Raw Carrots

[Pam]

Yup, raw is fine! They won't get anything from it nutrient-wise, as it needs to be ground up if fed raw,

Why is that? Doesn't chewing cause it to be ground up? Carrots have vitamins in them which are good for dogs as well as humans. Mine have eaten raw carrots for years. I often use them as treats, but they stand by me when I am making a salad too, because they know I will toss them a few then.

[.sarah]

Why is that? Doesn't chewing cause it to be ground up?

Not for dogs. For humans, yes, but not for dogs. Dogs have the teeth of a carnivore. Omnivores and herbivores have flat teeth for grinding up plant matter - dogs cannot do this.

Carrots have vitamins in them which are good for dogs as well as humans.

The vitamins are only utilized in dogs if the carrots are pureed or pulped. Because their teeth can't break the cell walls of vegetables, they derive no nutrition from them. Pureeing or pulping them will break the cell walls and the dog can then get nutrients from it. However, whole veggies still make great treats!