Do you know what’s the average screen time for a dog in the US?
I don’t know either!
But since Americans spend on average 10 hours and 39 minutes of their day on a screen, and our pets share most of our daily environment, I’m pretty sure dogs are also highly exposed to screens.
What does this have to do with carrots?
It turns out carrots are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two carotenoids that accumulate in the retina and absorb up to 90% of blue light that can damage the eye.
This is only one of the reasons (maybe not the most compelling one) why carrots are good for dogs.
Read on to learn other reasons why your dog will be healthier eating carrots.
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1. Carrots for dogs: healthy dog treats.
Carrots are the archetypal example of dog treats that are tasty, fun, and healthy.
It may be because there’s some sugar in carrots that dogs are attracted to them.
Another attractive feature seems to be their crunchiness.
Whether fed as a convenient and inexpensive snack or added regularly to your dog’s food, carrots are a healthy addition to your pup’s diet.
2. Why are carrots healthy for dogs?
They contain large amounts of carotenoids.
These are yellow, orange, and red pigments synthetized by plants.
Alpha-carotene and beta-carotene are provitamin A, meaning they are converted by the body into vitamin A.
Contrary to cats, dogs can efficiently convert carotenes into vitamin A.
Vitamin A is essential for normal growth, immune function, and vision.
Carotenes are present only in plants; however, dogs (and humans) can also get vitamin A already formed from animal products such as liver.
Believe it or not, another powerful veggie, spinach, has more beta-carotene than carrots!!
A study in the Journal of Nutrition showed that supplementing dogs’ diet with beta-carotene improved their immune responses.
Carotenes are also antioxidants and seem to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Lutein and zeaxanthin, mentioned above, are also carotenoids.
While they’re not converted into vitamin A, they have important functions in the body, especially in the eyes.
Green leafy veggies and broccoli are also packed with these nutrients.
Carrots are prebiotics and a good source of fiber, helping with constipation and maintaining your dog’s gut healthy.
Carrots’ high content of magnesium promotes bowl movements, helping dogs “when the going gets tough”.
3. Carrots for senior dogs.
Carrots seem to be especially healthy for senior dogs.
Lutein and zeaxanthin from carrots help slow the development of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts that can result in blindness in elderly dogs.
Also, scientists found that supplementation of senior dogs’ diet with beta-carotene restored immune functions that were severely impaired due to their old age.
4. How to prepare carrots for your dog.
As with all other veggies, nutrients are available for dogs only after destroying the cellulose wall that protects plant cells.
Chopping, puréeing, and cooking carrots are the best options to add them to your dog’s food and increase the absorption of carotenoids.
Also, carotenoids are best absorbed with fat in a meal.
If used as treats, cut bite-size pieces to avoid choking hazard and feed them raw or frozen.
My Zone Blue Super Green Toppers, are a perfect blend of finely chopped veggies and fats ready to serve.
Our freeze dried topper for dogs is a blend of veggies, fruits, meat, organs, prebiotics, and superfoods with nourishing, cancer-fighting, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant nutrients in a convenient freeze-dried preparation ready to serve.
There you are, a few reasons to add carrots to your dog’s diet and reduce her/his screen time.
Summary
Carrots contain Alpha- and Beta-carotenes that are converted into vitamin A by dogs.
Lutein and zeaxanthin from carrots help slow the development of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts that can result in blindness in elderly dogs.
Carrots are prebiotics and a good source of fiber that help with diarrhea and constipation.