Are Carrots Good for Dogs? The correct feeding of the dog is the first of the five freedoms of animal welfare, and it is our duty to avoid going hungry or living malnourished. Therefore, when we adopt a dog, or we have been living with one for some time.
It is of being a responsible owner to learn about the vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to stay healthy, strong and happy at this point.There are many who come to consult if they can consume certain fruits, vegetables or other foods intended for human consumption.
One of the most frequent questions when dealing with homemade diets is whether or not the dog can eat carrots. If so, how is the best way to give it? Well, in this article by Dogsfud.com, we will answer this question and we will detail the benefits of the carrot for dogs, find out everything!
Are Carrots Good for Dogs?
As you may have guessed, Are Carrots Good for Dogs? yes! , so you can offer it to your furry companion without any problem. This is due to the type of starch that composes it, with a high percentage of amylopectin, considered as a substance of easy digestion for the dog, contrary to what happens with other foods such as certain cereals, which present an index of indigestion higher.
Thus, the carrot is part of the list of fruits and vegetables recommended for dogs, not only for its easy and rapid assimilation. But also for the many benefits, they bring to your body. To understand them better, next we review the composition of this product.
Nutritional composition of 100 g of carrot
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of raw carrot contains the following composition:
- Energy: 41 Kcal
- Water: 88.29 g
- Protein : 0.93 g
- Grasa: 0.24 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.58 g
- Fibra total: 2.8 g
- Total sugars: 4.74 g
- Calcium : 33 mg
- Iron : 0.30 mg
- Magnesio: 12 mg
- Phosphorus: 35 mg
- Potasio: 320 mg
- Sodium : 69 mg
- Zinc: 0.24 mg
- Vitamina C: 5.9 mg
- Vitamin B total: 20.2 mg
- Vitamin A: 835
- Vitamina E: 0.66 mg
- Vitamin K: 13.2 mg
- Entire saturated fatty acids: 0.037 g
- Total monounsaturated fatty acids: 0.014
- Inclusive polyunsaturated fatty acids: 0.117
Properties and benefits of carrot for dogs:
The composition of the carrot detailed in the previous section translates into endless benefits and properties for dogs, among which the following stand out:
Natural source of carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide the dog with a large amount of energy and, therefore, are essential in their diet. A diet low in carbohydrates is reflected in the health of the animal, developing pathologies and disorders that can become serious.
This is so due to the functions of carbohydrates, which consist of supplying energy to many of the tissues of the body as well as to the heart and, in general, to the central nervous system. In this way, they favor cardiovascular health and, in addition, prevent the appearance of cancer.
As the carrot is an excellent source of carbohydrates, it is highly recommended to include it in the dog’s diet to cover this nutritional need, provide energy and benefit cardiac function.
Improves the dog’s eye health
It is no secret to anyone that the high carrot beta-carotene contribution benefits ocular health, however, did you know that it also produces this effect in your dog? By digesting them, the body transforms them into vitamin A and takes advantage of them to strengthen the immune system, combat cellular oxidation and improve the animal’s vision. And although there are several foods rich in this pigment, the carrot is one of the best.
Recommended to Treat Diarrhea
Thanks to the composition of the carrot, this food helps patients with diarrhea to restore their intestinal flora and re-produce solid stools. It is recommended to offer the dog diarrhea boiled carrot alone, or mixed with other ingredients with antidiarrheal properties such as cooked rice or pumpkin.
See our article on ” How to prepare rice for your dog step by step ” and put this homemade remedy into practice if you notice too liquid stools. Of course, always under the supervision of the veterinarian and trying to find the cause that causes diarrhea.
Prevents the appearance of tartar
In its raw form, the carrot forces the dog to gnaw it to consume it. A fact that translates into a natural cleaning of its teeth, allowing to delay the appearance of tartar and favoring its dental health. In this way, by providing a piece of raw carrot from time to time.
We not only manage to provide extra energy and promote their health in general, but we also prevent the development of serious oral diseases such as periodontitis.
Perfect for dogs with obesity
By containing a percentage of fat and calories so low, the carrot is an ideal food to include in the diet of an overweight dog, since in addition to regulating intestinal transit, you will be able to satisfy your appetite in a 100% natural way.
Check our article on ” Recipes for overweight dogs ” and discover how to cook the carrot to make it slim.
How to give a dog a carrot?
Are Carrots Good for Dogs? Due to the absence of the enzyme salivary amylase in the dog, it presents greater difficulties when it comes to making better use of the energy provided by carbohydrates. However, thanks to its carnivorous nature, it takes advantage of the energy of proteins of animal origin without difficulty.
In order to make the most of the carbohydrates offered by the carrot, as well as the rest of the properties and benefits, it is obvious to ask ourselves the following question:
Raw or cooked carrots for dogs?
When boiling water such as plants and cereals in boiling water. What we get is to make much better use of the starch that makes up these foods. Thus preventing the raw starch from being digested and fermenting in the colon, producing flatulence and health problems…
Thus, although the raw carrot is easily digested and assimilated for the dog, by providing it cooked we can assure this fact. In this way, we can say that the raw carrot is good for dogs, but the cooked carrot is better. Remember that you should always remove the stem and skin before cooking or give it to the dog.
This same process is further enhanced in other foods such as potatoes and corn. Which have a high degree of indigestion in the dog in its raw form, and remarkable benefits when cooked.
Can it be mixed with other foods?
Yes. So much so that it is common to find it in homemade dog diets such as the popular BARF diet. Which the animal is offered raw meat mixed with vegetables such as carrots, zucchini or squash. However, as we said, it can be cooked and, in turn, combined with semi-cooked or cooked meats and fish, boiled rice or other vegetables.
In such cases, you must respect the amount of each recommended food based on the weight of the dog. The average being around 120 grams of meat, 30 grams of cereals and 20 grams of vegetables for every 10 kilos of the weight of the dog.
It should be noted that the grams of cereals and vegetables can be adapted and exchanged to offer a varied and complete diet.
It is not recommended to mix natural foods with commercial feed because both foods present completely different digestive processes. Therefore, could produce inadequate fermentation. In this way, we conclude, you can mix the carrot with other natural foods but not with feed or industrial dog foods.
How often do you give a dog a carrot?
Although the carrot is full of benefits for the body of the dog. It is also true that not all dogs tolerate all foods in the same way. In this way, we recommend testing with a small amount and observe how the animal reacts. If your body emits a positive response. We can increase the amount to the maximum daily grams recommended above (around 20).
Likewise, to ensure a varied and complete diet. We recommend trying to combine the different vegetables and fruits during the week. So that the carrot is offered from time to time, and not every day unless the veterinarian so stipulates.
Can it be used as a prize?
Of course! The carrot represents a perfect snack to educate and train your dog. Of course, if you intend to use it every day remember to do it in small quantities and combine it with other natural snacks.
For this, we recommend you watch the following video in which we show a simple way to make homemade snacks for dogs: ” Natural snacks for dogs step by step “.
Can puppies eat carrots?
Yes. In fact, due to the amount of calcium and carbohydrates that make up this product. The carrot is a perfectly natural food for puppies. Of course, when dealing with animals in full development and whose teeth are still in the process of formation. We recommend offering the carrot cooked and chopped, facilitating as much as possible both chewing and subsequent digestion.
On the other hand, the pieces of carrot can also be an excellent prize when starting the puppy’s education. Since they will manage to keep it stimulated while we offer a product loaded with benefits for your body. As you reach adulthood, we can start offering pieces of raw carrot, following the parameters of the previous section.