Carrots are healthy human food and safe for dogs. Of course, in moderation, dogs can have raw or cooked (steamed or mashed) carrots. Carrots are nutritious low-calorie dog treats.

Whether your dog is small, large, obese, at risk for obesity, or even diabetic, carrots can be a great addition to their diet. Many benefits come from giving your dog carrots.

All of the hidden benefits and answers to the question of are carrots good for dogs will be answered below, so keep on reading to learn how to get your dogs the most benefit from this little orange vegetable.

Are Carrots a Safe Dog Treat?

Yes, dogs can enjoy carrots as a nutritious and safe substitute for other dog treats. Carrots are low-calorie, which means they are a wonderful substitute for treats for dog breeds that have a higher increased risk for obesity, like the Golden Retriever breed. In fact, data collected by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 63% of Golden Retrievers suffer from obesity, which can cause many health problems for your beautiful golden, like heart problems, joint damage, and even cancer. So, carrots and other healthy veggie options are much better alternatives to store-bought treats that may include excess sodium, preservatives, and have no nutritional value. Also, many dog foods already include carrots in their ingredients because it offers low-calorie vitamin inclusion.

How Many Carrots Can I Give My Dog?

While carrots can be a healthy treat alternative for your dog, it is important to remember that there is such a saying as too much of a good thing, and in the case of carrots for an adult dog, one is the limit.

You should not feed your dog more than one carrot a day ( medium to large-sized carrot is about 7 and 9 inches = 3 to 4 baby-cut carrots), and it should be chopped up to avoid choking hazards. A puppy should only be given about half a carrot a day and no more.

Carrot Dog Choking Hazard Reminder

Carrots can pose a choking risk, especially for dogs that gulp their food at mealtimes. For safety and to eliminate a choking hazard, it is best not to give your dog a whole carrot. Cut the whole carrot into small bite-size pieces.

Which is Better: Raw or Cooked Carrots For Dogs?

In general, there seems to be no preference one way or another about cooking the carrots for your dog other than their preferred method of consumption. Some sources state that lightly steaming the carrots is the best way to prepare them for your dog as this retains the most nutritional value, while also allowing the cellulose present in the carrots to pass through easier.

Fiber Found in Vegetables

Cellulose is present in many veggies and cannot be digested in dogs or humans, so while it may make it run through their digestion easier, there is no amount of cooking that will allow them to digest it, but that is okay. The inability to digest cellulose does not harm your dog, just as it doesn’t harm us. In short, dogs can eat raw, cooked, pureed, or even juiced or grated carrots, which are all acceptable and nutrient-rich forms your dog will enjoy.

Benefits of Carrots for Dogs

Carrots provide many benefits for your dog, all at low-calorie levels, which can be enjoyed even for dogs on a strict diabetic or obesity prevention diet. Carrots include many vitamins and minerals that are essential to keep your dog in tip-top health. It is first and foremost a great source of beta carotene and vitamin A.

These both help to promote good vision, and immune health, fight off infections, and can even give your dog a shiny coat and may help with issues such as dry skin. Carrots can also provide a great source of fiber, which promotes digestive health and healthy stool production.

How to Give Your Dog Carrots

The best way to give your dog carrots is as a replacement for treats on their own. These can be prepared in any fashion raw, cooked, or even pureed. Another great way to give your dog carrots is by including them in small amounts in their food, such as grating them over the top of their usual meals. The most important thing to remember is to chop up the carrots so that your dog will not choke when trying to eat them. Be careful giving your dog (especially puppy) baby carrots as these can also be a choking hazard.

FAQs Carrots and Dogs

H3: Can carrots give dogs diarrhea?
Carrots are a great source of fiber which can promote healthy and firm stools when fed to dogs in moderation. However, if dogs are given an excess of carrots and even other fiber in their diets, it can have the opposite effect and cause them to have loose stools. The overabundance of the presence of carrots which have natural sugars and fiber, in a dog’s diet can also cause other digestive issues such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.

Do carrots help dog’s teeth?

Carrots are not only a healthy option for your dogs to enjoy with their food or as treats. They can also help with their dental hygiene. Dogs don’t have a toothbrush, and many owners have never even heard of cleaning their dogs’ teeth because chewing on things can help knock off the plaque that builds up in their mouths. You may have seen commercials for several dog treats and bones that boast that they will clean your dogs’ teeth, and while it is not the same as brushing your dogs’ teeth, this is true!

Carrots can be another great replacement for hard bones or expensive treats, and they achieve the same goal of allowing your dog to chew on something hard to knock debris and plaque off of their teeth. A good tip is to freeze pieces of the carrot and allow your dogs to chew on them, it makes them last longer, and if you have a teething puppy, the frozen carrot can help them with those uncomfortable growing teeth.

Can puppies eat carrots?

Yes, puppies can eat carrots. Just like adult dogs, they make great snacks. Frozen carrots can be great for teething and puppy dental health. Though puppies can safely enjoy carrots, they should be given to them in even more moderation than adult dogs due to their smaller body size.

Can dogs eat carrots every day?

Carrots are good for your dog but even still, the number of carrots you include in your dog’s diet should be in moderation and should depend on the size of their meals and the size of your dog in general. Things like carrots or other additional food items should not end up being more than 5 to 10 percent of your dog’s total diet. This means that while carrots are a good source of vitamins and nutrients, they should remain a side dish served in moderation and portion out according to your dogs’ usual main dietary sources.

Does your dog like to eat carrots?

Throughout much of our human history, we have known that the connection between humans and animals is one of great significance, but you might not realize how that can affect us in the modern age. In this article, I will be sharing all of the benefits of having a dog, and how it can even improve your health!

As humans, we can suffer from many mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, loneliness, and other ailments. Having a dog can unquestionably help with these issues.

How Can Dogs Make You Happy and Improve Your Life?

There is no surprise that having a dog makes you happy, and gives you a friend. There’s a reason dogs are called man’s best friend, it’s because they offer endless companionship and can help to curb loneliness.

Dogs also require a lot of exercise and attention, which can benefit your health. For instance, if you are feeling depressed, a dog keeps you functioning. Also, it may keep you from just sitting on the couch for days on end, binge-watching shows. Dogs can also help provide a sense of purpose during times in which some may feel directionless, and petting them can even reduce anxiety. A dog needs you to care off, and provide lots of love and attention, but you may not realize just how much you need them as well.

Dogs & Mental Healthy: The Research Doesn’t Lie

You may be thinking, yes, I love my dog, but do they really benefit my health, or is it just a sort of placebo effect? Well, increasing amounts of research are emerging on the topic of animal interactions and human mental health, and they all agree that these companionship bonds have benefits for both parties.

KORU BEAR is a PetPartners Therapy Dog.
On the weekends, he visits seniors in assisted living and memory care.

According to the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute, studies they have conducted have shown therapy dogs can reduce stress and anxiety, service dogs can help relieve some symptoms of PTSD, and even help their owners manage their emotions. Further research from Psychology Today shows that having a dog can even improve cardiovascular health, lower blood pressure, and lower one’s cholesterol due to increased exercise.

The Mental Wellness Benefits of Dogs

Dogs can benefit our mental wellness in many different ways, mainly by helping to deal with mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD. It may seem outlandish to believe something as simple as your relationship with your dog could end up helping to relieve you of some of these mental health issues, but it is actually true.

Dogs offer a wide range of benefits to our daily lives that we sometimes may not recognize, such as added stability, increased exercise, and their unconditional love. Dogs can even help to assist those with diabetes, Autism, emotional trauma, or various disabilities. Dogs can be trained to assist with a variety of health issues, but even us everyday owners can see the positive effects of having a furry companion by our side.

How Do Dogs Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Petting Calms Your Nerves

Petting your dog may feel like second nature to you now, but you may not even realize the benefits these actions give you. Petting your dog strengthens the bond and trust between you, too, and allows you to show them affection. The benefit for you is actually to help reduce anxiety!

The repetitive, soothing motions of petting your furry friend can reduce your anxiety and lower stress levels. This may seem to be too simple of a task for some to realize the benefits, but it is very much like the repetitive motions, fidgets, or anxious leg shaking that most of us are all too familiar with. Instead of these behaviors, which may cause us even more anxiety or tip-off guests around us that we are stressed, petting your dog can redirect this behavior into something productive and beneficial for both parties.

The act of petting your dog can also provide sensory relief to those dealing with stress, which in turn can lower blood pressure. The sensory aspect can also benefit children and adults dealing with autism spectrum disorders, who may have trouble with sensory overload.

A Dog Can Help with Loneliness

While a dog can help with your stress and anxiety, can they really help with the loneliness we all experience from time to time? The answer is absolutely! Many studies have been done by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute, to study the relationship and positive outcomes from animal-human interactions.

In the case of older individuals, who may be unable to take care of themselves, or who live on their own, having a dog can give them a sense of purpose and unconditional love that they may feel they lack due to living alone. It has also been shown that dogs visiting hospitals and hospices increase the moods of those they interact with and give everyone involved a sense of enjoyment.

Dogs can also assist those with autism or other neurological disorders which may affect their social skills by helping to build their confidence. If someone is feeling isolated due to a disorder such as this, then the companionship offered by their dog allows them to be themselves, unapologetically, while they are around. In many cases, having a dog lets you meet many people as well.

You can take your dog to a dog park, or on hiking trails, any outdoor activity, and you are likely to encounter someone who stops to speak to you and your pup. This can help to overcome social anxieties by giving you a topic of conversation and a natural opportunity to meet people.

Having A Dog Helps You Exercise

If you own a dog, especially a sporty breed such as a Golden Retriever or Labrador, then you likely know the amount of exercise and outdoor time they need to let out all of that energy. This translates into more exercise for you too. It may be hard for us to force ourselves to go out and use a gym membership, but we don’t think twice when we have to go outside and play with our dogs.

This is great for those with depression, cardiovascular issues, high cholesterol, and those of us who just want a healthier lifestyle. By exercising with your dog, you create a routine for the both of you that you become accustomed to, and this routine can give your life much-needed structure and a sense of purpose. These benefits are especially helpful for those dealing with depression, as they can help to build a routine that shakes you out of those days when you can’t get out of bed or even feed yourself.

The exercise can also release endorphins that help to reduce stress, anxiety and promote senses of relaxation. Your dog may just want to go out to play fetch in the backyard, but for you, it can truly help to turn around some of those bad mental health days by focusing on having a great time with your best furry friend.

Petting a dog every day can make you happier and more relaxed

All in all, whether you are petting your dog every day to relieve your stress, taking them on walks to get yourself out there in a new social scene, or just exercising with them in the backyard, there are countless advantages for your mental health that are brought out by your relationship with your dog.

Your dog is the most loyal and unconditionally lovable friend you have. Having a dog can assist you in ways you might never have known, such as loving and guiding you through your worst mental health days with no judgment.

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx on behalf of Nutri-Vet and Vet’s Best.

Dogs are family and in reality, they are only with us for a short time. That’s why it’s so important that we do our very best to take the necessary steps to extend their lives. Taking a proactive dog parenting approach can help your dogs be healthy and live longer. One approach is to establish an at-home dog preventive care and use dog products like Nutri-Vet and Vet’s Best that can help promote your dog’s health and well-being.

Essential Dog Grooming with Vet’s Best

Brush Your Dog’s Teeth with Vet’s Best Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs
It is important to practice good grooming habits with your dog. Is brushing your dog’s teeth part of your daily grooming routine? It is ideal to brush your dog’s teeth daily as periodontal disease is very common in dogs.
It is crucial to use a dog toothpaste that contains dog-safe, plaque-fighting ingredients like vet-formulated Vet’s Best Enzymatic Toothpaste for Dogs.

This Vet’s Best enzymatic gel dog toothpaste is a veterinarian formulated with soothing aloe, neem oil, grapefruit seed extract, baking soda, and enzymes to safely fight plaque, remove tartar and freshen your dog’s breath. A triple-headed dog toothbrush is included in this dog dental care kit. I love the unique triple-headed dog toothbrush design that allows you to easily brush your dog’s front, back, and in between teeth plus best to use for big dog breeds like KB and KENZO.

Clean Your Dog’s Ears with Vet’s Best Ear Relief Finger Wipes

Why Use A Dog Ear Cleaner?

Golden Retrievers are known to have ear problems and infections. Due to environmental allergies too, KB had several ear infections, and KENZO is starting to show signs. One reason, I regularly do an ear dog care check with my dogs to avoid these infections and a vet visit. In a previous post, I shared that I use Vet’s Best Dog Ear Relief Wash. Also, I use pre-moistened Vet’s Best Ear Relief Finger Wipes, in conjunction with the dog ear wash. These dog ear relief wipes safely remove dirt plus dissolve any waxy build-up and deodorize your dog’s ears. Also, this specially designed fingers wipes dog ear cleaner are free from parabens and made with all-natural ingredients like witch hazel, aloe vera, and tea tree oil. Establishing an at-home routine ear cleaning for KB & KENZO is so helpful and able to avoid any major ear infections and vet visits. Learn more about Vet’s Best products at vetsbest.com

Essential Dog Supplements from Nutri-Vet

Why Give Your Dogs Probiotics?

Giving your dogs probiotics are one of the best ways you can help keep your dog’s digestive system healthy.
When we adopted KB at six months old, he had several digestive issues, and adding prebiotics and probiotics into his diet was very helpful. Probiotics for dogs come in several forms. Nutri-Vet offers a Pre and Probiotic Soft Chews for dogs. These dog probiotics soft chews have an irresistible cheese and liver flavor. Both KB & KENZO love it! Most importantly, these beneficial probiotic soft chews are a blend of prebiotics and probiotics for dogs that can help your dog’s digestion, stool quality, and immune system.

Give Your Dog Glucosamine Supplement

It is best to be proactive in taking care of your dog’s joint health for them to live happier and longer. It is good to start with dog supplements like Nutri-Vet Hip & Joint Biscuits with glucosamine, the best ingredient for joint supplements for dogs. This veterinarian formulated soft chews biscuits contain 500mg of glucosamine which helps maintain normal, healthy cartilage.

Being Proactive Pet Parent Can Help Your Dog Live Longer

Both KB and Kenzo are very active dogs. They love long walks, running and swimming. Giving them hip and joint supplements with glucosamine helps ease any discomfort of sore, stiff muscles and joints due to their daily exercise activity. Learn more about Nutri-Vet products at nutri-vet.com.

This Holiday Prioritize Your Dog’s Health with Nutri-Vet and Vet’s Best

Be a proactive dog parent and make your dog’s health one of your biggest priorities.