The correct feeding of the dog is the first of the five freedoms of animal welfare, and it is our duty to prevent it from going hungry or live malnourished. Therefore, when we adopt a dog, or have been living with one for some time, it is important to be a responsible owner to find out about the vitamins and nutrients your body needs to stay he althy, strong and happy. At this point, many are those who come to see if they can consume certain fruits, vegetables or other foods intended for human consumption.
One of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to homemade diets is whether or not the dog can eat carrots and, if so, what is the best way to give it to them. Well, in this article on our site we will answer this question and detail the benefits of carrots for dogs, find out everything!
Can dogs eat carrots?
As you may have guessed, carrot is good for dogs, so you can offer it to your furry companion without any problem. This is so due to the type of starch that makes it up, with a high percentage of amylopectin, considered to be an easily digestible substance for the dog, contrary to what happens with other foods such as certain cereals, which have an index of indigestion higher. Thus, the carrot is part of the list of fruits and vegetables recommended for dogs, not only because of its easy and rapid assimilation, but also because of the multiple benefits they provide to your body. To better understand them, we review the composition of this product below.
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
- Fat: 0.24 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.58 g
- Total Fiber: 2.8 g
- Total Sugars: 4.74 g
- Calcium: 33 mg
- Iron: 0.30 mg
- Magnesium: 12 mg
- Phosphorus: 35 mg
- Potassium: 320 mg
- Sodium: 69 mg
- Zinc: 0.24 mg
- Vitamin C: 5.9 mg
- Total Vitamin B: 20.2 mg
- Vitamin A: 835
- Vitamin E: 0.66 mg
- Vitamin K: 13.2 mg
- Total saturated fatty acids: 0.037 g
- Total monounsaturated fatty acids: 0.014
- Total polyunsaturated fatty acids: 0.117
Properties and benefits of carrots 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 his diet. A diet low in carbohydrates is reflected in the he alth 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 body's tissues such as the heart and, in general, the central nervous system. In this way, they promote cardiovascular he alth and, in addition, prevent the appearance of cancer.
Because carrots are an excellent source of carbohydrates, it is highly recommended to include them in the dog's diet to cover this nutritional need, provide energy and benefit cardiac function.
Improves dog's eye he alth
It is no secret to anyone that the high supply of beta-carotene in carrots benefits eye he alth, however, did you know that it also Does this effect on your dog? By digesting them, the body transforms them into vitamin A and uses them to strengthen the immune system, combat cell 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 produce solid stools again. To do this, it is recommended to offer the dog with diarrhea boiled carrot alone, or mixed with other ingredients with antidiarrheal properties such as cooked rice or pumpkin. Check our article on "How to prepare rice for your dog step by step" and put this home remedy into practice if you notice stools that are too liquid. Of course, always under the supervision of the veterinarian and trying to find the cause of the diarrhea.
Prevents the appearance of tartar
In its raw form, the carrot forces the dog to gnaw it to consume it, which translates into a natural cleaning of its teeth, allowing to delay the appearance of tartar and favoring your dental he alth. 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 general he alth, but we also prevent the development of serious oral pathologies such as periodontitis.
Perfect for dogs with obesity
Containing such a low percentage of fat and calories, carrots are an ideal food to include in the diet of an overweight dog, since in addition to regulating intestinal transit, it will satisfy their appetite for a 100% natural way. Check out our article on "Recipes for overweight dogs" and discover how to cook carrots to lose weight.
How to give carrot to a dog?
Due to the absence of the salivary amylase enzyme in the dog, it has greater difficulties in making better use of the energy provided for carbohydrates. However, and thanks to its quality as a carnivorous animal, it easily takes advantage of the energy of proteins of animal origin. In order to make the most of the carbohydrates offered by the carrot, as well as the rest of its properties and benefits, it is obvious to ask ourselves the following question:
Raw or cooked carrot for dogs?
By cooking foods such as plants and cereals in boiling water, what we achieve is much better use of the starch that makes up these foods, thus preventing raw starch from being digested and fermented in the colon, producing flatulence and related he alth problems. Thus, although the raw carrot is easy to digest and assimilate for the dog, by providing it cooked we manage to ensure 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 the skin before cooking or feeding it to the dog.
This same process is further enhanced in other foods such as potatoes and corn, which present a high degree of indigestion in dogs in their raw form, and notable benefits when cooked.
Can it be mixed with other foods?
Yes. So much so that it is common to find it in homemade diets for dogs such as the popular BARF diet, in which the animal is offered raw meat mixed with vegetables such as carrots, zucchini or pumpkin. However, as we said, it can be served cooked and, in turn, combined with semi-cooked or cooked meat and fish, boiled rice or other vegetables. In such cases, the recommended amount of each food should be respected 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 dog's weight. 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 have completely different digestive processes and, therefore, could produce fermentations inadequate. In this way, we conclude, s e you can mix the carrot with other natural foods but not with feed or industrial foods for dogs.
How often to give carrots to a dog?
Although carrots are full of benefits for the dog's body, it is also true that not all dogs tolerate all foods in the same way. In this way, we recommend trying a small amount and observing how the animal reacts. If your body gives a positive response, we can increase the amount up to the maximum daily grams recommended above (around 20). Likewise, to guarantee a varied and complete diet, we recommend trying to combine the different vegetables and fruits during the week, in such a way that the carrot is offered from time to time, and not every day, unless otherwise stipulated by the veterinarian.
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 daily, remember to do it in small quantities and combine it with other natural snacks. To do this, we recommend you watch the following video in which we show a simple way to make homemade snacks for dogs with carrots:
Can puppies eat carrots?
Yes In fact, due to the amount of calcium and carbohydratesthat make up this product, carrots are a perfect natural food for puppies. Of course, as they are animals in full development and whose teeth are still in the process of formation, we recommend offer the carrot cooked and chopped , facilitating as much as possible both its chewing as subsequent digestion.
On the other hand, carrot pieces can also be an excellent prize when starting the puppy's education, since they will manage to keep him stimulated while offering a product loaded with benefits for his body. As it reaches adulthood, we can begin to offer raw carrot pieces, following the parameters of the previous section.
