A balanced diet isn’t just a human thing—it’s just as vital for our four-legged best friends! Carrots are a fantastic veggie staple for dogs and a great addition to their regular meals.
Raw or Cooked?
Most dogs handle carrots like a champ. The best part? You’ve got plenty of options for how to serve them, which is a great way to mix up the texture of your pup’s dinner.
Here are a few ways to prep them:
- Raw (cut into bite-sized chunks)
- Grated or shredded
- Boiled
- Steamed
- Dried
Just keep your dog’s size in mind when chopping. For smaller breeds, make sure the pieces are tiny so they don’t become a choking hazard. If you’re looking for a fun, crunchy snack, try making dried carrot chips. Just slice them thin and let them dry out on a rack.
Skip the Greens
Carrots belong to the umbellifer family, which means they contain compounds called furanocoumarins. In carrots, these are mostly concentrated in the leafy green tops. These compounds can cause phototoxic reactions (basically making the skin super sensitive to sunlight), which can lead to nasty blisters. Because of that, it’s best to keep the carrot greens out of your dog’s bowl.
You should also avoid any green parts on the carrot itself. Sometimes, if a carrot isn’t buried deep enough in the soil, the “shoulder” of the root turns green from sun exposure. Always trim those green bits off generously, whether you’re feeding them to your dog or eating them yourself.
Storing Your Carrots the Right Way
Furanocoumarins can also develop if carrots aren’t stored properly. After harvesting your carrots, you want to keep them in a cool, dark spot. A root cellar or a chilly pantry is perfect. Pro tip: remove the greens and tuck the roots into a box filled with a slightly damp sand-and-soil mix to keep them from shriveling up.
If carrots are stored somewhere too warm or bright, they might start to sprout. Not only does this ruin the flavor, but it can also trigger the formation of those furanocoumarins. However, these compounds break down at temperatures above 172°F (78°C). If you’re ever unsure if your carrots were stored correctly, don’t feed them to your pup raw—give them a quick boil or steam first to neutralize any potential toxins.