If your family is anything like ours, you’re probably searching for healthy alternatives to store bought dog treats. Many of the treats on the store shelves have questionable ingredients. Some fruits and vegetables can be great alternatives, this leads many people to wonder… can dogs eat carrots?
The answer is yes!
Dogs can safely consume carrots, in fact they may actually have some health benefits for your dog.
What are some benefits of feeding my dog carrots?
- Carrots can aid in keeping your dogs teeth clean
- They are a good source of beta carotene, a powerful antioxidant. This is what gives carrots their bright orange color.
- Carrots contain vitamin C, which many experts believe can support immune function.
- They also contain fiber that can help regulate your dogs bowel movements.
- Carrots are very helpful for teething puppies, and can help alleviate some of the pain associated with teething.
- Carrots are a good source of potassium. This electrolyte is important for the healthy function of nerves, muscles and heart.
How can I incorporate carrots into my dogs diet?
- Raw – Dogs can eat raw carrots. They can be shredded, sliced, or chopped into bite-sized pieces to avoid a choking hazard. You can top your dog’s regular meal with a tablespoon of carrots. You can also freeze raw carrot slices, and offer them to your puppy to help with teething pain.
- Cooked – Carrots can be steamed, boiled, or roasted. Cooked carrots are easier for your dog to digest than raw. This allows your dog to better absorb nutrients from cooked carrots, rather than raw.
- Fermented – Fermented carrots contain probiotics. (good bacteria for the gut) Fermented vegetables can also boost immune function, and play an important role in your dogs diet.
Here is a video from Dr. Becker regarding the value of fermented vegetables to a dogs health.
- Fermenting vegetables is a very easy process. If you’d like to try fermenting carrots for your dog, check out this book “Wild Fermentation“.
Recipes with carrots to avoid
Avoid feeding your dog carrots that have been candied, cooked or canned in heavy syrup, or any carrots that include added sugars or sweeteners. Carrots have a high amount of natural sugar.
Kong Stuffing Recipes with carrots
KONG STUFFING RECIPE #1
Ingredients
- 1/2 CUP KIBBLE
- 1-2 TBSP. YOGURT
- 1 TBSP. SHREDDED CARROT
Instructions
MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN A BOWL. STUFF KONG AND FREEZE
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KONG STUFFING RECIPE #2
Ingredients
- 1/2 CUP KIBBLE
- 1-2 TBSP. UNSWEETENDED APPLESAUCE
- 1 TBS SHREDDED CARROTS
Instructions
MIX ALL INGREDIENTS IN A BOWL. STUFF KONG AND FREEZE.
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As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
In my experience, most dogs really love carrots.
It’s a healthy, natural treat for dogs. As a bonus, carrots are relatively low in calories, and a frugal option.
Always remember when adding any new food to your dog’s diet, start slowly and watch for reactions.
As with all things, moderation is key. Remember treats shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your dogs diet.
We hope this answers your question, can dogs eat carrots!
Looking for some more great pet ideas, check out our other blog articles! Click Here!
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