Carrots

[Summer Magic]

Do any of you dog lovers feed raw carrots to your dogs? :wink: I was chatting with some friends yesterday and one of the gals mentioned that she gives her dogs a carrot every day instead of a chew bone. I never considered it, :rolleyes: but I guess it'd be ok. Magic has never tasted a carrot and I'm going to try a wee bite on her and see if she likes them. If she does, then she can chew on something healthy instead of nyla bones, bully sticks and my tennis shoes. :(

[aussiesmum]

Carrots are fine, but they have lots of vitamine A (I think, some vitamine anyway) that dogs don't really need. So Aussie gets a carrot, but maybe once a week. (Heard the vit. thing at DD from laura I think)

just be careful how much you give. but I just did some googling and didn't find anyone say "no no no" but just the usual "give in moderation, but great low cal snack" :)

As a bouns, just read in 2 places that they are great for the teeth (good teeth cleaner) :bunny:

[Grace Erick]

I read they contain a lot of sugar, but I don't know how true that is and anyway, some homemade diets contain a pureed mixture of veggies and fruits and fruits definitely have a lot of sugar.

My dog's canned food has carrots in it and it's in a few different brands. I give my dog a carrot on occasion if I have any in the house.

[Mario Niepel]

I often use those a couple of baby carrots in kongs as stuffers. They are good for plugging up the holes and make my puppies work for their kibble.

[Jody Hayes]

I cut up carrots into my Beagles food a couple of times a week and he LOVEs them! He also eats them as a snack...he loves his veggies!

[Rebekah Hartman]

I'm on a home cooking for dogs forum (although I don't homecook currently) and they mention often to feed carrots in moderation for the reasons listed above (e.g., high glycemic index, vitamins, etc). For that reason, I've hesitated about giving them to my puppy (he's sensitive to changes in diet), but probably the occasional carrot chew would be fine.

I've also frozen celery, bananas and apples to give my pup. Celery has no nutritive value, but you also can't really give too much as a result (mine just chews on them - doesn't actually eat), the others I only give occasionally.

[Jody Hayes]

My beagle loves peas...frozen ones. I took some out of the freezer and spilled them on the floor. Ace went after them like a hoover vacuum! He is fed them on occasion too. Unfortunately there is nothing the beagle won't eat. I am careful about how often, what kind and how much people food I give him but he does like his people food. And he still maintains he handsome figure. LOL

[Maria Juliano]

I always give them boiled carrots. Is it okay to give a toy breed raw carrots?

[Chris Smith]

Nalu loves carrots. I buy the loose large carrots and usually give him half of large one (or a whole smaller one) for a chew treat. He eats it just like a bone - hold it between his paws and munches it down to the last bite. Keep him happy and occupied for several minutes or more.

I don't give them every day (for the reasons listed) but probably 2-3 times a week. I also see carrot "bits" in his poop sometimes since I think he doesn't always chew the pieces down real small but just swallows like he does his kibble.

[Rachel Webb]

my two pups enjoy carrot scraps when I make a salad for dinner - and they sure do enjoy them!

[Eric Vecc]

Carrots are very high in Fructose. They may not agree with a sensitive stomach so watch for any discomfort after the dog eats one. Even if it does cause the dog discomfort, they will still continue to eat them as long as you are feeding it to them. They do not make the conection between the discomfort and the carrot. Bailey will not eat carrots. He will however, chew them up into little pieces and leave them all over the house (because of this, he has only had one chance in his life to enjoy a carrot).

You may also consider giving your dog a Yam to chew on. They are good for dogs and are in most dog foods on the market.

[Jill Ramsey]

One more thing about the carrots. They will show up in the stool, as they don't break down in digestion. They just kind of go right through!!
Eric,
I'm going to try giving Finn a Yam. I buy them for me all the time. Thanks for the idea!!

[Rachel Webb]

I too am going to give my pups yams - thanks for the idea Eric. I am wondering, do they have to be cooked or can the hounds munch on them raw?

Thanks!

[Chris Smith]

I also give Nalu Yams or Sweet Potatoes. (all of his "snacks" are healthy stuff that I would eat). I give them to him raw and just cut a large slice similar to the size of a carrot.

He doesn't seem to like them as much as carrots, but he eats them. And I haven't noticed them in his poop like I see the carrot bits.

[Rachel Webb]

Thanks Chris - I am going to give em' a try and have a feeling my two big pups won't walk away without devouring them!