Food safety
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Carrots? Yes, Plain and Cut to Size
Yes. Plain cooked carrots are safe and healthy for most dogs, and the American Kennel Club says raw and cooked carrots are both nutritious add-ons to meals. Carrots are a good source of vitamin A, potassium and fiber and are low in calories. Cooking softens them, which makes them easier for puppies, small dogs and older dogs to chew. Keep them plain: glazed, honey-roasted or buttered carrots bring sugar and fat, and carrots cooked with onion or garlic are not safe.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20264 min read3 sources
Why cooked carrots are good for dogs
The AKC describes carrots as an excellent source of vitamin A, potassium and fiber and a low-calorie snack. VCA's holiday food guide lists crunchy carrots among foods that can be shared, and many commercial dog foods include carrot for the same reasons.
Cooked carrots are softer than raw ones, which helps dogs that struggle with hard foods: puppies, toy breeds, seniors and dogs with dental problems. Raw carrots offer more crunch; cooked carrots are gentler. Both are fine, so choose the texture that suits your dog.
Glazed, buttered and holiday carrots
Carrots at Thanksgiving or Christmas are often glazed with butter and brown sugar, honey or maple syrup, and roasted carrots may be tossed in oil and seasoning. VCA warns that added fat is unnecessary and can lead to pancreatitis, a painful condition, and sugar adds calories a dog does not need.
Carrots in stews, pot roast and soups are usually cooked with onion and garlic, which the ASPCA says can damage red blood cells. Set aside a few plain carrot pieces before anything is added. If your dog ate carrots cooked with onion or garlic, call your vet, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661; a fee may apply.
How to cook carrots for a dog
Wash or peel the carrots, as the AKC suggests, to remove dirt and pesticide residue. Steam, boil or roast them with nothing added until a fork goes through easily. Let them cool to room temperature before serving.
Cut them to suit your dog: the AKC recommends cutting carrots into bite-size chunks to reduce the choking risk. For a dog under 20 lb, dice cooked carrot to about the size of a pea; for larger dogs, coins are fine. Plain canned carrots work if the label says no salt added.
How much cooked carrot by dog size
The AKC suggests asking your vet how many carrots to feed per day, and treats in general should stay a small share of the diet. As a starting point for a healthy adult dog: under 20 lb, one or two tablespoons of diced carrot; 20 to 50 lb, about a quarter of a medium carrot; over 50 lb, up to half a carrot.
Carrots are naturally a little sweet, so diabetic dogs should have them only with their vet's agreement. For overweight dogs, carrots make a good swap for higher-calorie treats.
Spreading a few safe pieces across a snuffle mat or packing them into a puzzle toy turns a small treat into a few minutes of sniffing work.
Puppies and cooked carrots
Cooked carrot is a good first vegetable for a weaned puppy because it is soft and easy to mash. Mash a small piece with a fork and offer a fingertip amount, on its own, then wait a day before offering more.
The AKC notes that some vets recommend cold or frozen carrots to ease teething discomfort. For a teething puppy, a chilled cooked carrot coin is softer and safer than a hard frozen whole carrot, which a small puppy could break and swallow in chunks.
Signs carrots disagreed with your dog, and when to call a vet
Too much carrot usually shows as gas or a looser stool within a day, and the stool can look orange. Stop the carrots for a day or two and the stool usually returns to normal.
Call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea repeats, there is blood in the stool, or your dog seems lethargic or stops eating. Gagging, drooling or pawing at the mouth after eating carrot chunks means call straight away, because a piece may be stuck.
Common questions
Are cooked or raw carrots better for dogs?
Both are healthy. The AKC says raw and cooked carrots are nutritious options. Cooked carrots are softer for puppies and seniors; raw carrots give more crunch for chewers.
Can dogs eat glazed carrots?
It is best not to. Glazed carrots are cooked with butter and sugar or honey, which add fat and calories. Share a few plain carrot pieces set aside before glazing.
Can dogs eat canned carrots?
Plain canned carrots with no salt added are fine in small amounts. Rinse them well and avoid carrots canned with salt, sugar, butter sauce or seasoning.
Can dogs eat carrots every day?
A few pieces a day is fine for most healthy dogs, as long as they are part of the treat allowance. The AKC suggests asking your vet how many carrots suit your dog.
Can carrots cause diarrhea in dogs?
Large amounts can cause gas or loose stool because of the fiber. Cut back and the stool usually settles. Call your vet if diarrhea lasts more than a day.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
