Carrots for us humans are part of a balanced diet. This vegetable can be found in every kitchen. But what about our dogs? Can Australian Shepherd dogs eat carrots? In this article we will talk about carrots, if they are healthy for dogs and want to consider if you want to give this vegetable to your dog.
Can Australian Shepherd Dogs Eat Carrots? Yes, carrots are suitable for dogs. In fact, they are full of nutrients that your dog can benefit from. Carrots can be used as a low-calorie chew to maintain dental hygiene or to combat digestive problems caused by diarrhea and vomiting.
Carrots Benefits For Australian Shepherd Dogs
It is not only healthy for us humans, but also for our dogs.
Healthy Benefits Of Carrots:
- More carotene than other vegetables
- Vitamins C, K and other nutrients that have a positive effect on your dog‘s well-being
- Also rich in iron, copper, magnesium and phosphorus
In addition, carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is important for your dog‘s eyes as well as for his immune system and skin.
Carrots May Help To Keep The Dog‘s Teeth Clean
To avoid bad breath and other consequences of poor dental hygiene, you should keep your Australian Shepherd‘s teeth clean. If your dog refuses to brush his teeth, you need to come up with alternatives. In this case, carrots can help. Regularly giving carrots to chew, the dog will not only have something to do, but also brush his teeth.
Carrots in this case would act like a toothbrush. Unlike most toothpicks sold for this purpose, carrots do not contain any artificial additives or sweeteners. Because fresh carrots are crunchy, the dog has something to chew on, thus removing food debris that is stuck between the teeth.
Carrots Can Be Used As a Healthy Snacks For Australian Shepherd Dogs
Too many treats can quickly cause your dog to be overweight. If your dog tends to be overweight or has diabetes, chopped carrots are great as a nutritious treat. So you can train with your dog, give carrots as a prize, and no need to worry that he will gain additional weight.
Potential Dangers Of Carrots
Perhaps the only danger with carrots could be if the dog grabbed excessive piece. In that case, there would be a danger of choking, knowing how dogs like to swallow everything quickly. Therefore it is best to cut the carrots into smaller pieces.
How To Feed Carrots To Dogs
Your dog should be fed chopped or lightly fried carrots, so that the dog can better absorb the beneficial substances. You can crush raw carrots or grate them and mix with feed for better digestion. If you are cooking carrots, it is advisable to use a cooking method that preserves vitamins, such as steaming or cooking in a small amount of water at a low temperature.
To give you an idea how many carrots your Australian Shepherd can eat per day, consider his age and size. Vegetables should be about 20% of the total food. It can also increase depending on age and workload. For example, an average Australian Shepherd weigh from about 40 to 60 pounds (18 to 27 kilograms). So if you have an adult Aussie, he should receive approximately 70-80 g of vegetables each day. It means you can safely give one medium carrot per day, or two-three small (baby carrots).
Can Dogs Eat Carrots
Now let‘s talk about whether carrots should be peeled, processed somehow and in what condition they are most useful.
Can Dogs Eat Carrots Raw
Yes, dogs can eat raw carrots and it is probably the best option. As raw vegetables has the most vitamins, and their content decreases during processing.
The most important thing is to grind it so that the dog is comfortable chewing and there is no risk of choking.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Carrots
In particular, it should be mentioned that no spices should be used when baking or otherwise processing the carrots you want to give to the dog. Actually, cooked carrots have additional benefit. Cooking or feeding pureed carrots may lead to a better absorption of beta carotene.
As mentioned earlier, beta-carotene protects against inflammation and improves the dog‘s vision. The vitamin prevents the fibers from settling in the lens and prevents the lens from becoming cloudy (cataracts).
Can Diabetic Dogs Eat Carrots
Yes, carrots are suitable for diabetic dogs, as they are very low in calories. That‘s why one or other carrot is perfect in between, for example as a reward or as a snack. Healthy, low in calories and usually well received by dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Carrots Frozen
Frozen raw carrots are wonderfully healthy and low-calorie snacks for your dog to chew on.
During the summer, it could be like healthy ice cream and a good way to spend time while the dog melts the carrot with its tongue!
Can Dogs Eat Carrots With Skin On
Carrots are best fed from organic farming because they are not sprayed or fertilized, so they do not contain harmful substances and contain optimal amounts of vitamins and nutrients.
Vitamins and nutrients are found in the skin and directly under the skin. You can simply wash and feed organic carrots without having to peel them.
However, if you cannot feed them organic carrots, first wash them and peel before further processing.
Can Dogs Eat Carrots For Worms
Another useful thing about carrots, that we probably haven‘t mentioned before. Veggies, like carrots, are rich in fiber and act as natural dewormers (source).
Final Thoughts
Yes, you can feed carrots to your Australian Shepherd. These vegetables contain a lot healthy nutrients. Also, they can be used very naturally to clean your dog‘s teeth and keep them busy for some time.