Carrots are an affordable, healthy snack for four-legged friends. Many pet owners are looking for healthy, nutritious – and of course, affordable – treats for their dogs. In addition to professional pet food that provides your pet with essential ingredients, some owners choose to include fruit and vegetables in their dog’s diet. Carrots are a cheap, low-calorie and safe snack for your pet.
Carrots are a great snack not only for humans but also for dogs. It can make an excellent low-calorie treat to reward during training. Carrots are virtually fat-free, which means they are an ideal choice for both older and overweight dogs. However, it is quite high in sugar, so carrots should be given to your pet in moderation and with your vet’s approval.
As carrots are an excellent source of the antioxidants alpha-carotene and beta-carotene, which are converted to vitamin A in the body, as well as potassium, fibre and other vitamins, they can provide many health benefits for your four-legged friend. Vitamin A can improve your pet’s vision and eye health – not getting enough vitamin A can lead to eye infections and even vision loss. Vitamin A can also help boost your pet’s immune system and maintain healthy skin.
Carrots are also a good source of vitamin K, essential for blood clotting, and vitamin B6, which helps convert carbohydrates, fats and proteins into energy. Finally, the high fibre content of carrots also means that they can help maintain a healthy digestive tract and regular bowel movements.
What’s more, chewing on raw carrots can also help improve your dog’s dental health. Carrots in their raw form can help dogs maintain strong teeth due to the chewing required to eat them.
Carrots can be given to your dog in a variety of ways – both raw and cooked. Your dog is likely to eat it in any form due to its sweet taste. Although both raw and cooked carrots are considered safe for dogs, it is always a good idea to cut them into bite-size pieces because of the choking hazard, especially with smaller dogs.
Carrots can be given both as a snack and as an occasional addition to a normal diet. Ensure that it is peeled, or at least washed.
Some vets recommend putting carrots in the fridge or freezer and giving them to puppies to relieve teething pain and discomfort. For larger and older dogs, carrots can be a great edible chew toy.
