There are many dog-friendly vegetables and fruits you can feed your four-legged friend, but carrots are something you should consider adding to their diet. Since dogs are naturally omnivores, they would benefit from the nutrition carrots offer. Carrots make for tasty dog treats and can be a great supplement alongside your pet’s meat-based diet. So let’s discuss why you should consider feeding carrots to your dog.
Why Include Carrots in Your Dog’s Diet?
With a satisfying crunch, carrots make for wonderful snacks and offer several health benefits for dogs. Here are five to name a few:
1. Boosts Immune System
Carrots contain good amounts of Vitamin A, which makes your pet’s coat and skin healthier and boosts their immune system. However, since Vitamin A is essential for dogs, it has become a required additive for many commercial dog foods. This fat-soluble vitamin can harm your four-legged friend if consumed too much, as it can be toxic when it builds up in their body.
So if you plan to feed carrots to your dog, consult your veterinarian about the ideal serving size the next time you take your pet for a routine vet checkup. You may visit their website to learn more about the essential vet services your pet needs.
2. Prevents Chronic Diseases
Carrots are an antioxidant mine for dogs. They’re packed full of antioxidant nutrients like vitamin C, lutein, anthocyanins, beta-carotene, and lycopene, which reduces oxidative stress that lead to chronic pet diseases like:
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Premature aging
- Chronic inflammation
While carrots can help prevent the chronic pet conditions mentioned above, considering a cat wellness plan is a great way to be on top of your pet’s preventive care. Moreover, pet wellness plans have different bundle options for the specific vet subscriptions you’ll need at discounted prices, making planning and budgeting easier.
3. Low-Fat and Low-Calorie Treat
Carrots are low in fat and calories, making them ideal for older, overweight, and diabetic dogs. Having only 53 calories per cup, these colorful, crunchy vegetables are a great treat option between feedings. Grated or coarsely chopped raw carrots are also perfect as a meal topper and have been reported to have allegedly treated parasites like tapeworms in dogs.
But since there isn’t enough evidence to support that claim, it’s necessary to be up-to-date with your pet’s parasite prevention and vaccinations to ensure their protection against prevalent pet conditions and life-threatening parasites.
4. Helps Maintain Good Vision
The signature orange color of carrots is caused by beta-carotene, a pigment converted into Vitamin A by the liver. Vitamin A does many great things for maintaining a dog’s vision, especially at night. Beta carotene is also beneficial for dog breeds prone to cataracts and eye health problems, such as Boston Terriers and Labrador Retrievers. This means pets can have a good chance of living longer and seeing more of the world’s beauty while they’re at it.
5. Improves digestive function
Carrots are rich in insoluble and soluble fiber, which have their own unique benefits. Fiber is essential for maintaining a dog’s digestive function and regularity. For this reason, your pet will greatly benefit from consuming carrots. Diets high in fiber can improve digestion and reduce the risk of colon cancer and mild cases of diarrhea. Lastly, carrots also contain magnesium, which helps improve bowel movements and ease constipation in dogs.
Conclusion
While you’ve already done your research on what makes carrots an excellent addition to your pet’s diet, it’s still necessary to validate it from your vet. What seems okay for other dogs might not be the same for your pet, as it would depend on their age, health conditions, and health history. Whenever you attempt introducing new foods, especially “people foods,” into your dog’s diet, never bypass your vet’s advice to ensure your pet’s safety and prevent unwanted situations.
