Can Yorkies eat sweet potato?
Yes, when cooked plain — cooked sweet potato is a nutritious, fibre-rich treat, but never serve it raw and watch the calories.
Cooked sweet potato is soft, naturally sweet, and rich in fibre and vitamin A. Dogs enjoy it and it's often used in commercial treats. The rules: cook it thoroughly (raw sweet potato is hard to digest and a choking risk), remove the skin, and keep portions small — it's more calorie-dense than watery vegetables, so it adds up in a tiny dog.
What Yorkie owners need to know
- Always cook it — baked, boiled, or steamed plain. Never feed raw sweet potato.
- Remove the skin and serve it mashed or in small soft pieces.
- It's higher in calories and sugar than veg like green beans, so keep portions small.
How preparation changes the answer
| Preparation | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Cooked plain, peeled | Generally safe | Soft, fibre-rich treat in small portions. |
| Raw | Best avoided | Hard to digest and a choking risk — always cook. |
| Casserole with sugar/marshmallow | Best avoided | Far too much sugar and fat for a small dog. |
Safe preparation
- Bake, boil, or steam until soft, with no butter, salt, sugar, or marshmallow.
- Peel off the skin and mash or dice small.
- Cool fully before serving; freeze small portions for later.
Portion for a Yorkie
A teaspoon or two of mashed cooked sweet potato is plenty for a Yorkie; keep it within the daily treat budget.
Nutrition at a glance
Calories
~90 kcal
per 100 g, cooked/baked (USDA FoodData Central)
Fibre
~3.3 g
per 100 g, cooked/baked (USDA FoodData Central)
Vitamin A
high (beta-carotene)
per 100 g, cooked/baked (USDA FoodData Central)
Possible benefits
- Good source of fibre and beta-carotene (vitamin A).
- Soft when cooked — easy for seniors or picky eaters.
- Naturally sweet, so it feels like a reward.
Risks & things to watch
- Raw sweet potato is hard to digest and a choking hazard.
- More calorie- and sugar-dense than watery veg — easy to overdo in a tiny dog.
- Casserole-style dishes with butter, sugar, or marshmallow are unsafe.
If your Yorkie ate too much
A bit extra usually just means soft stools. A large amount could cause a bout of diarrhoea; monitor and offer fresh water, and call your vet if upset persists.
Frequently asked questions
Can Yorkies eat sweet potato skin?
It's safest to remove the skin. While not toxic, the skin is tougher to chew and digest and adds a choking risk for a tiny dog. Peel it and serve the soft flesh.
Can my Yorkie eat raw sweet potato?
No — always cook it first. Raw sweet potato is hard for a small dog to digest and is a choking risk. Bake, boil, or steam it plain until soft, peel it, and serve a small mashed amount.
Sources
We cite authoritative veterinary, regulatory, and nutrition sources so you can check the evidence yourself.
- Nutrition dataUSDA FoodData CentralUSDA FoodData Central nutrient database
Supports: Human-food nutrient composition (calories, macronutrients, fibre, sugars). · Accessed 2026-07-01
- Professional bodyWSAVA Global Nutrition CommitteeGlobal Nutrition Guidelines & Toolkit
Supports: Energy requirement calculation, body condition scoring, treat guidance. · Accessed 2026-07-01
The Yorkiefood Editorial Team
We research Yorkshire Terrier feeding from regulatory bodies, veterinary manuals, poison-control centres, and peer-reviewed nutrition literature, then explain it plainly. We are careful researchers, not veterinarians — our pages cite their sources so you can check the evidence yourself, and we always defer to your own vet for your dog.
First published 2026-07-01 · Last reviewed 2026-07-01
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Related foods
Pumpkin
Yes — plain cooked or 100% canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is a gentle, fibre-rich food often used to settle mild digestive upset.
White Rice
Yes — plain cooked white rice is safe and easy to digest, which is why it's a staple of the vet-suggested bland diet.
Plain Oatmeal
Yes, when cooked plain with water — plain oatmeal is a gentle, fibre-rich food that suits sensitive or senior Yorkies, served cooled.
Bread
In small amounts — a little plain baked bread won't harm most Yorkies, but it's empty calories, so keep it rare.
Cereal
Only a few pieces of a plain, low-sugar cereal, dry — and only if it has no chocolate, raisins, or xylitol. Most cereals are too sugary for a tiny dog.
Chickpeas
Yes — plain, fully cooked chickpeas can be a small fibre- and protein-rich treat for Yorkies, but never raw or dried, and never as hummus.
Make serving it easier
A few small things that help at mealtime
Getting the portion right matters most on a tiny dog. These simple bits of kit help you weigh, serve, and store — tap a category to see current options on Amazon.
Digital kitchen scale
Weigh tiny portions in grams — far more accurate than a scoop for a 5-lb dog.
Shop on AmazonSmall-dog slow feeder
Slows fast eaters and turns a small meal into a few happy minutes.
Shop on AmazonLick mat
Spread a thin topper for calm enrichment without many extra calories.
Shop on AmazonMeasuring scoop set
For days you can't reach the scale — clearly marked small sizes.
Shop on AmazonThese are Amazon search links, not specific product endorsements. As an Amazon Associate, Yorkiefood earns from qualifying purchases. We don't show prices or star ratings here — check the current details on Amazon.