Are you having a hard time thinking about which treats to give your beloved pooch? Or, are you not very convinced that the snack you feed your dogs is the best for them?
Any responsible dog owner would only think about what’s best for their canine companions. Giving the right and nutritious food is crucial to providing the best and most happy life they can have.
Ads are flooding the dog market. These ads try to convince dog owners that their commercial dog treats are the best and the healthiest options. With so many options, pet owners need to carefully choose which among the many dog products are nutritious, healthy, and light in their pockets.
Many brands promise to include a variety of ingredients, including human food that are safe for dogs. These are very appealing to pet parents searching for the best dog food or treat. The list can be long, but the challenging part is choosing the right one.
An affordable and healthy snack option
Many canine owners have opted to incorporate not just fruits but also vegetables in their pet’s diet, and carrots are the best choice for that. Yes, you read that right: carrots!
Carrots are known to have the lowest calorie content among the veggies out there that are safe for both puppies and mature dogs. Not only are carrots tasty and healthy snacks, but they are affordable too.Are carrots good for dogs?
The alternative questions would be: “Are they safe for dogs?” or “Can I safely feed carrots to my dogs?” Vets have approved the incorporation of this vegetable among the list of foods that dogs can eat.
Both good for you and your four-legged friends, carrots can be served as a nutritious snack. When training your dog, feed them carrots instead of commercial dog treats. Having a very low-calorie count and zero fat, they are an ideal choice for obedience training. Breeders and training instructors have long recognized this veggie, and they suggest giving carrots as a treat to overweight dogs and even older dogs.
What are its nutritional benefits?
Carrots are rich in vitamins and minerals vital for your dog’s health. While humans would live by the saying that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, your dog may live by the line that a carrot a day keeps the vet away.
So why carrots? Let us begin with some of the many health benefits that make carrots a perfect treat for dogs:
1. An excellent source of beta-carotene
Parents would often tell their kids that carrots help to improve one’s vision. You surely can relate to that when your parents would remind you as a kid about consuming carrots.
But what exactly is beta-carotene? It is an antioxidant and a compound responsible for giving vegetables that reddish, yellowish, or orangey glow. Once in the body, it is converted into retinol (Vitamin A).
Vitamin A (a fat soluble vitamin) is a vital nutrient for good eyesight. Aside from that, it is also responsible for maintaining some of our organs to be healthy. These organs include the kidneys, lungs, and heart. It is also a significant aid for cell growth and keeps the skin healthy.
The very same logic applies to your beloved pets. Vitamin A works the same way as it does in the human body. It helps in improving your pet’s vision and is vital for improved eye health. In dogs, cataracts and other eye conditions can be common health issues. The lack of Vitamin A can make them vulnerable to eye infections or worse vision loss.
2. Has a very low-calorie count and zero fat
Carrots are among the vegetables that contain the lowest calorie count. A baby carrot contains only around four calories. How amazing is that? As with fats, it is zero.
Ideal for pups trying to work on their weight, carrots can serve as a crunchy and sweet snack option. Feeding this veggie to diabetic dogs is also advisable. Vets even recommend this healthy treat to those having a tummy pooch.
3. Relieves teething discomfort
If you have teething puppies, then this is very relevant. Some vets recommend giving pups carrots instead of chewing toys, specifically frozen or cold carrots.
4. Improves overall dental health
Chomping cold or frozen carrots can work wonders on your dog’s dental health. If given frozen and raw to serve as an edible chew toy, it can help maintain strong teeth and gums.
While chewing, the vegetable fibers act as a polishing agent by scraping the surfaces of the teeth. The gums get massaged to that effect. The scraping and massaging help prevent the building up of plaque in your dog’s teeth.
5. Regulates bowel movement
Because carrots have high fiber content, they can help to regulate bowel movement. Every breeder or dog owner knows that dogs that suffer from having loose stools need more fiber in their diet. Thus, the soluble fiber contained in carrots can add bulk to their feces.
While this helps promote a healthy digestive tract, you should remember to consult a vet before adding fiber to your dog’s diet. If you give your dog too many carrots, it can also cause your dog to have an upset stomach.
Some dogs are not used to added fiber in their diet. So it is better to be careful rather than cause your dogs any harm.
Fiber may be hard to digest, and too much consumption may cause blockage. These are also gas-forming. Thus, providing your dogs with ample fresh drinking water is necessary.
6. A good source of Vitamin B6 and Vitamin K
Aside from beta-carotene and Vitamin A, carrots contain other vitamins – B6 and K. Vitamin B6 aids in normal brain development and metabolism. Having a healthy nervous system means that the body can function well. Vitamin B6 also helps turn food into energy.
Vitamin K, on the other hand, helps to build proteins. These proteins, in turn, are responsible for blood clotting. It is also vital for bone metabolism.
Can you give your dog raw carrots?
Whether raw, steamed, or cooked, carrots are safe for dogs. Some dogs eat raw carrots. But whatever way you would serve it to your four-legged friends, they will surely love it.
But if it is your first time incorporating carrots in their dogs’ diets yet, visit your vets first. You must check with your veterinarian as to the recommended portion or serving size. Depending on how big or small your dog is, you can either give them a bite or bigger sizes. You can also opt for carrot sticks or cut them into rounds.
Not all dogs may enjoy eating raw carrots. There will always be picky eaters also. If this happens to be your pet, try serving cooked carrots instead. If you think cooking can affect its nutritional value, the answer is no.
Cook carrots by either placing them in a microwave or steaming it. That way, it will preserve its vitamins and minerals.
One caveat for owners before serving raw or fresh carrots is chemicals. You must clean the vegetable well and peel its skin. Pesticides and dirt that may have stuck to the skin can harm your dog.
Treats, snacks, or a full meal
You can offer carrots as a treat or reward for your dogs during training. You can also give it for snacks or incorporate it into your dog’s meals. Serve it in the way they want it – raw or cooked.
You can also add carrot juice to your dog’s regular treats or foods. Pureed carrots can give your dog complete satisfaction with their sweet cravings in a healthy way. Serving cooked carrots does not only mean steaming. You may also turn them into homemade dog treats by baking them.
What about a carrot cake? Can dogs eat carrot cake? As long as there are no added ingredients to it, let your dog eat in minimal amounts.
Serving suggestion
Whether it is baby carrots or regular-sized carrots, they are safe for your dogs. But you should remember that when giving them these treats to munch on, you should watch them as this hard vegetable can be a potential choking hazard.
While you can serve them sticks or give a whole baby carrot, it is still better to cut them in rounds. Giving an entire carrot to your Pomeranian or Shih Tzu, for example, is putting them at risk of choking. You can also grate, shred, or even mash those carrots. Monitoring your beloved pet as it chews is the best way to keep them from harm.
Are carrot juices better for dogs also?
Humans love to have a sweet and refreshing carrot juice. Most dogs love to drink some carrot juice or a tasty carrot puree, and both are perfectly safe for them.
Take note that you should give your dog only fresh juices as they do not store well even if refrigerated. The maximum holding or storage period for most vegetable juices is only 48 hours.
Are carrots also bad for dogs?
Carrots may be packed with vitamins and minerals that both humans and canine companions need, but everything in excess may not be good. You can’t feed carrots to your dog the whole day. A puppy cannot hold a carrot and munch on it the entire time.
Because this fibrous vegetable contains cellulose that surrounds its cells, dogs may find it difficult to metabolize it. If you feed your dog raw carrots, observe their stool the next day. You will notice chunks of carrots in his poo.
Juicing or making a puree instead can aid dogs in better digestion. Serving it cooked can also help them get the maximum nutrients as the process of cooking breaks down the cellular walls and allows better absorption of nutrients and vitamins that your pets need.
Cooking also enhances the vegetable’s flavor without draining away its nutrients. Be sure not to add any spice or flavoring to it that may upset your dog’s stomach.
Above all, as a constant reminder, always consult a vet before adding anything to your dog’s recommended diet. While you mean to give the best for your dog, it is better to be sure than sorry later on. In doing so, you can protect your beloved pets from acquiring health problems or gaining excessive weight.
What other vegetables are safe for dogs?
Aside from carrots, many vegetables are considered safe for dogs and may be given as a treat, snack, or added to their regular kibble. These include pumpkin, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, kale, celery, and green peas.
Although these human foods are safe for dogs, like carrots, they should be given only after consultation with the vet. Depending on your dog’s state of health, there can be vegetables that may not be recommended for their consumption.
Most importantly, be mindful that not all healthy human foods are great for canine consumption. Some of them contain toxins that may be dangerous for your dogs.
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*photo by inside-studio-depositphotos
