While dogs can undoubtedly survive eating kibble alone, your pet is likely missing out on valuable vitamins and minerals that they can only gain through fresh vegetables. Beets are a superfood for dogs, giving them plenty of Vitamin C, fibre, potassium, and manganese in their diets.
Beets can not only boost your pet’s immune system but may be able to help with specific pet allergies, especially if the allergies impact the fur and skin. Understanding the best way to give your pet beetroot for allergy support can lead you on the path to a healthier and happier dog.
What Happens if Dogs Eat Beet Pulp?
Beets are non-toxic for dogs and are mainly beneficial, pending your dog eats a moderate amount. Too much of anything, even something good, can cause your dog to become sick. Packed full of beneficial vitamins, beets have many vital minerals essential for a healthy dog. Dogs that eat beetroots are likely to see a range of benefits, including:
- A healthier immune system
- Potential to detoxify the body
- Reduction in inflammation
- Shiny and glossy coat
- Healthier skin
- Improved digestion and a healthier digestive tract
Beets also have properties that may make them an anti-cancer superfood. These root vegetables are rich in antioxidants which help prevent free radicals from forming in the body. Free radicals cause several cancers, so eliminating them entirely can give your dog an added health benefit. When you remove free radicals from your pet’s body, you can also increase their immune system, allowing them to fight off disease and infection more quickly.
Of course, it is always possible your dog can be allergic to beets. You’ll want to start by giving your dog a small amount to ensure the beet doesn’t upset your dog’s stomach. If your dog tolerates the beets well, this vegetable can be a great supplement to encourage a healthy system.
Why Is Beet Pulp Used in Dog Food?
Although we pet owners like to give our dogs kibble to stay healthy, adding some “human food” can be largely beneficial. Beet pulp is commonly used in dog food to maintain a healthy diet that supports the immune system and overall organ health. While dogs can certainly survive with only kibble in their diet, they should be eating green, leafy vegetables that give them essential vitamins.
Beet tops certainly fit the bill, offering plenty of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals for your dog. Beets also contain vitamins and minerals that are difficult for dogs to absorb simply from kibble. Adding beets to standard dog food helps build a well-rounded, complete diet. Beets can provide plenty of fibre, manganese, potassium, folate, and Vitamin C.
Do Beets Help Dog Allergies?
The beet pulp in dog food allergies remedy might work, depending on your dog’s particular type of allergy. Beets are high in fibre, so they promote a healthy digestive tract. If your pet suffers from food allergies that make its stool soft, adding beet to your dog’s daily diet could help promote a healthy gut. Adding fibre through beets can also encourage beneficial bacteria to grow in your dog’s digestive tract.
Dogs suffering from skin irritation and allergies may also benefit from beets. These root vegetables are high in Vitamin C, which can help make your dog’s coat healthy. Antioxidants found within beets can help repair damaged cells and fight off free radicals that can lead to sensitive or irritated skin. A pet itching and scratching from continual skin allergies may find some relief by eating beets regularly.
Is Cooked or Dried Beetroot Good for Dogs?
Cooked and dried beetroot contain the same amount of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your dog. However, dried and raw beetroot can pose potential hazards for your dog. Giving your dog dried or raw beetroot can result in:
- Beeturia – Specific to eating beets, this disease causes your dog’s urine to turn red after eating raw beets. Although it is not dangerous for your pet, it can be alarming for you to witness.
- Digestion Problems – Raw and dried beets are harsh and rugged, which can upset your dog’s stomach and digestive tract. If your dog eats too many raw beets, it could suffer from intestinal blockage, constipation, or painful bloating.
- Irritation – While dogs will primarily benefit from beets, some dogs will have a particular beet allergy. A beet allergy is worsened by giving your pet raw beets and can result in irritated skin.
Cooked beets are the best and safest way to feed your dog this largely beneficial vegetable. Cooked beets are more manageable for your dog to eat and digest, and you’ll be able to provide your dog with larger chunks of beet mixed into its kibble.
To feed your dog cooked beets, quickly blanch the beets in boiling water for a few seconds, just until they are soft. Mash the beets to blend into your dog’s food, or cut the soft beets into easily digested pieces. To make a creamy, smooth mix, you can also put softened beets into a blender or food processor.
Never give your dog canned beets. Although soft and easily digested, canned vegetables contain preservatives, like salt, that can be dangerous for dogs. Too much salt can increase your dog’s blood pressure and can cause other serious health issues to form. Your dog will get its necessary sodium from other food sources and treats.
Can Beets Be Dangerous for My Dog?
While beets are non-toxic and generally pretty safe for dogs to eat, there are some caveats to note. Beets are high in oxalates, which can cause problems in the urinary tract. If your dog has a history of kidney stones, bladder stones, or urinary tract infections, you may want to limit how many beets you give your dog or eliminate this vegetable from their diet.
Further, beets can be very acidic, which has the potential to disrupt the digestive tract. Acidic foods, especially in large quantities, can give dogs a stomach ache resulting in diarrhoea. If your dog becomes sick to its stomach after eating beats, it is best to eliminate this food from its diet. Despite the beet’s fantastic health benefits, some dogs cannot tolerate the added acidity.
How Much Beetroot Can I Give my Dog?
Your dog’s diet should include a healthy balance between beneficial proteins, fresh plants, fatty acids, and a few carbohydrates. Your pet’s diet shouldn’t have more than 15% fresh vegetables. Include beets in your dog’s diet, along with broccoli, pumpkin, spinach, and even green beans. Of the 15% total vegetable allotment, you need to decide how much beetroot to give your dog. Remember, dogs can eat beet tops and the root of the vegetable.
Giving your dog a few small pieces of cut-up beetroot every day should be safe, without causing your dog digestive distress. Limiting your dog to a small amount will allow your dog to absorb the vitamins and nutrients from beets without upsetting your dog’s digestive tract.
It is perfectly safe to give your dog some beets every day, as long as you limit the quantity. Keep in mind that small dogs will need much less beetroot than larger dogs. A good rule is to limit your dog to only enough beets that can fit in its paw and no more. This quick and easy measurement will ensure you keep your dog’s diet healthy and balanced.
