Any Frenchie owner will know that there are some veggies that are safe for dogs to eat. In fact, some dog food will even have vegetable elements included. But what about carrots? Are they safe for French Bulldogs to eat or are they toxic? How much carrot is ok to feed your Frenchie, and will it give them gas or diarrhoea? Does it need to be cooked first or are raw carrots ok? Let’s find out…
Can French Bulldogs eat carrots? Frenchies can eat carrots which are cut into bite-sized chunks. Carrots are healthy and offer a low in calories but high in fiber snack that can supplement you dog’s diet, coming with a range of health benefits. Carrots are safe to feed to a French Bulldog raw or cooked.
That’s the short answer, but there’s so much more to learn about if you decide to let your French Bulldog eat carrots. If you are a responsible owner and want to know more about the health benefits and how to prepare the carrots safely for your Frenchie please read on.
The health benefits of carrots
Carrots are rich in a range of healthy elements including antioxidants, fiber, potassium, and vitamin A. Vitamin A is an essential aspect of a dog’s diet and can help to maintain their health.
Sounds good doesn’t it?
The experts agree too.
In a study titled “Safety Evaluation of Vitamin A in Growing Dogs” scientists published the following statement:
“Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble vitamin that has functions supporting vision, bone growth, reproduction, cellular differentiation and immune response in dogs.” (view medical journal),
But what exactly will be the healthy benefits from feeding a French Bulldog carrot?
Carrots can help with vision and eye health
My grandmother used to say that carrots would help me see better in the dark. Whilst this old saying has been debunked by science, there is an element of truth behind it as research suggests that the vitamins in carrots can help the pigment in your eyes when operating in low light condition.
And it’s the same for dogs. Here’s what a popular doggy blog has to say:
“Carrots make a wonderfully crunchy, natural rawhide alternative for your canine. But as your dog chomps away contentedly, he’s also getting a serious boost of beta-carotene, potassium, niacin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. Better yet, carrots are loaded with lycopene and lutein — essential phytonutrients that may help protect eyes from free radical damage and UVB radiation.” (source: Dogster.com)
So, if you want your Frenchie’s eyesight to be better and stay healthy, you might want to consider adding some carrots into their diet.
Carrots are low in calories and high in fiber
To support the research into this topic I spoke my friend’s wife who happens to be a vet. When I asked her “can French Bulldogs eat carrots and are they good for them” here’s what she said to me over email.
“Carrots are a great addition to your French Bulldog’s diet. They are low in calories and high in fiber. They work as a great healthy snack for a hungry dog and can even help with their dental care. I feed carrots to my dogs every couple of days when cooking in the kitchen, and you should too!”
Frozen carrots can help teething Frenchie puppies
My vet friend also mentioned another factor which I think is really interesting; frozen carrots can help with teething puppies.
If you have owned your Frenchie from a young age you will know how intense the teething period can be. They will want to chew on anything and everything.
Toys that have been placed in the freezer to get cold can really help to soothe their gums, but frozen carrots can do the same job, whilst also giving them additional health benefits.
To try it yourself cut some carrots down to a manageable size, put them in the freezer overnight and then let your French Bulldog puppy chew and eat them to alleviate teething pain.
Handy Hint: I published a guide which details the teething timeline of a Frenchie puppy. Read that for tips on how to deal with teething and what to expect.
Carrots can support dental health
Our vet also recommends regular teeth brushing for dogs. If you’ve ever tried to brush a French Bulldog’s teeth you will know how challenging it can be!
Carrots are a great solution. By chewing on them, your Frenchie can benefit from improved dental health. Carrots will battle dental disease, get rid of plaque deposits, and help keep their teeth in far better shape.
Our Frenchie Claude hates having a doggy toothbrush anywhere near his mouth. Since we discovered that carrots can also act as a teeth cleaner it’s made us feel a lot better about reducing the regularity of his brushing.
To get the best from this health benefit, feed your French Bulldog carrots that have been steamed ever so slightly. You need the toughness in the carrot in order for it to work well on the teeth.
Carrots can be a tasty reward or snack
I would also recommend that you let your French Bulldog eat carrots as a reward for good behavior. Unlike other dog treats, you won’t be overloading your Frenchie with unnecessary calories and possible sugars with a veggie-based snack!
When my wife and I are cooking in the kitchen, Claude is always on the lookout for anything he can get given. We will happily throw a cut-up carrot on the floor for him to snack on, and he will always ask for more.
Carrots are nutritious, low in calories, and far healthier than any off the shelf dog snack you can buy.
Did You Know? Almost 54% of dogs are overweight due to a poor diet. A lot of that will be down to snacking, so by switching to carrots you could help to avoid health problems such as diabetes. I’ve published a list of the most common 31 Frenchie health issues.
How to feed your Frenchie carrots
So now we’ve established that French Bulldogs can eat carrots, what’s the best way to serve and cook them so there are no health risks?
Firstly, it’s not toxic to feed Frenchies carrots, be they raw or cooked – you have no concerns there.
However, there is a recommended way to feed your French Bulldog carrot so they not only get the best from it but also to prevent the risks of choking. Here’s how to do it and why:
- Wash the carrots before feeding: some carrots will have pesticides and dirt on them, so give the veg a wash down before feeding.
- Steamed carrots are better than boiled: this is because when are slightly steamed, they will be rougher on the teeth and gums which can help with dental health. This cooking method will also keep the goodness in over boiling.
- Cut the carrots into small sticks or bite-sized chunks: to safely feed carrots to your Frenchie always make sure the vegetable is of a manageable size. Frenchies can wolf food down without chewing, so keep the carrots small.
How often can my Frenchie eat carrots?
Having read various forums and the website of a real vet, the general consensus would appear to be that you can safely feed a couple of small carrots to a dog each day.
However, as a French Bulldog owner we limit the amount of human type food with feed our dog, believing that moderation is key.
Some dog owners will grate carrot over their usual dog’s food a couple of times a week so the pup gets the nutrients needed from the vegetable.
Are carrots toxic for dogs?
Carrots are not toxic for dogs. However, there are some fruits and vegetables that can very toxic and poisonous – for examples, grapes and raisins are an absolute no (read more).
Handy Hint: I’ve published a downloadable list of what safe and dangerous fruits you can feed a Frenchie. You can download the list here and stick it on your fridge to reference before feeding any dangerous fruits to your dog.
Can carrots give dogs diarrhea?
We’ve established that carrots are high in fiber. With fiber you get health benefits, but there’s also the risk of diarrhea.
Dogs don’t actually need as much fiber as humans do, so I would recommend that you keep a close eye on your Frenchie the first few times you feed him carrot.
You could get a nasty surprise; thankfully with Claude he’s never shown an adverse effect form eating this vegetable.
Are dogs allergic to carrots?
This depends, which is why I always recommend you speak to a vet before feeding your dog a traditional human food. Some dogs could be allergic to carrots so if you see an adverse reaction please consult with your vet immediately.
Signs of allergic illness include vomiting, diarrhea, and itching.
What are good carrots recipes for French Bulldogs?
I don’t have any recipes as such, but I do have some ways in which you might want to consider using carrots safely in your Frenchie’s diet:
- Raw carrots: sliced and diced into smaller chunks.
- Frozen carrots: can help with puppy teething.
- Carrots and peas: two veggies for the price of one here (Claude loves this).
- Carrot peelings: carrot skin and peel is safe for dogs to eat.
- Carrot sticks: these can be just the right size for a French Bulldog.
One thing I did see that people were searching on Google for which I completely disagree with is carrot cake. I do not suggest you feed your dog carrot cake.
Cake will usually come packed full of sugar, raisins, and wheat. Raisins are toxic, and the sugar and wheat could play havoc with your dog’s diet.
Avoid feeding carrot cake to your Frenchie no matter how many puppy dog eyes he decides to give you!
Handy Hint: Read this guide to what other vegetables are safe for Frenchies to eat. Contains 38 different veggies, some of which could be potentially toxic to dogs.
What other human foods can you feed a French Bulldog?
Over the last couple of months I have compiled a lot of research into various foods, and how safe they are. Below is a list of some of the content I’ve already published with guidelines on the health benefits and risks.
Conclusion
I am not a vet, but I am an experienced French Bulldog owner. With that in mind, I would strongly recommend that you treat any addition into your dog’s diet with common sense and caution.
I would even go so far to say that you should speak with your vet first before you consider feeding your Frenchie carrots. Your particular dog could have health problems that mean this isn’t a good idea.
Please do you own due diligence at all times.