Can canines consume crunchy carrots? Everyone knows this vegetable is very nutritious and we’ve all heard things like, “eat your carrots, they’re good for your eyes!” So it’s understandable to want to share some with the family dog.
Carrots in moderation won’t cause harm unless diabetes is a factor. In such cases, sugar and carbohydrate intake should be restricted. Under normal circumstances, this veggie can be a healthy treat for your dog. Think of it as a rewarding vitamin supplement for Fido.
A potential problem with carrots is that the vitamins and minerals are deeply embedded in the cellulose. Since dogs have faster digestion than humans, they may not fully absorb the wonderful nutrients. Find out the best way to serve this fabulous food.
Can I Give My Dog Some Carrots? Answer: Yes, lightly cooked and shredded
This vegetable offers several health benefits including improved skin and coat as well as vitality.
Dogs can certainly consume carrots. They tend to enjoy the crunchiness but, more importantly, they can be fantastic for digestion. Shredding, and lightly cooking, your carrots prior to serving is likely the best way to provide this veggie. Since absorption is the concern we highly recommend Olewo Carrots Digestive Dog Food. Your best buddy will get the full benefits of specially prepared premium non-GMO carrots. In particular, it’s great for when your dog has diarrhea or upset stomach. Works every time!
What’s Up Doc!
This very popular vegetable is packed with vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B1 and B6. Carrot aren’t just good for the eyes but for general well-being including a strengthened immune system. They’ll also help your dog maintain strong and healthy canine teeth. Raw carrots are low in calories and make for a nice treat. Large amounts, however, can be unhealthy for pets. Too much of anything is bad!
If your dog has diabetes ask your vet before you give them table foods like carrots since the natural sugars could complicate matters.
Carrot Feeding Tips
Carrots, and even the juice, can be given to dogs in moderation. Don’t add spices or sugar or salt. Larger carrots should be cut up to improve digestive and prevent choking. Your dog may have a hard time digesting vegetables in general, since dogs are primarily carnivores. You may see pieces of undigested carrots in their bowel movements.
For teething puppies, frozen carrots will feel good on the gums.
Carrots vs. Dog Treats
Help your dog stay fit by providing them with healthy foods. Many conventional dog treats eventually cause health problems and obesity. Just because the marketing on a retail box says certain dog biscuits are great, it doesn’t mean they actually are. Carrots are a healthy alternative for them!
If you want to give your pup some treats designed for dogs, look for one without artificial sweeteners, sodium, sugar, dairy or just too many fillers. Believe it or not, a carrot-flavored grain-free dog treat (also works as a dental chew) is actually very popular!
Regarding Table Scraps
On occasion people sneak their dogs a scrap or two from the dinner table. This can be harmless but does run the risk of causing your four-legged friend’s digestive system to get overworked. They could end up with gas, a belly ache and sometimes diarrhea or constipation.
In this case, carrots could actually come to the rescue. They are, therefore, an okay table scrap for dogs. Cooked or raw, your dog may benefit in the digestion department.
Conclusion on Carrots
Carrots can be a great treat for your dog. The veggie is also considered a health supplement and doggie digestive aid. With all its nutrients and bonus benefits, such as stronger teeth and healthier coat, carrots are excellent for dogs. Serve it raw and shredded to achieve the best digestion and absorption for your best buddy. As a reminder, vegetables cannot replace dog food and should be viewed as nutritional supplementation.
{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }
I had two beautiful Jack Russell Terriers, twin sisters, aged 9 years named ‘Prim’ and ‘Proper’. They were both very healthy over the years until my very large, rural, back garden became infested with rabbits. About three years ago, Prim had to have emergency surgery to open up her entire digestive tract to have the remains of two adult rabbits removed that she ate but was unable to digest.
She recovered remarkably well but, unfortunately, I had to create a very small enclosure at the back of the house for her to play in as the rabbits have taken over the rest of our space. She is a bit of a prisoner these days. Last November, Proper became sick very suddenly and died three days later. The vet was unable to give any kind of diagnosis as to why she died. To say I was devastated is truly an understatement.
Then, much to my horror, Prim began having identical symptoms but I took her to a different vet and they acted immediately. They were able to diagnose that she had pancreatitis and was very ill. After keeping her for 6 days they brought her back to good health.
Typically, over the years, we had fed our dogs dry food that was left in a bowl that they grazed on throughout the day. We were also very undisciplined when it came to feeding them scraps of our own food. Since Prim recovered she is on a specialty food and she gets a small, measured amount of this every day.
In the beginning she was starving but she is getting used to it now. The vet recommended that as a treat and supplement to her diet I should give her raw carrot or slices of apple which she loves. Anyway, we still miss Proper terribly but Prim is getting loved to death and has given the thumbs up for carrots and apple (no core in the apple).
My small 20 pound dog is a mixed breed and he’s a year and a half old. He was diagnosed with a liver shunt when I first got him at 4 months old. I just gave him his first carrot today but he wasn’t into it. Today I threw it in the freezer, for like an hour, and he crunched it all up! Is it okay for him concerning the liver shunt? He’s on a special dry food diet and his treats need to be very low protein like 5-7 percent. What other veggies can I give him as treats that are low in protein?
My pup named Popcorn absolutely loves carrots! When he does something right, for example peeing in the right place, I give him a slice of carrot. But it’s important not to give big slices because your dog can get sick if he eats too much. I recommend maximum 8 slices of carrots a day.
I am wondering, how many carrots are too many? I use baby carrots and my dogs will eat as many as I will feed them each day. I usually give them 3-4 baby carrots 3-4 times per day. Is this okay? I have been able to switch them over to carrots from store bought healthy dog cookies and would like to never give them anything but carrots. I just want to make sure that I’m not over loading them. There are times when I give them 6 smallish baby carrots. They love them!
Kathryn, I recommend if you give baby carrots, maximum 9 per day. But if you are giving them slices of big carrots, max 8 smallish slices. Hope this helped!
As an expat living in the West Indies, I found it very difficult to find healthy food for my dogs. It has only been in the last 15 years that stores began importing dry dog food. Most island dogs, if they are lucky, get bread and water or chicken backs/necks. My dogs were getting imported chicken breast, at $22.00 lb, ground beef $18.00 lb, etc.
I wanted my dogs to have the best but also had to consider cost. I make my own cookies and now make them chicken meat loaf where I incorporate veggies. They love it. I have a friend who gives his dog a plate of lightly steamed veggies every day as a treat and the dog cleans it all up.
Taylor, I have a really easy and healthy doggy treat recipe. You will just need 2 things:
Any type of baby food (except garlic and onion flavored)
1 cup of flour
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
Mix the baby food and the flour in a bowl until it forms a dough
Put some wax paper on your baking sheet
Roll balls of the dough and place them on the wax paper
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes
I hope this helped!
Sounds like you would do well to get some chickens and start making food using the fresh eggs. It’s just a thought.
My Dad also lives in the West Indies with his dogs. He also bought dry dog food for them from vets and other suppliers. Have a read of the ingredients on your packets of dog food and see if you would really want to feed that to anyone or your dogs.
My Dad now buys chicken back/neck and his helper seasons it up and cooks with rice and vegetables for the dogs. The cost is comparable if not slightly cheaper than dried dog food and at least you know what each and every ingredient is.
I live in England and we feed our dog processed raw food. The ingredients are minced vegetables, kelp, salmon oil, glucosamine and other vitamins and minerals. We add either chicken, rice, beef, turkey, salmon or duck. He loves it and everyone comments on how healthy he is and how good his coat looks.
My dad is now looking to make his own raw minced food for his dogs too. If you think about it, in the wild, dogs would not be able to make their own dry food or cook any meat they catch. They are designed to eat raw food.
As you have mentioned carrots are very healthy, and although they contain sugar, it’s low in sugar, and can be given to a diabetic dog. However, I would think in moderation like anything else. The vet who treats our diabetic Mini Schnauzer does not recommend a dog food with a higher than 10 percent fat.
We also give our diabetic dog, and our other dogs “5 Grains”. Bob’s Red Mill, (oats, rye, Barley, flaxseed, Triticale), mixed in with dry food, or veggies. Our favorite veggies are broccoli, cauliflower and Kale. I hate it when people use the term “people food”.
Where do they think the food comes from? It is the same food we eat, after it has been dehydrated, or processed in a different form, sometimes parts of the animal no one will eat. But they chunk it in the mix. Of course, there are some foods and herbs that are toxic to dogs, and a dog owner should make it their responsibility, if they are going to adopt a dog, to know that they are. I do not agree with giving a dog, only dry dog food. To me, that would be the same as a human eating a type of dry food for every meal.
We like to buy lean chicken breast for our dogs, and add that in with their meal (or dry food). I like to know what my dogs are consuming, since they are a member of our family, just as a child would be.
Although, I’m not a vet, nor a vet tech, my experience as a former nurse tells me it was the commercial dry food that put our dog at risk for diabetes, since most dry foods contain, large amounts of corn. That is like eating candy. So now, only high premium dogs foods that do not contain corn in any form.
We are finding out now just how intelligent dogs are. They love to enjoy life, just as humans do. They like going for rides and trips. They like activities, and learning. Some people say dogs do not think, but they do. I have seen my dogs actually reasoning, and their choices really surprised me, as they were very sensible.
I am writing all of this to say that commercial food isn’t always good for them. I have even made my own dog food using a food processor. It’s more work, but if you have the time, and the love, it is very much worth it.
Absolutely! I like to cook rice, green beans and carrots. All the main veggies really. I share with my dog what I eat. My little Yorkshire Poodle loves carrots, like a rabbit really! I give him half a stick every couple of days. Dentastix is apparently good for teeth but I think he loves carrots more. I can hear him crunching it. It’s too cute.
I’ve been giving my Springerpoo vegetables since she was a little pup (only one year now) and she loved practically any raw veg I could throw at her, literally! Great when she was teething and kept her off my chair legs, although the coffee table still lost it’s corners. Raw carrots still go down well and she often has a steamed one chopped up in her tea.
I juice organic carrots and apples in the morning and put the pulp in ice cube trays with a little water and freeze them for snacks for our dogs instead of throwing pulp out. Just making sure the pulp is okay?
I cut up the larger carrots from my garden and freeze them in 2-3″ chunks. My 4-month old puppy loves them, and they help with his teething!
That is a great idea for carrots Susan!
I gave my first Shih Tzu baby carrots, and unflavored, unsalted brown rice cakes. He had some food allergies and was on a micro biotic diet so they were the only treats he was allowed. My new little guy gets raw carrots and rice cakes. He also loves plain Greek yogurt.
I know a dog that jumps for carrots.
That would be my dog 😉