Carrots are a popular food among humans, and for good reason: they’re nutrient-dense, cheap, and easy to access. That’s why many Shih Tzu owners want to know if it’s safe to use carrots as treats for their pups.
The short answer is yes—you can feed carrots to your Shih Tzus! Carrots are not only safe for your Shih Tzu, but they’re also extremely healthy and can help keep your pup happy and healthy. In fact, the wide variety of health benefits that carrots have may surprise you for Shih Tzus.
So let’s start with the basic question:
Are carrots safe for Shih Tzus?
Carrots are safe for Shih Tzus! They’re full of vitamin A, which helps with your Shih Tzu’s coat and skin. They’re also a great source of fiber and beta-carotene.
But be careful to introduce carrots slowly. If you feed your Shih Tzu too many carrots at once, they can cause gas and bloating. And if your Shih Tzu eats only carrots, they could suffer vitamin A toxicity, so give them other foods too.
It’s best to cook the carrots first, since raw ones can be hard for Shih Tzus to digest. But cooked or raw, you should always cut them into small pieces so they don’t pose a choking hazard.
If this is your Shih Tzu’s first time eating carrots, keep an eye out for any abnormal signs. It’s rare, but some Shih Tzus can have food intolerances or allergic reactions. If you observe any abnormal symptoms, stop feeding your Shih Tzu carrots and consult a veterinarian immediately.
Benefits of carrots in Shih Tzus
Carrots are a great treat for Shih Tzus! They’re high in vitamins, fiber, and minerals, and they’re packed with antioxidants that help prevent cancer.
The most well-known vitamin in carrots is vitamin A. Vitamin A helps your Shih Tzu’s eyes develop and work properly. It also helps your Shih Tzu’s skin stay healthy by protecting against infection.
Another important vitamin present in carrots is vitamin K. Vitamin K promotes blood clotting and wound healing. It also promotes bone growth and density, helping your Shih Tzu stay strong as she ages.
Vitamin B complex is crucial for cell health, digestion, and nerve function throughout your Shih Tzu’s body. Carrots are full of this important vitamin!
Fiber is essential for healthy digestion and a healthy heart, and carrots have plenty of it to keep your pooch running smoothly inside and out.
Carrots are also full of minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, phosphorus, copper, manganese, and selenium. These minerals go to work inside your Shih Tzu’s body strengthening her bones, teeth, muscles—even her immune system!
Finally, carrots pack a ton of lycopene—an antioxidant linked to sun protection, heart health and a lower risk of cancer.
Do all Shih Tzus like carrots?
Unfortunately, no. While Shih Tzus love carrots, some may have a distaste for them. You may even have a Shih Tzu that likes broccoli.
Shih Tzus have food preferences just like humans do. If you introduce your Shih Tzu to something new, don’t force him to eat it. If he doesn’t like it, give him something else to eat.
Consult with your veterinarian before introducing any new foods into your Shih Tzu’s diet. He/she can recommend good Shih Tzu food based on your Shih Tzu’s age, size and health conditions.
Can my Shih Tzus have carrots every day?
Some Shih Tzus love carrots. They are crunchy, tasty, and can be a great treat for your Shih Tzu. But can you give your Shih Tzu carrots every day?
The answer is: it depends.
There is no rule on how often you should give your Shih Tzu carrots. And if your Shih Tzu really likes them, feed them the recommended amount to him or her every day. However, we recommend varying the treats that you give to your Shih Tzu. Your Shih Tzu might get bored if he or she always gets the same treat and loses interest in it or in treats altogether.
Also, different treats contain different vitamins and minerals, so it’s important not to rely on any type of treat to make sure your Shih Tzu gets all the nutrients they need.
You should also consider the fact that Shih Tzus need fewer calories than humans do. This means we should give sparingly even healthy treats like carrots in order to avoid overfeeding your pet.
Can Shih Tzu puppies eat carrots?
Your Shih Tzu puppy should be on a specialized puppy diet for the first few months—it’s a great way to ensure they get all the nutrients they need to grow and thrive. Once they’re over two months old, of course you can give them small pieces of cooked carrots, but do it sparingly at first. Start by letting them have one or two bites once or twice a week, and then see how they respond.
Puppies have delicate digestive systems, so it’s important to introduce new foods slowly and carefully. Make sure you consult with your vet before introducing any new foods into your puppy’s diet.
How many carrots can Shih Tzus eat?
Shih Tzus love carrots. They are a tasty treat and a great source of nutrition for your pup. Carrots have lots of healthy vitamins, including A, B, C, D, E, K and B6. They also contain thiamin, riboflavin, folate vitamin k and potassium.
But before you go giving your Shih Tzu all the carrots in the bag, remember that it is important to consult with your vet first to determine the best serving size for your Shih Tzu based on age, size and activity level.
For smaller breeds (under 20 pounds) one baby carrot will do just fine. For larger breeds (over 20 pounds) two/three baby carrots will be sufficient.
Remember to always practice portion control when feeding your Shih Tzu treats like carrots. Start out with a small piece and if there are no negative reactions from your Shih Tzu, you can offer him more. But remember: your Shih Tzu needs a completely balanced diet, and treats should only account for about 10% of their total diet.
How to serve carrots to your Shih Tzus?
If you’re considering feeding carrots to your Shih Tzu, the first thing you should do is check with your vet. It can be great for them, but it’s always best to get the advice of a professional.
One quick note—if you do decide to feed carrots to your Shih Tzus, we strongly recommend you only use organic carrots and that you clean them properly. These are great for Shih Tzus, but you want to make sure they’re safe and healthy for them!
Now, let’s talk about serving! There are a few different ways you can serve carrots to your Shih Tzu:
1) Raw carrots: wash them then grate them.
2) Juiced carrots: This is a great way to get some nutrition into picky eaters. Just juice some up and feed it to your pup in small amounts.
3) Frozen carrot: Another great one for picky eaters or pups who need something cold on their gums!
4) Cooked carrot: This is probably the most common way people serve carrots to their Shih Tzus—just steam or boil it until soft and cut into easy-to-chew chunks
When are carrots bad for Shih Tzus?
It’s a good idea to check with your vet before giving your pup any new food, but we consider carrots safe for Shih Tzus. Like other foods, though, they shouldn’t be overindulged in. It’s best to give your Shih Tzu only one baby carrot per 20 pounds of its body weight.
Giving a Shih Tzu too many carrots can lead to symptoms like bloating and diarrhea. If you suspect your Shih Tzu has eaten too many carrots, don’t wait for symptoms to appear—check in with a vet right away.
Carrots are rich in vitamins and minerals, so you may think everything is peachy with your pooch if it seems more energetic after eating carrots. But beware: some Shih Tzus are actually allergic to carrots and will develop symptoms like vomiting or itching when they eat them.
And the same nutrients that make carrots so good for us can negatively affect Shih Tzus with underlying health issues such as cancer and diabetes. So if you’re wondering if too many carrots are going to be bad for your pet, it’s best to play it safe and consult with a vet first.
Last, while raw carrots are fine for Shih Tzus, avoid feeding them canned ones unless they’re marked as pet-friendly. This is because commercially canned vegetables often contain additives that are harmful for your pup.
What happens when your Shih Tzus eat too many carrots?
Nausea: If your Shih Tzu has eaten a lot of carrots, they may vomit. This is the body’s way of getting rid of excess material, so vomiting can help the body recover from eating too many carrots.
Diarrhea: If your Shih Tzu has diarrhea, it’s probably because they’ve eaten too much fiber or sugar and their body is trying to get rid of that extra stuff as quickly as possible.
Abdominal Pain: If your Shih Tzu has abdominal pain and bloating after eating a lot of carrots, it’s likely because they’re not digesting the food very well. The intestines aren’t absorbing nutrients from food properly, so everything just sits in the stomach until it passes through into liquid waste.
Obesity: Too many carrots can cause weight gain and obesity over time because the body isn’t absorbing nutrients from food properly and instead stores them as fat cells (adipose tissue).
Choking Hazards: Carrots are hard for Shih Tzus to chew on, so there’s a choking hazard if you’re feeding them raw carrots or whole pieces that aren’t cut into smaller pieces before serving—it could get stuck in their throat!
What to do if your Shih Tzus eat too many carrots?
First, don’t panic. Your Shih Tzus will be okay—but you do need to act fast. Take away any leftover carrots or carrot remains and stop feeding them carrots for the time being. Then monitor your pup for any signs of distress, like stomach pain or vomiting. If there are no signs of distress within 24 hours, keep a close eye on them and introduce small amounts of their normal food again over a couple days—but no carrots!
If they seem to be fine after a few days, it’s safe to say they’ll probably be just fine in the long run (although they may not want to eat carrots again). But if there are any signs of distress after 24 hours, call your vet immediately.
Again, your Shih Tzus are probably going to be fine—carrots are just about the most harmless thing a Shih Tzu can eat too much of. However, if you’re at all concerned that something worse is going on with your pups, just give your vet a call and get peace of mind before you go giving them too many treats again.
Can Shih Tzus eat carrot cake?
Carrot cake is not toxic to Shih Tzus, but its ingredients may make it a poor choice.
If the cake is made with just carrots, eggs, and flour, your Shih Tzu can have some as a treat. The rest of the ingredients (sugar, milk, margarine) are probably fine in small amounts.
However, many carrot cakes contain raisins or other dried fruit, which are toxic to Shih Tzus. Other common ingredients like cinnamon and nuts are also dangerous for Shih Tzus.
Other human foods Shih Tzus can eat
What other human foods can Shih Tzus eat? Here is a list of some other human foods your Shih Tzus can eat.
So, can Shih Tzus eat carrots?
Shih Tzus can eat carrots and they are good for them because of their nutritional value.
Carrots are rich in vitamin A, fiber, biotin and potassium. They also have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help Shih Tzus’ joints and vision, which is especially helpful for older Shih Tzus.
Feeding your Shih Tzu carrots is a great way to supplement their diet with a healthy snack, as long as you don’t overfeed them. Feeding them too many carrots could cause digestive issues like gas or diarrhea. Follow the 90/10 rule of feeding your Shih Tzu human food: only 10% of their daily calorie intake should come from treats, such as baby carrots or carrot slices.