Can Dogs Eat Carrots?

Many of us love carrots and add them to our diet as a healthy snack.

We like to eat them raw, cook them or even steam them.  Or even drink carrot juice or mash them up and make carrot cake. The choices are endless!

Carrots add a lot of vitamins and are known to help with vision due to their beta-carotene. They’re also a great natural form of fiber to add to our daily diet.

What about our dogs?  Can we feed them carrots too?

The answer is YES!

Carrots Are Safe & Even Healthy For Dogs

Carrots are a vegetable that can add some healthy, natural nutrients and vitamins to your dog’s diet.

In fact, most veterinarians even encourage carrots as a snack, particularly baby carrots, because they are healthy and low calorie. You can feed carrots either raw or cooked depending on which your dog prefers.

Carrots are also high in fiber which can help keep your pup’s stools regular by adding some natural bulk.

As with any new food, fruit, or vegetable, be careful when adding carrots to your dog’s diet and start slowly. Carrots might cause some intestinal upset if your dog isn’t used to the additional fiber. Be sure your dog drinks plenty of fresh water to help with the added fiber.

Related: 10 Things You Must Know Before You Buy Pet Insurance

Nutritional Benefits of Carrots

Carrots are filled with Vitamin A, as well as many antioxidants, which are great for a dog’s overall health. Vitamin A is essential for bone growth, immunity as well as cellular reproduction. Just as in humans, carrots are also a great way to keep your dog’s eyes healthy and his vision sharp.

Carrots will provide your dogs with a natural boost of:

• Potassium
• Niacin
• Calcium
• Phosphorus
• Magnesium
• Vitamins B, C, D, E and K

Carrots can also help your dog’s teeth by not only gently reducing the plaque but keeping the teeth white.

Eating Too Many Carrots Could Be Bad For Your Pup

Carrots can be unsafe for dogs if they eat too many. Some dogs might experience digestive issues or have diarrhea if they eat too many carrots. The natural sugar content in carrots might be a hindrance to dogs with diabetes.

Because of the hard texture, some dogs, particularly smaller breeds could choke on the carrots so make sure to slice them up in small pieces.

As with any new food, make sure to consult your veterinarian before adding any new food to your dog’s diet.

How To Start Sharing Carrots With Your Dog

Every dog reacts differently to any food, human and otherwise, and it is always best to check with your vet before feeding your dogs’ carrots.

You can feed carrots either raw or cooked depending on which your dog prefers. If you are feeding carrots raw, you might want to give a smaller dog either sliced or baby carrots, so they can easily chew the carrots without choking on them. Bigger dogs will usually break the carrots into small pieces and have an easier time digesting them.  But, always exercise caution!

Steaming carrots for smaller dogs might be the best way to share them as they tend to digest more readily while maintaining their nutrients.

Other Fruits & Vegetables Your Dog Might Enjoy

If your dog doesn’t like carrots or you want to sample some other fruits and vegetables, below are some safe choices:

• Apples
• Bananas
• Broccoli
• Lettuce
• Mangos
• Oranges
• Pineapple
• Strawberries

For more ideas on what food is safe or not safe to feed your pup, our ultimate guide to safe food for dogs can share some pointers.

Final Thoughts on Feeding Carrots to Your Dog

Carrots are a healthy, high fibrous treat that you can share with your dogs in small doses. Just as in humans, carrots can help with your dog’s vision, add some fiber to their diet and fortify your pups with vitamins and nutrients.

If you decide to share carrots with your dog, make sure to slice them up in small pieces, cooked or raw, and see how your dog reacts. If your dog does eat too many carrots, he can have diarrhea or severe gastric upset.

While a dog shouldn’t have a severe reaction to eating carrots, if he eats them whole and starts to choke or you’re not sure if he ate the stem or not, make sure to get your dog to the vet. And this is a perfect example of when pet insurance can help you with the vet medical bills.

A comprehensive medical plan will help you cover this vet visit and any treatment your pup might need.

The best pet insurance companies, like Embrace, Healthy Paws and Petplan, can help pay a substantial portion of all of your medical health bills for your dog.

The best pet insurance policy is a policy that will help you to get the best care possible without your worrying about how expensive the bill is!

Other articles you may find helpful: 

 

Is Exotic Pet Insurance Necessary? 

The Best Pet Insurance By State 

What Is Pet Insurance?

Fun Facts, Dog FAQ, And Unsolicited Dog Advice

5 Training Commands to Save Your Dog’s Life

The Ultimate Guide to Safe Foods for Dogs

Dog Health Problems

Dog Breeds

CAT FAQ

Cat Health Problems

Cat Breeds

 

Finding safe alternative foods for your dogs to eat can be tricky. We have a long list of articles about every food you could possibly consider feeding your dog. One thing we recommend is that you consider looking into pet insurance for your pet and you can start by checking out the best rates for dog and puppy insurance. 

 

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