Can dogs eat carrots? Many owners looking for a healthy snack for their pets have pondered this question. The answer is yes. And here’s your guide to everything you’ll want to know about carrots for dogs!
Top Benefits Of Carrots For Dogs
Carrots are extremely nutritious for us humans, in fact so much so that they are considered to be a “superfood.” They are great for canines too. These are the top benefits of giving this healthy vegetable to your pooch:
All-Natural Goodness
The most obvious advantage of carrots is that they are one hundred percent natural. There are no artificial colors, preservatives, or chemicals added. Carrots also have a natural sweetness that most dogs love. You may even already have some in your refrigerator. And if you don’t these organic treats are inexpensive so adding them to your weekly shopping list won’t cost much at all.
Minimal Calories And Low Fat
One of the best benefits of carrots for dogs is their low calorie and fat content. This means they can be given to your pet without having to worry about them packing on the pounds. They can also be used as a healthy snack or treat for overweight dogs which will make them happy and adds to their overall health instead of making it worse.
Clean Teeth
We all know dogs love to chew and the crunchiness of carrots makes them a fun choice for pets to get their fix. Chewing on carrots can help to keep your dog’s teeth in great shape by preventing the buildup of plaque.
High In Fiber
Carrots are high in soluble fiber. This can help to firm things up in the poop department. For this reason, owners often have dogs eat carrots when they are having loose stools. (You can use bananas for dogs for loose stool as well since they are also packed with fiber.)
The fiber in carrots absorbs excess fluids in the colon just like a sponge. Of course, if your dog does have loose stools for an extended period of time it’s something you will want to bring to the attention of your vet.
Vitamin A
Because carrots have vitamin A, by giving them to your dog you will be helping him to have not just a healthy coat and skin but also a healthy immune system. Adding extra vitamin A can be particularly important if you’re not feeding your dog commercial dog food.
Beta Carotene Boost
Just like you were taught in school, carrots contain beta carotene. This will help make sure your pet has healthy eyesight. Beta carotene also functions as an antioxidant helping to prevent infections and diseases and is a precursor of vitamin A.
Are Carrots Safe For Dog To Eat?
Carrots are safe for your pet to consume but you should only give them in moderation. Generally, it is considered safe to feed most dogs two or three pieces of carrot or a few baby carrots per day. To find out exactly how much is appropriate for your specific pet be sure to consult your vet. Because carrots are hard, smaller pieces are always a better idea than bigger ones to help prevent the chance of choking.
This is important for small dog breeds in particular. Cutting carrots into pieces can also help with digestion. Also, you will want to keep in mind that carrots do contain natural sugars so if you will be feeding them to a diabetic dog you will want to speak with your vet to make sure it’s okay first.
The Best Ways To Feed Your Dog Carrots
There are many different methods to choose from when feeding dogs carrots:
Raw
The simplest way is to give them to your pet raw. You may want to cut them up and use them as a healthy treat alternative or add the pieces to his food. Or you could give your dog baby carrots since they are such a convenient size and won’t require any cutting. Another option is to freeze whole carrots and give them to your pooch for chewing.
(You won’t want to freeze baby carrots though since they could be a choking hazard.) Frozen raw carrots are actually often recommended as a chewing aid for teething puppies.
And of course, don’t overlook adding some chopped raw carrots to your pet’s Kong or other interactive chew toys. You may want to add in something like peanut butter to complete the yummy treat and make it harder for your pet to get out when frozen.
Options For Better Absorption
It’s important to understand that canine digestion differs from ours, particularly when it comes to hard fibrous foods like carrots. So while feeding them raw is fine, if you’d like your pet to be able to absorb the most nutrients and vitamins there are few ways to do so.
Grating the carrots is one way. You can grate them and add them to your pet’s food. Cooking the carrots first can also help. Alternatively, you may want to steam them or use them as an ingredient when baking homemade dog treats. Juicing the carrots can work too. Simply place the juice in your dog’s bowl for him to enjoy. But don’t forget to add the carrot pulp for extra fiber.
Regardless of how you decide to give them to your pet, carrots for dogs are an easy and healthy choice. Just be sure to feed them in moderation.
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