Practicing due diligence is an essential aspect of being a responsible pet owner. And this includes knowing what vegetables are safe for dogs and what is not.
In this article, we’ll find out more about beets, their health benefits and risks to your dogs, and so on. But first, let’s answer the question, “Can Dogs Eat Beets?”
Absolutely! Your dogs can eat beets. But like any other human food, it should just be in moderation, and you have to pay attention to how it’s prepared and served.
Also, just like us, dogs must be fed with a well-balanced diet loaded with essential nutrients. By ensuring this, you are helping them live a happy and healthy life by your side.
If you are not sure what percentage of meat, vegetables, fruits, and dry dog food should be in your dog’s meal, you can always ask for help from your vet.
Generally, 15-25% of your dog’s diet should be fruits and vegetables. So, if you are already giving your dog sweet potatoes and leafy greens, consider adjusting the amount of red beets in his meals.
Your dog’s nutritional needs may also be influenced by his breed, weight, as well as his lifestyle, or activity level. Hence, it’s best to seek help from an expert to determine the best amount of a certain food you should be giving to your dog.
Are Beets Safe for Dogs?
Beets are not toxic for canines, so it’s just safe to feed your dog with beets. Nevertheless, you should never be complacent when it comes to what your dog eats – even if it’s a healthy treat like these.
Because even if it’s rare, dogs can also be allergic to beets, and there are also other health risks that you should know about before allowing your dog to indulge in these veggies. If your dog eats a lot of beets, he may experience stomach upsets causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Moreover, feeding your dog raw beet greens may be a choking hazard and it may also be harder to digest, which can only exacerbate his rumbling stomach if in case you fed him with huge amounts of beets.
Hence, just like what was mentioned earlier, stay in the safe zone and just give your dog beets as treats or in moderation.
We’ll talk more about the safety precautions and health hazards in feeding beets to your dog below.
Beets are pleasing to the eyes, but are they satisfying to your dog’s sense of taste? Can they even taste beets? Well, there’s just one way to know and that’s by observing his reaction or gesture after placing a cooked serving of beets in front of him.
As with any new food, give him a small amount of beets first, or you may also add them as toppings to his favorite dog food or meat. And keep salt, pepper, and other spices to yourself even if your dog begs for your heavily seasoned foods on your dinner table.
You can tell that your dog is into beets by his initial reaction. If he eats them fast without hesitation, then, no doubt you have a health buff pooch. Not all dogs will love the taste of beets, so cheer up if your dog ends up snubbing them.
You can also try other vegetables, or like what was mentioned above, try adding small fractions of these veggies as toppings to your dog’s favorite food.
Other signs that your dog loves the taste of beets are when their ears are up and staring at the food intently, as well as when they are licking their lips, pawing at your legs, barking with excitement, drooling, wagging his tail, or even jumping at you. Moreover, your dog may also show interest by spinning in circles, pacing around the food, and coming back for more.
On the other hand, your dog is not a fan of beets, beet juice, beet pulp, or any food that contains beets when they will just play with the food without even licking it again. Moreover, they may also bark, snarl, expose their teeth, or simply walk away as if they didn’t see anything.
Health Benefits of Beets to Dogs
Beet is an earthy bright red root vegetable that works well with a lot of recipes, and you can easily find it at your local grocery stores. With their rich content of vitamins, minerals, and fibers, beets form a rich food source for humans and dogs alike.
Your canine friend will thank you if you add a few slices of beets to his meals as part of his balanced diet. Beets are loaded with essential nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, iron, phosphorus, manganese, magnesium, calcium, and zinc. They are also an incredible source of natural digestible sugars (carbohydrates), folic acid, and iodine.
These nutrients are helpful for your dog’s immune system and heart health, as well as for his digestion. Beets are also helpful in keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy and shiny. And with their low caloric content, beets may help your pooch in reaching his ideal body weight.
Achieving this goal is made even more possible with beets because of their high fiber content. As we know, high fiber promotes healthy digestion, and it also makes your dog feel fuller. So, it will take more time before he begs for food again.
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Health Risks and Potential Dangers
While beets are loaded with nutrients that are beneficial for dogs, these veggies also pose some health risks for them. Some of the potential dangers of feeding your dog a high amount of beets include bladder stones, and kidney stones because of their high oxalic acid content.
Beets are also high in sodium, and we know that an elevated concentration of this mineral in the dog’s system can lead to kidney problems, as well as sodium toxicity. Symptoms of the latter include vomiting within several hours of ingestion, which can then progress to diarrhea, body weakness, muscle tremors, and seizures.
Moreover, with their acidity, beets may also cause stomach upsets to your dog which can lead to tummy pains, vomiting, and diarrhea.
And when you give your dog raw beets, he may also be at risk of being choked. The raw pieces of beets are in fact harder to digest, which can again lead to stomach upsets and potential intestinal obstruction.
Safety Tips When Giving Beetroot
If you are planning of adding beets to your dog’s diet, make sure to wash and scrub them first to remove any dirt. While you can serve them raw, it’s not the best way to introduce these veggies into your dog’s meal. And it’s also not recommended due to the risk of choking, intestinal obstruction, and stomach upsets.
Hence, it’s best to always cook the beets before giving them to your canine buddies. As much as possible, choose organic beets to minimize your dog’s exposure to the harmful side effects of pesticides and chemicals.
You can bake, roast, or even dehydrate the beets. You can chop the beets into tiny bits and add them as toppings into your dog’s typical meal. You may also boil or blanch the beets, and then throw them into the food processor or blender to make a puree.
And like what was said earlier, always skip the seasonings. While these artificial flavorings and spices may add taste to human foods, they don’t give the same experience with dogs. And worse, they are also harmful to them.
So, just save these ingredients for yourself. Also, the flavor of the beets is enough to make them excited if they’ve already developed a liking for the veggies.
Dogs may also be allergic to beets. Hence, if it’s your first time to feed him these vegetables, make sure to just give them a little and observe for untoward reactions.
If everything goes well, and he ends up liking beets, then, feel free to add them into his diet in moderation. You may also make your pooch their beat chips as treats.
Furthermore, you may add a teaspoon of beet juice to your dog’s meal, but it’s still better if you ask your vet since there are reports that this can lower your dog’s blood pressure. Beet juice is also high in sugar and carbohydrates, so, it’s not really advisable especially if your dog needs to shed some excess pounds.
Don’t use canned beets if you want your dog to reap some health benefits. Canned beets are loaded with preservatives and salt, which are all unhealthy for your pet dog. You should also skip giving your dog pickled beets because of their high salt content.
Final Thoughts
As with any decision you make when it comes to your dog’s diet, it’s best to seek help from your vet if you are in doubt.
And if you are going to purchase canned beet juice, it also pays to read the label. Choose the ones that don’t have harmful ingredients like sugars, fillers, and other preservatives and artificial flavors.
If you are having second thoughts of incorporating beets into your dog’s meals, then, search for other healthy options or you can stick with your tried and tested dog foods.
As always, the key is to give your dogs a well-rounded diet loaded with the essential nutrients that they need.
Can dogs eat beetroot cooked?
Dogs can certainly eat fresh, red beets in its raw or cooked form though in a very moderate amount. In fact, the ASPCA, have categorized this vegetable to be non toxic for dogs.
Are beets safe for dogs to eat?
Absolutely, dogs can eat beets! They are a great addition to a dog's diet, in moderation, and provide them with a number of beneficial micronutrients. Beets provide dogs with Vitamin C, fiber, manganese, folate, and potassium.
Do beets make dogs pee red?
It is important to note that consumption of beets can cause red-tinted urine, so if the color is the only indicator, be sure that your dog hasn't consumed beets recently.
Why are beets good for dogs?
Beets are safe for your dog to eat in moderation and are a healthy source of vitamin C, fiber, folate, manganese, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals are good for your dog's digestion and immune system as well as a healthy skin and coat. While it's rare, some dogs can be allergic.
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He is a seasoned writer who has more than 10 years of experience in creating engaging and optimized content for various platforms and audiences. He has worked on diverse projects ranging from articles, social media posts, newsletters and ebooks, covering different topics and niches.
