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As a pet parent, you care about the ingredients in your dog's food, and because of this, you're always looking for a healthy treat to share with your furry friend from time to time. Better yet, you want something with vitamins and minerals, and it would be great if it's something you regularly had at home. That's when you start to wonder if carrots are actually good for dogs. You know it's been listed as an ingredient in some of the food you've purchased for your dog, but can dogs eat carrots that are fresh from the fridge or garden? Let's find out whether or not your dog can eat carrots.
Can Dogs Eat Carrots?
Yes! Carrots are a healthy choice if you're looking for a snack for a hungry dog. These root vegetables come in many colors, such as white, purple, yellow, red, and the most common, orange. They're easy to find in grocery stores and can be grown even in cooler weather.
But are carrots good for dogs? You bet! According to Heathline, "Carrots are a particularly good source of beta carotene, fiber, vitamin K1, potassium, and antioxidants." Carrots also contain vitamin A, biotin and vitamin B6, and they're low in calories.
How to Feed Carrots to Your Dog
When it comes to feeding carrots to your dog, any color or size of carrot are fine to purchase for your pet. Just make sure you wash the vegetables first to remove any dirt or potential pesticides.
Then, and most importantly, you'll want to chop up the carrots before handing them over to your dog. According to the American Kennel Club, "While carrots are generally safe, it is important to cut whole carrots and even carrot sticks into bite-size chunks before feeding them to your dog. As a result, you will prevent choking, especially in small dogs." You can cut carrots into rounds, small sticks or pieces the size of your dog's hard food. Determine what size is best for your pet based on their size!
You can feed your dog raw or cooked carrots. The benefit of raw carrots is that all the chewing can help support your dog's dental health. If your dog doesn't enjoy raw carrots, offer them cooked carrots — they might prefer the softer texture. Just make sure to avoid cooking the carrots with butter or seasonings and spices as these could potentially make your dog sick. You may even consider putting some carrots in your dog's food if you're looking to boost their vitamin, mineral and fiber intake.
While there are many perks to feeding your dog carrots as a healthy treat, it's always important to talk to your pet's veterinarian before introducing any new food to their meal plan. They'll be able to tell you exactly how often your dog should be snacking on this root vegetable and how many carrots your dog should eat in one sitting.
Now, you don't have to wonder, "Can dogs eat carrots?" or "Are carrots good for dogs?" any longer. You can spoil your furry friends with this nutritious treat if they like it. You can even snack together!
Contributor Bio
Erin Ollila
Erin Ollila is a pet enthusiast who believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Instagram @ErinOllila or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.
