Why are Carrots Good for Dogs? The Surprising Health Benefits of Carrots

Want to give a yummy treat to my dog? Can I feed fruit and vegetables to my dog?

Of course, why not? You can feed your pet with healthy and tasty carrots for a delicious and healthy treat. Yes, your dog can eat carrots. It’s not only safe but also serves as a healthy and low-calorie snack for your pet.

As a pet parent, you must think, is it safe to feed a carrot? The prompt answer is yes, dogs can eat carrots and it is healthy for them. Typically a safe and healthy treat gives a wide range of benefits for your pup. Let’s dive deeper into the topic: Why are carrots good for dogs? 

Why are Carrots Good for Dogs? : Reasons & Benefits

Many of us know about the health benefits of carrots for humans but don’t consider them for our pets. It provides a satisfying crunch of vitamins and fiber, carrots are healthy and tasty snacks for dogs. 

Every part of the carrot from its leafy tops to carrot bottom is safe for dogs to eat. They are natural and tasty treats for most dogs and add flavor too. Carrots contain essential vitamins and minerals such as:

1) Vitamin A

Carrots are rich in vitamin A. good for eye health, boost immunity, and make pets’ skin and coats healthier, be careful vitamins are essential for dogs to build up their body but don’t load their diet with excess vitamins. If you have any query regarding quantity consult the vet. 

2) Beta-Carotene

The beginning form of vitamin A, a pigment that gives carrots their yellow-orange color, is beta-carotene. It is necessary to maintain good vision, especially at night. Beta-carotene works as an antioxidant, helping to control disease and infection, ensuring normal bone development, maintaining good reproductive health, and preventing cancer.

3) Dietary fiber

Carrots are rich in soluble fiber – one cup of raw carrots contains 3.58 g of dietary fiber. That enhances uniform and healthy digestion. Fiber makes stool soft and increases its weight and size, and easier stools to pass through, the lower the incidence of constipation. 

One 1/2 cup of whole baby carrots contains 2.1 grams of fiber, and 3 ounces contain 2.5 grams of fiber. If you’re just now introducing carrots to your dog’s diet you should make sure that the dog has lots of water to drink and start with small additions so the fiber simply passes through their system.

4) Low-fat, low-calorie treat

Carrots are a great treat for diabetic dogs, as well as those working on their figure. With only 53 calories per cup, these crunchy veggies are an amazing treat option between feedings. 

5) Good for the teeth

Keeping your pup’s teeth clean is another tricky task for all pet parents. When it comes to dog dental health, it is recommended to start when they are young. However, if you adopted an older pooch or you didn’t start brushing on time, you are going to probably find build-up up of plaque that requires professional cleaning of the dog’s teeth.

5 Best Ways to  Safely Feed Carrots to Your Dog

• Provide carrot in juice form

Carrot juice is the most delicious and healthy treat for humans. But about your pup? Most dogs enjoy this sweet state of carrot juice, yes it is a healthy option to share with your pet dog. This juice is very high in Vitamin A, but carrot will lose its high fiber content through the juicing process. You can add pulp back into their juice before providing it to your pet dog. 

• Complete and Balanced Meals with Carrot

You can mix carrots with a different food for your dog, you can add dandelion greens, greens-lipped mussels, brewer’s yeast, and Salmon oil. These ingredients give you a complete die for to your dog. 

• Shred or grate carrots for your dog!

Make sure you wash that carrot in the kitchen before feeding it to your pet. Putting grated carrots on top of the already prepared food of the dogs is quite easy for those furry parents.

• You can freeze carrots for your dog!

For teething puppies, whole frozen carrots can help ease discomfort.  Freeze baby carrots and never feed them; they are a choking hazard. In addition, whole frozen carrots will furnish your puppy with vitamins and minerals. But again, never feed more than one whole carrot a day.

Steam and mash carrots for your dog!

How to Steam and Mash Carrots for Dogs?

1. Boil 2-3 inches of water in a saucepan.
2. Grate the carrots into sticks or batons and put them in a steamer basket over boiling water.
3. Cover the saucepan.
4. Steam the carrots for 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Drain the carrots in a colander.

Pro-tip: Grate or puree carrots before freezing into cubes! This helps to break them down easier for your pups to digest.

How Many Carrots Can a Dog Eat a Day?

Although carrots are a fantastic treat, too much of anything is bad. Here, we’ve explained the amount of carrots that you can safely feed to your pup:

• Pup breeds like pugs, yorkies, shih tzus, and Pomeranians could take one or two carrot sticks about 1/4 inch in thickness.
• Breeds like beagles and basenjins can take two or three carrot sticks about 1/4 inch in thickness.
• Siberian husky, basset hounds, and border collies can have five or six 1/4-inch thick carrot sticks.
• Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, Australian Shepherds, and pit bulls can get small handful1/4-inch inch carrot sticks or bites.
• Newfoundlands, St. Bernards, and Great Pyrenees can be fed a large handful of carrot bites or slices, approximately 1/4 inch thick.

A Cheap Chew Toy For Your Pup! 

The cheapest chewing alternative for your pet instead of a plastic chew toy is a carrot. If you are searching for durable and longer-lasting then carrots are the best. They are not only safer but also good for their health. Despite its many benefits, feed your pup with carrots as they chew toy.

At Pawnpets, we come up with the best information for your pet, but It’s best to consult your vet before taking any step.

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