There are lots of great fruits and vegetables to give your german shepherd. And if you’re trying to vary their diet you may be asking yourself “can german shepherds eat carrots?”
In this article, you’ll find out why carrots can be good for your dog and also why they can be bad. You’ll also learn how many to give them, and the different ways too!
Table of Contents
Can German Shepherds Eat Carrots?
Yes! German shepherds can eat carrots. However, it’s important to note, that while carrots are great for your german shepherd, they aren’t necessary for their overall health. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use them as a healthy treat!
Why Are Carrots Good For German Shepherds?
Carrots are good for your german shepherd as they contain many vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Vitamin A, C, K, B9, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese can all be found in carrots!
Here’s what makes each of them so good for your german shepherd.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is used by your dog’s body to promote cell growth. Because of this, it’s going to help your german shepherd stay healthy, and will also aid a puppy’s growth.
It’s also going to help keep your german shepherd’s coat looking smooth and shiny.
And lastly, vitamin A is necessary for helping your german shepherds eyesight, especially night vision. In fact, there’s actually some truth based in all the times you’ve been told carrots help you see in the dark.
Vitamin B8 helps your german shepherds liver break down fat in their bodies, keeping them healthy. (Which makes it particularly helpful if your german shepherd has fatty liver disease.)
It’s also found in the outer lining of all cells, especially the brain and heart, and helps them function properly.
It’s also going to help your german shepherd’s hair grow, keeping it healthy and shiny!
Lastly, it helps reduce cholesterol levels as well.
Folate is going to help your german shepherd produce new red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the body.
It’s also known to reduce your dog’s chances of getting cancer.
On top of this, it’s going to help your german shepherd’s body build new cells, as well as regenerating old cells.
And if you plan on breeding your german shepherd, it helps their puppies develop properly! In fact, folate has been found to reduce the chance of cleft palates in puppies.
The main purpose of iron is to help red blood cells form in your german shepherd’s body. This, in turn, helps oxygen move around the body giving them more energy.
Are There Any Side Effects To Feeding Your German Shepherd Carrots?
Just like with any food, there are always going to be risks associated with feeding your german shepherd too many carrots. However, in most cases, if you’re only feeding your german shepherd a moderate amount, you’re not going to have a problem.
Here are some of the side effects of giving your german shepherd carrots.
Weight Gain
Just like with any food, if they have too much, they may start to gain weight. Obviously the best way to combat this is to make sure you only feed your german shepherd carrots as a treat and never give them too many at a time.
Hard To Digest
Some German shepherds may have a hard time digesting carrots. If you notice that your german shepherd always seems to have bits of carrots in their stool, then they may be having trouble digesting them.
Stomach Upset
As well as your german shepherd finding them hard to digest, they also contain a lot of fiber. Too much fiber in your german shepherd’s diet is going to give them an upset stomach. If you notice your dog seems bloated or has diarrhea, then you may be giving them too many carrots.
Too Much Vitamin A
While it’s highly unlikely if you give your german shepherd too many carrots that may ingest too much vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can result in nausea in your dog as well as other side effects. And if they’re pregnant, too much can also be detrimental for their little pups! (Source)
Be Cautious When Giving Them To A Diabetic Dog
If your German shepherd is diabetic then you should be cautious when giving them carrots. They contain a natural amount of sugar which could become harmful to any dog with diabetes.
So, if your German shepherd does suffer from diabetes make sure that you ask a vet before feeding them carrots.
(Curious as to whether your german shepherd can drink milk?)
Can German Shepherds Be Allergic To Carrots?
Some german shepherds can be allergic to carrots so you should only start by giving them a little bit at a time. However, the chances of your german shepherd being allergic to carrots are quite small, so it’s not something most owners have to worry about.
If your German shepherd is allergic to carrots then you may notice vomiting, diarrhea, and itching as well as other common symptoms of allergies.
Make sure you take your german shepherd to a vet if they start to exhibiting these symptoms after being fed a carrot.
How Many Carrots Should You Feed Your German Shepherd?
As a rule of thumb, your german shepherd’s diet should be 10% treats and 90% meals. A third of a carrot a day is normally a good way of feeding your dog some carrot, but also having more leeway to give them other treats as well!
What’s The Best Way To Feed Your German Shepherd Carrots?
There are so many different ways you can feed your german shepherd carrots. And remember, when you’re feeding them you can give them the whole carrot, including the green at the top!
Here are some of the main ways you can feed your pup carrots.
Slicing them up is a great way to make them more manageable for your german shepherd to eat. This is especially true for puppies and senior dogs that may have trouble swallowing larger chunks.
You can also grate them up and sprinkle them over their meals. This is a great way to spice up dinner time or breakfast with a healthy treat.
Lastly, if you have a puppy german shepherd that’s teething, freezing them is a great idea. They’ll be cold enough to numb their teeth and the hardness will also soothe them.
One thing to note when you’re feeding your german shepherd carrots is to make sure you steam them for a little bit first. This way they’ll be more easily digestible for your german shepherd, but they won’t lose their nutritional content.
If you can’t steam them, microwaving them can also work, just make sure you’re not boiling them. If you boil them, then they will lose some of their nutrition
And make sure you’re washing carrots thoroughly before giving them to your dog. Carrots are often covered in pesticides which can become harmful to your pup’s health over time.
(Should you feed your german shepherd raw meat?)
Can You Feed Your German Shepherd Baby Carrots?
Baby carrots are perfectly fine to give to your german shepherd. However, they can be a little bit small for german shepherds, so a lot of the time it’s better to give them normal-sized carrots.
Can Carrots Keep You German Shepherds Teeth Clean?
While they’re no substitute for cleaning with a toothbrush, they can still help keep your dog’s teeth clean by combatting a build-up of plaque that may occur.
Interested In Training Your German Shepherd The Right Way?
If you haven’t trained your German Shepherd properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your German Shepherd completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior, or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here, to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Recap
Now you’ve had the burning question “can german shepherds eat carrots?” answered. And of course, when they’re part of a balanced diet, they can be extremely good for your german shepherd.
Here are a few of the most important things to remember when feeding your german shepherd carrots.
Carrots contain vitamin A, C, K, B9, pantothenic acid, folate, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese, all of which are great for german shepherds.
Carrots can be hard to digest.
They can also lead to weight gain, an upset stomach, and too much vitamin A when given to your dog too much.
Make sure your dog isn’t allergic to them, and check for common signs of an allergic reaction if you’ve never fed them to your pup before.
Carrots can be used to keep your german shepherd’s teeth clean, but shouldn’t replace brushing.
Before giving your german shepherd carrots make sure you steam them or cook them in the microwave first.
If you liked this article or have any questions leave a comment below. Otherwise, have a great day!
