You may well have already discovered the joys of leaving a carrot out for your dog. As a cheap, convenient chew toy, it can assist with your pup’s dental health AND keep them occupied. And, while a shredded carrot does make a mess on your living room floor, it sure beats replacing your lounge cushions. In short, carrot already serves its full purpose in your fur baby’s life, right? Well, as it turns out, carrots should be more than a dental stick for your doggo. And while too much can put them at risk (more on that later), a little can go a long way. In fact, as part of a healthy dog diet, carrot can perform a range of functions – from improving their eyesight, to reducing the risk of cancer. Join us as we answer “what are the benefits of carrots for dogs?”, and explore how much is too much!
What are the benefits of carrots for dogs?
They’re a rich source of antioxidants
In the world of human nutrition, fruits like blueberries have nearly cornered the market for use of the word “antioxidants”. For dogs, though, carrots are an antioxidant gold mine. “Antioxidants” has become something of a buzzword in recent years, so let us break down how they help your pupper. These compounds help to reduce free radicals in your pooch’s body, which are volatile atoms that harm your doggo’s cells. In addition to ageing your dog more rapidly, free radicals can lead to cancer. Put simply, by consuming more antioxidants, your furry friend can lower their potential for cancer.
They boost your dog’s immune system and eye health
Remember when you were a child and your teachers would tell you that carrots improve your eyesight? Lo and behold, the exact same is true for dogs. This is due to the presence of Vitamin A, which does great things for eye health. Beyond that, Vitamin A also bolsters your pup’s immune system. As an added bonus, thanks to their beta carotene, carrots are beneficial for dog breeds prone to cataracts. In other words, your pooch can have a greater chance of living longer, and see more of the world while they’re at it.
Carrots provide a reliable source of fibre and potassium
Long story short, these two resources let your dog digest their food, and make the most of the energy it gives them. An element that helps maintain our dogs’ fluid balance, potassium enables the proper function of their nerves, enzymes, and muscles. Fibre, on the other hand, assists your furbaby’s digestive tract by promoting “good” bacteria and fending off the bad.
“Okay, you’ve answered ‘What are the benefits of carrots for dogs?’ So, what are the risks?”
Like we said earlier, too much carrot can cause problems. Specifically, it can lead to an overload of the vitamins and minerals we listed above. While all of these are crucial in moderation, an excess amount can give your pup more than they can handle. Now, when we say “too much carrot”, we’re talking about two carrots a day. Our warning also applies to carrot in conjunction with other food high in Vitamin A. However, if you keep carrot to about 10% of your doggo’s daily food intake, they’ll be set.
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1 comment
No treat, reward or chew should make up more that 10% of your pets calorific intake as in excess of that can interfere with the complete and balanced main meal being fed.
Over 10% can cause nutritional deficiency or excess depending on what is being fed.
Moderation is the key to human nutrition and as well as our pets.