In the spirit of National Pet Dental Health Month, try a different approach to cleaning a pet's teeth – feed him a carrot instead! Although not meant to eliminate the need to get teeth cleaned professionally or do it yourself, a raw carrot can also help scrub away plaque. Who knew?!
North had never tried a carrot so I was excited to test this out. I washed it off and offered it to him. In typical North fashion (with no trepidation), he snatched the yum right out of my hand and brought it to his bed . . . and I followed to observe. He started out licking and nibbling on it before eventually gnawing off small pieces and eating them. I didn't have any full-sized carrots in my fridge so I gave him a baby carrot and he seemed to get the idea that he was supposed to break off pieces but, as with any edible bone or toy, monitor your pet to make sure he's not biting off more than he can chew (or not chewing at all). I think a larger carrot may work better or even a frozen one – I think it was the gnawing that helped his teeth the most! To learn the other benefits, read more.
After this success, I did a little more research about the crunchy, orange veggies. In addition to helping combat plaque and tarter, carrots are a good source of vitamins A and C and fiber. It's important not to feed them to a pet too often as vitamin A can build up in their system and sometimes cause runny poo – I'd say as a treat no more than once or twice a week.
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Tory Burch
Arizona
I have been given my 5 dogs carrots for years and it does help to keep down the tarter from there teeth, but it is best if you start when they are young, I start my as soon as they go on dry food, if you start when the are young you will not have as much trouble when they are older. my oldest dog did not have to have her teeth cleened buy the Vet until she was 10 years old.
1my jack russell loves carrots!
2we give our dogs carrots all the time.. especially at night instead of a cookie after they go outside.. its a lot healthier and they love them!
3I'm just getting my dog on them...she didn't like them at first so I put a bit of peanut butter on a baby carrot and she loves them now without the PB!
I often will cut them into smaller pieces and use them for training.
4Mine have more fun breaking them into millions of tiny, slimy pieces than actually eating them. I finally stopped giving them because it was so hard to get out of the carpet.
5I can make my dog do just about anything for a carrot. He loves them. Also really likes apples too.
6My dog loves carrots!! Anytime she sees them she freaks out until she gets one.
7My pug oscar loves baby carrots. He will howl for them.
8One of Cuba's favorites broccoli is his first!
9That's cool! Any tips for cats and veggies? I heard you can give them peas and green beans. Are carrots okay for cats?
10Great tips...I was wondering about apples...any idea if they are good for dogs too?
11I just gave Caddy a baby carrot the other night. She ran off with it like it was the greatest thing ever. But then I found it in little pieces all over the house!
12my dog goes absolutely crazy for carrots! she can smell them from a mile away!
13I try to brush my dogs' teeth a couple of times a week.....I going to try this.
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