The king of healthy snacks, carrots have an amazing reputation for keeping our eyes sharp, our skin glowing, and our rabbit friends happy. But what about our dog friends? Can dogs eat carrots?
Read on to see if your dog can enjoy some carrot sticks from the veggie platter at your next party.
Can Dogs Eat Carrots?
The answer is yes! Carrots are a healthy snack for humans and dogs, and a great substitute for commercial dog treats.
They can make for a cheap and nutritious chew toy, in addition to possibly aiding dental health.
Are Carrots Healthy for My Dog?
Carrots are low in calories, high in fiber, and an excellent source of vitamin A and potassium, all important components of a healthy canine diet.
Carrots can also be great for dental health. As dogs crunch carrots, teeth are cleaned of food particles and plaque, and the gums also get a mild massage.
Serving Ideas
- Share plain, cooked carrots by adding them to your dog’s usual bowl of food or mixing them into a homemade meal.
- Share raw carrots periodically as a snack. Make sure the carrot is cut into manageable chunks to prevent choking and is washed well or peeled to avoid accidental pesticide exposure.
- Share frozen carrots (sliced or diced) with teething puppies to soothe their gums. (Be aware of choking dangers.)
- Shredded carrots can make a colorful festive topping for your dog’s holiday meals. Look for purple, red, and yellow carrots for color variety.
Can Eating Carrots Be Dangerous for My Dog?
As with any food, especially foods that your dog loves so much that he gobbles it down, choking and overeating are both potential risks with carrots.
Are whole carrots ok for dogs? Well, opinions vary. Some say that whole carrots are a choking hazard while others say whole carrots or big chunks are safe for dogs. As always using your best judgment and knowledge of your dog’s eating habits are key.
If your dog tends to wolf down food, it’s often best to offer bite-size pieces or soft-cooked carrots to avoid the risk of choking.
Vets commonly recommend that dog parents follow the 10% rule. Treats, including raw veggies, can make up 10% of the calories in your dog’s diet.
Carrots have a fair amount of sugar in them, so they are higher in calories than other veggies. Fresh carrots are about 5% sugar by weight, and one cup of chopped carrots has about 6 grams of sugar and 52 calories. This can make carrots a sometimes treat for dogs on a reduced-calorie diet or with diabetes.
If your dog loves carrots, consider mixing them with lower-calorie cucumbers and broccoli for your next puppy party veggie tray.
Carrot Recipes for Dogs
For a festive springtime treat, check out the adorable Easter Bunny’s Carrot Cookies for Dogs. Carrots are also front and center in these Chicken Pot Pie Treats and are a great choice in Two-Ingredient Baby Food Dog Treats.
But for the creme de la creme of dog cuisine, with a carrot at the heart of the meal, meet the truly remarkable Turdoggen!
Turdoggen – Hearty Stuffed Butternut Squash for Dogs
- Author: Kiki Kane
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 90 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 60 minutes
- Yield: 1 sliceable loaf 1x
- Category: Holiday Meal Mix-in
- Cuisine: Fancy Pants
Ingredients
- Butternut squash
- Zucchini
- Carrot
- 1 Celery Rib
- 1/2 cup Oatmeal
- 2 Eggs
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- 1 tsp Parsley
- 1 tsp Sage
Optional: Butcher’s twine to truss
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350º
- Split butternut squash in two and hollow out a channel in the center big enough to house your appropriately-sized zucchini. Use an ice cream scoop, melon baller, or spoon.
- If your squash is not cooperating, pop it in the microwave or oven for a few minutes to soften up.
- Reserve the extra squash flesh for the stuffing.
- Next, trim the zucchini ends to fit inside the squash, halve the zucchini, and remove enough of the flesh to make room for the carrot, reserving the extra zucchini for the stuffing.
- Lastly, we’ll trim and carve the carrot to fit inside the zucchini, saving all the extra for the stuffing.
Don’t worry if everything doesn’t fit together perfectly, as we’ll be filling the extra space with our stuffing.
- To prepare the stuffing, roughly dice a celery rib and add it and the leftover veggie bits and bobs to the bowl of your food processor.
- Add 1/2 cup oatmeal, the spices, and 2 eggs, and blitz until a smooth paste.
- Place your squash halves on a baking tray and fill with stuffing, leaving enough space to layer in the zucchini.
- Add a little more stuffing and the carrot, adjusting stuffing as necessary for a smooth fit.
- Put the two halves together, and truss with butcher twine if you like to keep the whole thing together until cooked.
Baking time will vary according to the thickness of the squash.
- Bake for 60-90 minutes, or until a thermometer stuck in the middle reads 165 to ensure the egg is cooked through.
- Allow to cool before serving.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy! Add a dollop of plain yogurt on top to be fancy.
You can remove the butternut squash skin before serving if your dog doesn’t care for it.
For More Information
From cucumbers to potatoes, there is a wide selection of information on vegetables available on our Can My Dog Eat? directory page.
Learn more about feeding your dog a wonderfully varied diet while learning the limitations of a dog’s sensitive digestive system. We offer a collection of articles on foods that are safe, dangerous or even toxic for dogs to eat, including vegetables, dairy, bread, and junk food.
Learn more about the veggies that are safe for dogs in articles such as Can my dog eat cabbage? and Can my dog eat artichokes?
