
- Trembling
- Vision changes
- Vomiting
- Weakness
Causes of Potato (Green) Poisoning in Dogs
Solanine symptoms are caused by the interruption of the chemical acetylcholine, which is important in transmitting nerve impulses. This chemical is also reported to cause cell membrane damage, which can cause irritation of the nervous system and intestinal tract. The chemical is found in:
- Green potatoes
- Potato foliage
- Raw potato skins
- Sprouts grown on potatoes
Diagnosis of Potato (Green) Poisoning in Dogs
Your veterinarian will need to know what your dog ate, how much, and how long ago it happened. You should also let the veterinarian know what symptoms you have seen, your dog’s medical history, and any illnesses or injuries. A comprehensive physical examination will be done, which will include temperature, weight, height, pulse, reflexes, blood pressure and breathing rate.
They will also need to complete some tests, such as complete blood count, chemical panel, blood gas, glucose level, urinalysis, kidney and liver function tests, and a chest x-ray. In addition, an electrocardiogram (ECG) may be done to monitor your dog’s heart rate if needed. If the chest x-ray shows any abnormalities, the veterinarian will do an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan to get a better look at what is going on.
Treatment of Potato (Green) Poisoning in Dogs
The treatment for your dog will include giving apomorphine to inducing vomiting and activated charcoal to absorb any toxin that may be left in the stomach. The veterinarian will sedate your dog and provide IV fluids and oxygen therapy. If they suspect there is still toxin in your dog’s system, he will perform a gastric lavage. This procedure includes inserting a tube into your dog’s mouth to flush out the stomach with saline solution. Medication, such as a physostigmine or pilocarpine will be administered to help boost your dog’s nervous system, and gastrointestinal protectants and laxatives may be used as well.
Recovery of Potato (Green) Poisoning in Dogs
How well your dog recovers depends on the amount of solanine ingested and how quickly treatment is given. As with any illness, providing a quiet place to rest when your pet returns home is key to recovery. Be certain to contact your veterinarian if you have questions or concerns. To prevent this from happening again, do not let your dog eat raw potatoes, potato skins, or foliage and make sure he cannot get into the trash where potato peels may be.
Potato (Green) Poisoning Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
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My dad gave my dog a good amount of raw sweet potato and she hasnt acted up yet i mean she didnt eat any skins but idk what to do. She is about 50lbs and hasn't been active lately but i dont think the two are connected.
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I had no clue about this green potatoe poisoning. Every time I peel potatoes my boxer lovers to get a piece of the raw potato... russets or yellows and never green. Have I been unconsciously hurting my boxer? He loves raw vegetables. We just currently had a bout of vomiting and took him to the emergency vet near us... he had gotten a beef bone from the trash and we were worried about a possible blockage. He was given x-rays, no blockage and then given some antibiotics, an iv and some special food. Could his love and my eagerness to satisfy his cravings have been the reason for this?
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About a week ago i cooked a homemade meal of plain white rice with carrots and boiled potatoes with it's skin on . I gave her half a bowl of the food wich contained about 5-6 potatoe cubes she ate about all of it , within 30 min of eating she started vomiting and having diarrhea she also started shaking within 3 days her vomiting was gone but only 1 day ago she stoped having diarrhea she is still shaking though what should i do?
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I boiled one large russet potatoe and have my dogs the left overs along with some raw carrots. 4 hours later my pug had a runny poo in her kennel. Then 4 hours later she puked up a small amount of carrot and potato and pooed in her kennel a little more of a runny poo.
She seems ok other than that. Can I give her anything to help with the diarrhea?
My other 2 dogs ( German Shepard and our chihuahua) seem fine and they are the same thing.
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We keep our potatoes near the floor and we have a puppy she got one and she's hasn't been moving around a lot today what do you think ?
Thank you!! She’s still pooing diarrhea it seems every couple hours but is drinking water and going out to pee.
Age are a couple bites of food and I took away her bowl so she would t eat too much.
I’m going to make boiled chicken and rice at dinner and give her small amounts every couple hours. Fingers crossed this doesn’t last much longer. Cleaning diarrhea isn’t much fun lol
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My puppy got into a bag of golden yellow potatoes, no eyes or anything on them. I found her chomping on it but seems she didn’t consume that much potato more less just chewed on it cause she is teething. It has been approximately 2 hours since and she is sleeping now. No signs of gas, vomiting or diarrhea.
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My 8 year old yorkie/poodle mix (14lbs) ate a small raw/sprouting potato. She threw up the potato (vomit was chunky and the size of a potato) within 15 minutes. She is not showing any other symptoms, but am concerned about potato poisoning. Any advice?
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My 60-lb 6-month old Rottweiler got into a pot of cooked veggies that were simply boiled in plain water. She ate 4 large potatoes (they were not green) as well as a 2 large carrots and 1 large parsnip root. She threw up that same night as well as the following night and is not really interested in eating. She drinks normally and is passing stool and urine normally. She is FULL of energy and runs/plays normally. But 3 days later, she is still not very interested in eating normally. She has no other symptoms. Should I take her to the vet or continue to monitor her to see if she improves?
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I have 14 week old german shepherd puppies that mother got into trash and dumped over. Puppies got a hold of gold potato peels. I don't think any of them ate any. They are vomiting and have diarrhea. Is there anything that I can do. I have given one of the puppies a small piece of pepcid a.c.. Because he can't keep any food down.
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It is good that the puppies are vomiting and have diarrhoea since if they consumed any raw potato peel they would be expelling it from their bodies. Solanine may cause neurological symptoms if consumed in large amounts, if you notice any of the neurological symptoms on this page or the vomiting and diarrhoea continues, visit your Veterinarian. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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We noticed today that he was not responding normally and he was laying on the porch in front of the door with a stool sample right where he was laying. We took him to the vet and she took blood and prescribed a pill for his stomach ache and a antibiotic. We realized once we got home that a day or two ago we gave him a small raw gold potato. It was he size of a ping pong ball at most. We are afraid we poisoned our dog. How long until we know if he is recovering? He is an outdoor dog, but he is inside in a cool comfortable area sleeping it off. Is there anything we should watch for. I feel like a bad dog owner. I didn't know.😭
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Whilst raw potatoes are not the best to give to dogs (better when they are cooked); if the potato was fresh and wasn’t green or going bad it shouldn’t have had that much of an effect with the quantity consumed, but the effects vary case to case. Solanine is present in potatoes, especially in the peel (skins), and may cause neurological symptoms in some dogs and varies as the quantity of solanine varies widely. It is really a case of monitoring for improvement and making sure the symptoms you’re seeing do not increase in severity. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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dug up new red potatoes this morning, they were out on the ground, drying. Noticed my puppy with something, when I caught him, he had eaten about half of a potato. No symptoms yet, but can I do something now to prevent him getting sick?
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If the ingestion was within two or three hours induce vomiting with 3% hydrogen peroxide to get the consumed potato up and after administer activated charcoal to absorb any toxin in the stomach. It is important to keep Buster hydrated and keep an eye out for any symptoms listed on this page; if you notice symptoms or you are concerned, don’t hesitate to visit your Veterinarian to be on the safe side. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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My dog ingested potatoes with the skins on, about two medium size. They were cooked in a crock pot with cayenne pepper and other spices. Also there was rosemary, carrrots, onion, and celery. Is there anything I should be concerned about? He's drinking water but not eating his food. Do I need to take him into the vet?
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Onions and other spices can be poisonous to dogs (onions are 100% poisonous); I would recommend visiting your Veterinarian as soon as possible to assess if there has been a toxic ingestion and also tell them all the spices you added to the pot (many spices are poisonous to dogs, some aren’t). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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Our 10.5 year old, 20# mini dachshund got into some raw potatoes and chewed on/ate an unknown amount approximately 2 months ago.
Ever since then he has had an odd cough, like he is trying to cough up something stuck in his throat.
Is this something a vet can even treat so long after ingestion?
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The cough may or may not be related to the ingestion of potato (most probably not). As dogs age, especially in miniature breeds, there is the chance of some respiratory problems caused by irritation, laryngeal problems or tracheal problems. It is always best to have your Veterinarian take a look as there may be an easy solution which would make Kodi more comfortable. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
I have a friend with a Yorkie. He ate tomatoes ( green and red ) straight of the plant in the backyard.
He lost his vision. He also has a cough now. After reading about solanine poisoning, I believe that his cough is also related to eating the tomatoes. He also lets his tongue poke out of his mouth like a cat. After reading this article, this could also have happened from the solanine.
My friends had two Yorkies. The other died from potassium poisoning. I wonder if he ingested tomatoes also. Could this have caused the potassium spike?
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Our 8 year old lab mix - Daisy - has been dealing with a problem with her eyes; a daily clear teary discharge that dries leaving behind purplish "streaks" from the corners of her eyes nearest her snout. Have taken her to vet and vet eye specialist. They performed various eyes test (dyeing of eye with green solution, etc.) and found nothing organicely wrong. They snipped her hair in the affected areas trying to cosmetically improve her appearance. We went to a grain-free diet for awhile. Nothing. She continues to discharge (which we wipe away) and have been provding her with a product called "Angel Eyes." Last summer, Daisy went into our garden and ate several green tomatoes. Wondering if this could be a cause, but if so, why is the problem persisting? Would an eye drop product of some kind stop this discharge.
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Green tomatoes (and other green parts of the plant) can cause gastrointestinal irritation, lethargy, increased heart-rate and dilated pupils; but I cannot see any connection with this discharge you are describing. There are many different causes of eye discharge, I am just struggling to think of a clear discharge that dries purple; most common causes are allergies, conjunctivitis and other environmental irritation (did you change cleaning products around the time of the start of symptoms?). Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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I made potatoes in a crockpot, some had greenish tint & sprouts, I removed them from pot & then cooked Venison for Thunder, I just read that green potatoes are dangerous for dogs, I did not give him any but is the Venison safe? I did not clean pot right after just put Venison in, then boiled rice right after that. Is it safe to feed him?
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Solanine is soluble in water which means that when you boil green potatoes the solanine is diffused into the water. I would be cautious if you reused the water, but if the water was thrown out and not used for cooking the venison or rice, it would probably OK (no 100% guarantees). If in doubt, throw it out. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
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My 9 pound 3 1/2 yr old chihuahua terrier mix ate 2 small cube pieces of peeled raw sweet potato. He's a little dizzy and just not himself. Mo vomiting or anything. What should i do?