Yes, dogs can eat carrots. In fact, not only is this vegetable safe, but it also can serve as a healthy, low-calorie snack for your pup.

Benefits of Carrots for Dogs

Carrots offer dog owners an affordable and nutritious snack for their pets. In addition, this vegetable is perfect for rewarding good behavior, without the calorie count associated with biscuits and other treats. Some vets even recommend cold or frozen carrots for teething puppies, as a way to relieve teething discomfort. Large frozen carrots make cheap and edible chew toys. Furthermore, chewing on carrots can also help improve your dog’s dental health. More importantly, carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, potassium, and fiber, among other vitamins.

How to Give Your Dog Carrots

Raw and cooked carrots are healthy options for dogs and make a nutritious add-in to meals. While carrots are generally safe, it is important to cut whole carrots and even carrot sticks into bite-size chunks before feeding them to your dog. As a result, you will prevent choking, especially in small dogs.

Talk to your vet about the number of carrots you should feed your dog per day, and ask if there are any other health concerns associated with adding this human food to your dog’s diet. Just as you would for any other fruits and vegetables, make sure that carrots are thoroughly washed and/or peeled to remove all dirt and pesticides.

Find out more about which fruits and vegetables make great snacks for dogs by watching the video below.

Here at the AKC, we field many queries from anxious dog owners about what is and isn’t safe for their canine companions to eat. Questions range from the obvious (“Can dogs eat steak bones?”) to the trendy (“Can dogs eat quinoa?”) Check out more “Can dogs eat…” articles on AKC.org to see what other foods could be harmful to your dog, including cherries, avocados, and onions.