Can French Bulldogs eat carrots?
When I was new to dog parenting, I was wary of giving certain fruits and veggies to my Frenchie.
And that is how it should be. You should always check which fruit or veggie is safe for your dog to consume.
After all, even seemingly innocent and healthy grapes can be toxic to French bulldogs.
Thankfully, that is not the case with carrots. This vegetable is super healthy for humans and our canine companions as well.
In this guide, I will discuss:
- Can French Bulldogs eat carrots?
- What are the benefits of feeding carrots to French bulldogs?
- Carrot nutritional facts
- Are carrots safe for Frenchies? Are there any side effects of eating carrots for Frenchies?
- How many carrots are too many for French bulldogs?
- Can French Bulldogs eat carrots leaves?
- Can French bulldogs drink carrot juice?
- How to feed carrots to French bulldogs?
- What other vegetables can French bulldogs eat safely?
- FAQs
Can French Bulldogs Eat Carrots
Absolutely. Your French bulldog can safely eat carrots and they are very good for your pet.
This is one of those veggies I always have in my pantry. My Frenchie gets one carrot as a post-meal snack. This helps keep his pearly whites white, his breath fresh, and his teeth and gums free from plaque and tartar.
Frozen carrot makes a soothing teething dog treat for young French bulldogs.
While there are many vegetables that can be harmful to French bulldogs, carrots do not belong to that list.
In the subsequent sections, we will discuss all of the nutritional benefits of carrots for Frenchies and also how you can feed carrots to your buddy.
Don’t forget to check out my related guides on:
What Are the Benefits of Carrots for French Bulldogs
Carrots (Daucas Carota) are highly nutritious veggies that can provide a range of health benefits to our beloved Frenchies. Here are some of them:
1. Could promote healthier vision and eye health
Carrots contain many antioxidants and beta carotene which is beneficial to eye health and vision. Insufficient vitamin A can cause many health issues in pets including night blindness.
Carrots can help overcome vitamin A deficiency.
2. Could reduce the risk of certain cancers
Carrots are the powerhouse of phytonutrients and antioxidants.
These fight free-radical damage and can prevent certain cancers including stomach cancer.
Also, they contain carotenoids which strengthen the immune system and activate certain protein markers that could inhibit the rogue cancer cells.
While more studies are needed on this, vets believe that carrots could reduce the risk of certain canine cancers like stomach, colon, and mammary gland tumors as well.
3. Beneficial for dog’s skin
Another reason why French bulldogs should eat carrots regularly is to prevent skin issues.
Frenchies are prone to skin infections because of their heavily wrinkled skin. They often suffer from hot spots, skin dryness, itching, etc.
With regular consumption of carrots, your pet will receive carotenoids which can improve skin’s appearance and keep their facial skin folds healthy and infection-free.
4. Could reduce shedding and promote healthy hair
If your Frenchie has an unnatural shedding issue, then it could benefit from the consumption of carrots. Carrots can promote healthy hair and could even curb hair loss.
Carrots help shinier fur and hair because of its vitamins A and C, potassium, and carotenoids.
Also Read: Do French Bulldogs Shed
5. Could help in weight management
When my Frenchie gained a bit of excess weight last year, my vet asked us to feed him fewer meals.
But he would beg for food – so, instead of giving him kibble, I would pack some carrot pieces in his treat dispenser toy .
Not only would he be occupied for some time, it would tire him out as well. Besides this, the low-calorie carrot sticks helped him lose several pounds over time and it put an end to his begging for food.
Carrots are definitely a great snack/treat while training your French Bulldog puppy as well.
Also read: How to Potty Train a French Bulldog
6. Could boost immunity
Since carrots contain a ton of vitamin A, it could boost immune functioning and prevent infections. Moreover, it can also help your pet heal wounds faster as it stimulates collagen production.
7. Great for your dog’s teeth
Raw carrots have a crunchy texture. This makes them a great low-calorie, post-meal snack. The crunchy texture removes stuck food bits and gets rid of plaque and tartar.
Moreover, they eliminate malic acid and citric acid left behind in the mouth by food. This promotes healthy gums and teeth.
My Frenchie always has fresh breath because he munches on carrots all the time.
(I also feed him these dental sticks to promote minty fresh breath!).
8. Could keep your Frenchie regular
The fiber content in carrots is great for Frenchie that are constipated or irregular.
Carrots also ease bowel movement and can help prevent problems like impacted anal glands, etc.
Also Read: Best Dog Food for Anal Gland Issues
9. Could reduce intestinal worms
Manu holistic vets recommend adding carrots to dog’s diet regularly because they act as a natural de-wormer.
Their high-fiber content eliminates worms and intestinal parasites to keep your Frenchie healthy and thriving.
10. Good for their liver-health and promote detoxification
Ingredients like glutathione, carotenoids, and phytonutrients in carrots all promote a stronger and healthier liver. The glutathione also promotes natural detoxification and stimulate and boost liver function.
Carrot Nutritional Facts
100 grams of carrots (about 2 small carrots) can provide the following
| Nutrients | % value |
| calories | 41 |
| water | 88 |
| protein | 0.9 grams |
| carbohydrates | 9.6 grams |
| sugar | 4.7 grams |
| fiber | 2.8 grams |
| fat | 0.2 |
| potassium | 410 mg |
| iron | 0.38 mg |
| vitamin K | 16.9 mcg |
| calcium | 42 mg |
| vitamin C | 7.6 |
| magnesium | 15 mg |
Are Carrots Safe For French Bulldogs? What Are The Possible Side-effects of Carrots?
Carrots definitely make a healthy treat for your Frenchie. However, moderation is key.
Anything in excess can cause trouble.
Also, if this is the first time you are feeding carrots to your pet, then do check with a vet first.
As always start small and feed less quantity of carrots. If you feed raw carrots to your pet, you might see chunks of carrots in its poop. This is normal.
Possible Side-effects
There are no reported side effects of carrots in most dogs. Carrots are not known canine-allergens.
However, a very small percentage of dogs is known to be allergic to carrots.
The possible symptoms of a carrot allergy can include the following:
- Bald spots
- Excess shedding
- Vomiting
- Wheezing
- Paw-licking
- Tear-stains
- Face-rubbing
- Hives
- Chronic stomach upset
- Gas
- Skin infections or rashes
In rare cases, carrots can cause anaphylactic shocks in some dogs. To read more about carrot allergy in dogs, please visit this link.
Are Too Many Carrots Bad for Your French Bulldog? How Many Carrots are Too Many?
As with any food, moderation is the key to feeding carrots to Frenchies.
Too many carrots can cause upset stomach and gastric issues in pets. So, never over-feed them.
You can safely feed 1-2 medium-sized carrots (approximately 100-150 grams) on a daily basis.
This is safe for most small dogs like Frenchies.
If your pet has runny or watery stools, or vomits out the carrot, then please discontinue feeding.
Consult a vet, when in doubt.
Can French Bulldogs Eat Carrot Tops and Carrot Leaves?
Yes – Carrot leaves and carrot tops are safe for dogs to consume. They are not only edible, but also packed with nutrients.
Unlike popular belief, they are not poisonous.
In fact, carrot leaves have an earthy sweet taste – therefore, most dogs love to eat it.
You can sauté them in a bit of olive oil and add them over your pet’s kibble or canned food.
Can French Bulldogs Drink Carrot Juice?
Yes. Carrot juice has a naturally sweet taste which your pupper will definitely enjoy.
However, never feed commercial carrot juice to your pet as it is packed with preservatives and tons of sugar. These ingredients can cause gastric upsets in Frenchies.
Excess sugar is also harmful to our pets in more than one way.
So, if you want to feed carrot juice to your Frenchie, always juice the carrots at home and feed it fresh carrot juice.
Remember also that juicing carrots can waste all of the fiber from this great vegetable. So, use juice only as a refreshing summer beverage and choose to feed fresh whole carrots to your Frenchie.
Also, when it comes to beverages for your French bulldog, fresh water is the best option.
Also read: Best Dog Food for French Bulldogs with Gas
How to Feed Carrots to French Bulldogs?
There are numerous recipes of carrots which your Frenchie will definitely enjoy.
Here are my favorites:
1. Raw carrot
Raw carrot pieces make an excellent post-meal snack for dogs. They help clean their teeth and eliminate bad breath, tartar, etc.
Remember to supervise young Frenchies especially when feeding them carrots for the first time.
Also, baby carrot could pose a choking hazard to younger puppies, so do watch out.
If needed, grate the carrot over the kibble or canned food, or chop it up into bite-sized pieces.
You can feed carrot pieces as dog treats while training too.
2. Cooked carrot
Cooking the carrots can enhance their digestibility but, on the downside, the high temperature can kill many vital nutrients in carrots.
However, pureed carrots are great for young and old Frenchies without teeth as they are softer and easier to mix up in their food.
If you intend to feed cooked carrot, steam it for a few minutes and mash it up.
3. Baked carrot treats (dog-friendly carrot cake recipe)
Carrot cake for dogs is delicious and your pet will love you for it. Here is my favorite canine carrot cake recipe:
- Mix together 1 large egg, ½ cup of all-natural sugar-free peanut butter, 1/4th cup of olive oil, 1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/3rd cup honey, 1 cup of shredded carrots, 1 cup of almond flour, and a pinch of baking powder.
- Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.
- Cool and frost with peanut butter (optional).
Also Read: Can French Bulldogs Eat Peanut Butter
What Other Veggies can French Bulldogs Eat Other Than Carrots?
Here is a safe-to-eat veggie list for your French bulldog:
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Spinach
- Broccoli in moderation as it can cause gas
- Pumpkin
- Green beans in moderation
- Kale
- Sweet potatoes
- Zucchini
FAQs on Can French Bulldogs Eat Carrots
1. Is it okay to give carrots to your French bulldog every day?
Yes, absolutely. As long as your Frenchie is not allergic to carrots and loves eating them, then there is no harm in feeding 1 or 2 small to medium-sized carrots to your beloved dog.
2. How many carrots can my dog eat every day?
Your adult Frenchie can safely eat 1-2 medium to large carrots per day.
For small pups, start with half to one grated carrot and slowly increase the quantity.
3. Are raw carrots harmful to dogs?
Raw and cooked carrots are both wonderful for dogs to eat daily. Only a small percentage of dogs are known to be allergic to carrots and could suffer from allergy symptoms like scratching paws or face, hives, etc.
4. Why does my dog throw up carrots?
If your Frenchie keeps throwing up carrots every single time, it could be allergic to them. Please consult your vet and, if needed, discontinue feeding this vegetable to your buddy.
Conclusion
Can French bulldogs eat carrots?
Yes. Carrots are great for Frenchies especially as a post-meal snack. They are also nutrient dense and can benefit your Frenchie’s health in many ways.
The smell and taste of both raw and cooked carrots is seemingly very enticing to most dogs and they can have it in many forms like carrot cake, grated carrots, bite-sized raw carrot pieces, or carrot puree, etc.
Happy feeding!
