Carrots are nutritious and one of the most versatile veggies for your dog. You can also give your dog carrot sticks, or carrots dipped in various dressings.
Besides that, carrots are an affordable option for you if you want to add some low-calorie snacks to your dog’s diet.
From the below article, you will learn everything about feeding your dog carrots. I hope the report will be beneficial for all pet parents.
Can Dogs Have Carrots?
Yes, your dog can eat carrots. This is one of the tastier and more amazing veggies that your dog will like. The carrots will be one of the most incredible ideas if you want to cut out calorie-packed, highly processed dog biscuits.
Every part of a carrot is safe for your dog. Theoretically, you can pull out the whole carrot plant, such as its leaf, stems, etc., to feed your dog.
But it would help if you did not overfeed carrots to your dog. Overfeeding a carrot can invite obesity and stomach upset for your dog.
Apart from that, carrots are safe for your pups and provide all the dog’s nutrients.
When Are Carrots Bad For Dogs?
In moderation, you can serve this healthy and low-calorie treat to your dogs. Because of its natural sugar property, humans and dogs both find it tasty.
But having too much sugar may lead to weight gain and other health issues. Apart from that, too much sugar can cause several health problems for your dog.
The nutritionist says carrots can make up 10% of calorie intake per day. So, it would help if you talked with your vet to know how much calorie is too much for your dog’s health.
Dogs are generally not at risk of cavities. Still, too much sugar also decays the dental health of your pup.
Benefits of Carrots for Dogs
The pups generally like the carrot as a crunchy treat. Carrot has so many nutrient-dense properties that benefit your dog’s health.
Carrots contain essential nutrients such as vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, and potassium. Apart from that, beta-carotene is one of the essential nutrients that contribute to your dog’s skin.
Apart from nutrients, carrots also contain phytonutrients such as lutein and lycopene, etc. This helps protect against the damage of harmful UV rays and other damages caused by free radicals.
Check the below list to have a close view of what carrot gets on your dog’s plate.
Vitamin A: Carrots contain vitamin A that helps maintain eye health, boosts the immune system, and makes dog skin and coat healthier.
Vitamin A is generally packed in all the market-available dog food foods. But you should also remember that too much vitamin A in the body can get built up and be toxic to health. So, you are recommended to consult your vet to get the correct chart about how much vitamin A your dog may require in its regular diet.
Beta Carotene: Beta Carotene is responsible for the bright color of your dog. Beta Carotene is generally the beginning form of vitamin A that works as an antioxidant that prevents diseases, helps bone development, and prevents cancer.
Dietary Fiber: Carrots are also rich in dietary fiber, and one cup of raw carrots has 3.58g of dietary fiber. Fiber is one of the essential components that help in regulating bowel movement and makes stool loose.
Low-calorie treats: The carrots work great for diabetic dogs. A cup of carrot can provide 53g of calories that can be served between feeding.
Strengthen teeth: Most pet parents get worried about their baby’s teeth. So, you should start earlier as possible to take care of your baby’s dental health. If the older puppy’s teeth are not cleaned properly, plaque buildup can get a professional cleaning.
A frozen carrot can prevent plaque buildup in your dog’s teeth. The teething puppies can also get comfort by chewing frozen carrots.
How To Feed Your Dog Carrot
You can feed your dog raw or cooked carrots, as everything in a carrot makes it a tasty treat for your puppies. You don’t even have to worry if your dog eats the leafy green part of the carrot.
Better will be when you buy organic carrots that are free from pesticides. If you purchase non-organic carrots, then give them a good wash.
Carrots are undoubtedly a tasty treat for every dog. Still, it would help if you gave your dog bite-sized chunks to avoid choking hazards. This way, the whole carrot will be safe to eat for the smaller dogs.
Before adding this human food to your dog’s diet, you should get a chart about how much you can add there. Discuss with the vets if any health concerns are associated with adding this food to their diet.
Since raw carrots make a good snack for your dog, you can also give them cooked carrots. Steaming minimally in the microwave won’t significantly change its nutritional value.
There are many ways to prepare carrots for your dogs, and you will learn some of the most accessible routes from the below paragraphs.
Grate or peel the carrot
Grating the carrots and adding them to the top of your food is the best way to add deliciousness to your dog’s diet. Before you grate them, first peel them and grate them.
When peeling the carrots before grating, you can save the peelings for your dog. Paste it until it gets smooth and serve it to your dog. It will act great for your dog also.
Juice The carrots
Carrot juice is an excellent source of vitamin A that is also a fun way to add some nutrition to your dog’s food. But by juicing them, you can lose fiber in carrot juice.
To make sure you don’t miss this dietary fiber from the carrot juice, add some pulp also in the juice. Before you juice them, don’t miss to give them a good wash.
It would be better if you served it after you made it. Doubt storing it for more than one day in the fridge.
Steamed Carrots
Steaming the carrots a bit, you can save most nutrients from it, and it also enhances the flavor of the carrot. Follow the below process to steam carrots.
- Take two inches of water in a saucepan and let it boil.
- Slice the carrots into your preferred size, put them in a steam basket, and keep them in the boiling water.
- Cover it with a lid.
- Steam carrots for 8-10 minutes.
- Drain out the remaining water.
Baked Carrots
Carrots have a natural sweetness that makes them ideal for baking. Here is the process you can follow to bake the carrots:
- Preheat the oven first.
- Mix mashed steamed carrots with the required quantity of wheat flour.
- Now cut the dough into different shapes.
- Place those cookies on a cookie sheet using parchment paper.
- Bake it until it gets golden brown.
Frozen Carrots
Frozen Carrots are no doubt a great and comforting treat for teething puppies. But don’t give more than one whole carrot every day because of its high fiber content.
Generally, dogs like the taste of carrots. Still, if you have a fussy eater in your home, you can follow various delicious recipes to feed them carrots.
Easy Carrot Dog Treats
Carrot Dog
Ingredients: Whole Carrot, dog buns, a cup of soy sauce, two tablespoons of liquid smoke, ketchup, and two tablespoons of maple syrup.
Boil all the liquid ingredients first. Boil peeled carrots in this water. Let the carrots be soft enough depending on their thickness. Let the steamed carrots cool to serve. Now put the carrots in the dog buns and help them with the desired topping.
Homemade Carrot Cake For Dog
Ingredients: 1 cup of applesauce, 1/4th cup of almond butter or peanut butter, two large eggs, 4 cups oat flour, 1 cup grated carrots
Preheat the oven to 350° F. Set a large baking sheet. Beat the applesauce, almond butter, peanut butter, and eggs using an electric blender. Now add carrots, oat flour, and water and mix it well. Now sit the mixture for some time and bake it for 20 minutes until golden brown.
How many carrots Can My Dog Can Eat
The vets generally recommend following the 10% rule for the pet parent. As you know, raw veggies can make up 10% of calories in your dog’s food.
Carrots have a high amount of sugar concentration, and they are higher in calories also. For this reason, you should consider carrots as an occasional treat for the dogs.
You can mix carrots with low-calorie cucumber or broccoli to lower their calorie intake.
Conclusion
Carrots are tasty and one of the most affordable options for your dog’s diet. You can serve carrots to your dog regularly or in moderation.
Your pup will like raw and cooked carrots. But it is advised to feed your dog carrot in moderation. Carrots have a high amount of sugar and fiber.
Before you start feeding your dog carrot, make sure to discuss it with your doc. This way, you can prevent weight gain and digestive upset in the dog.
Frequently Asked Question
Q: Can a dog eat raw carrots?
Yes, raw and cooked both are healthy for your dogs. Carrots are generally safe for your dog. But it will be better if you cut them into bite-sized pieces, and it will help avoid choking hazards in your dogs.
Q: Can dogs chew on carrots?
Yes, dogs enjoy chewing carrots. Sometimes, you can give it to your dog to combat plaque buildup, and it also promotes healthy dental function in your dog.
Q: Do dogs love carrots?
Yes, the dogs love carrots. Carrot has a sweet smell and sweet taste. So, most dogs prefer carrots. If your dog is a fussy eater, you can have a different carrot dog treat recipe for them.
Q: How Many Calories Does a Carrot Have?
- Calories: 41
- Water: 88%
- Protein: 0.9 grams
- Carbs: 9.6 grams
- Sugar: 4.7 grams
- Fiber: 2.8 grams
- Fat: 0.2 grams
