Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Beets? Yes, Plain and in Small Amounts
Yes, dogs can eat beets in moderation, as long as they are plain. Fresh beets, scrubbed and peeled, can be served raw and grated or cooked and diced, and they are not toxic. Two things are worth knowing first: beets are fairly high in sugar and in oxalates, so they suit some dogs better than others, and they can turn your dog's urine and stool pink or red for a day. Here is how to serve them and how much to give.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read2 sources
Why beets are safe in moderation
The AKC says beets are safe for dogs when served fresh and in moderation. They provide fiber, vitamins and minerals, and their earthy sweetness appeals to a lot of dogs. Nothing in the root itself is toxic.
Beets do come with two caveats. They are one of the sweeter vegetables, so a large serving adds sugar, and the AKC notes that sugar-heavy treats can contribute to weight gain. They are also high in oxalic acid, which can play a part in bladder and kidney stones, so beets are not a good fit for every dog.
Which dogs should skip beets
Ask your vet before giving beets to a dog that has had bladder or kidney stones, especially calcium oxalate stones, or that has kidney disease or a calcium-related condition. The oxalates in beets can work against the diet your vet has set.
Dogs with diabetes, dogs that are overweight and dogs with sensitive stomachs are also better off with lower-sugar vegetables such as green beans or cucumber. Beets can be acidic and may cause gas or loose stool in some dogs, so a small test serving is always the place to start.
How to prepare beets for your dog
Scrub the beet well, trim the stems, and peel it. Raw beet keeps the most nutrients but is very hard, so grate it finely over your dog's food rather than serving chunks. Cooked beet can be roasted plain, boiled or steamed until soft, then cooled and diced into pieces about the size of a blueberry for small dogs.
Keep beets plain, with no salt, butter, oil, balsamic glaze or garlic. Canned beets are fine if the label says no salt added and nothing else is in the can besides beets and water. Beet greens are edible in small cooked amounts, but they are high in oxalates too.
For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.
How much beet by dog weight
Keep beets an occasional snack within the 10 percent treat allowance. A dog under 20 lb can have a teaspoon or two of grated or diced beet, a dog of 20 to 50 lb about a tablespoon, and a dog over 50 lb up to two tablespoons.
Once or twice a week is plenty. If your dog's regular food is complete and balanced, as most commercial diets are, beets add variety rather than anything your dog is missing, so there is no need to increase the amount over time.
Puppies and beets
Puppies can try a small amount of soft, cooked beet once they are on solid food. Start with half a teaspoon, mashed or finely diced, and watch the stool over the next day. Raw beet is too hard for puppy teeth and is a choking risk in chunks.
Keep beets a rare extra during growth, since a puppy's diet needs to come mainly from complete puppy food. If your puppy's urine turns pink the next day, the beet is the likely cause; see the next section.
Red urine, pickled beets and when to call a vet
Beets commonly turn urine and stool pink or red for 12 to 24 hours, which the AKC describes as normal. If the color lasts longer than a day, or your dog strains to urinate, urinates often in small amounts, or seems uncomfortable, call your vet, since those can be signs of a urinary infection or stones unrelated to the beet.
Pickled beets are soaked in vinegar, salt and sugar, and some recipes include onion or spices, so do not share them. Beet chips and borscht are similarly salty or seasoned. Call your vet the same day for repeated vomiting, bloody diarrhea, or a dog that stops eating after a beet treat.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
Can dogs eat raw beets?
Yes, raw beets are safe if scrubbed, peeled and finely grated. Whole raw chunks are hard and can be a choking risk, especially for small dogs, so grate them or cook them until soft before serving.
Why is my dog's pee red after eating beets?
Beet pigments commonly turn urine and stool pink or red for 12 to 24 hours, and this is normal. If the color lasts longer than a day, or your dog strains or seems uncomfortable when urinating, call your vet.
Can dogs eat pickled beets?
No. Pickled beets are soaked in vinegar, salt and sugar, and some recipes add onion or spices. Stick to plain fresh or no-salt-added canned beets if you share any.
Can dogs eat beet greens?
Small amounts of cooked beet greens are not toxic, but they are high in oxalates, like the root. Skip them for dogs with a history of bladder or kidney stones, and keep portions small for others.
Can dogs eat canned beets?
Yes, if the can says no salt added and contains only beets and water. Rinse them, dice them small, and serve a small amount. Avoid pickled, seasoned or sweetened canned beets.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
