Carrots are one of the most popular vegetables in the world. They are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber that works well with many dishes. They’re also quite affordable. No wonder so many Yorkshire Terrier owners ask: “Can I feed carrots to Yorkies?”
The short answer is yes—you can feed carrots to your Yorkshire Terrier! But there are lots of questions about this topic. In this blog post, we’ll go through them one by one and offer you all the information you need to feel confident feeding carrots to your Yorkshire Terrier while keeping its health in mind.
Let’s start with the most obvious question:
Are carrots safe for Yorkies?
Yes, Yorkies can eat carrots. In fact, when it comes to treats for Yorkies, carrots are an excellent choice. They are low in calories, making them an ideal treat to give your pup if he or she has a sweet tooth.
However, moderation is key when introducing carrots into your Yorkshire Terrier’s diet. If you are feeding your Yorkshire Terrier carrots for the first time, do not inundate him or her with too many at once. Instead, introduce small amounts of raw or cooked carrot pieces into their regular food and watch for any abnormal signs (such as diarrhea or vomiting) that could show a food intolerance or allergic reaction.
In general, cooked carrots are a better option because they are easier to digest than raw ones and will help prevent constipation. That said, you should still feed your Yorkshire Terrier fresh carrots instead of canned versions that have been preserved with sodium to preserve their taste and color.
Benefits of carrots in Yorkies
Your Yorkshire Terrier deserves the best diet possible, and a healthy part of that is including carrots as a treat or in their regular meals. There are a few key reasons for this:
-The vitamin A in carrots can help keep your Yorkshire Terrier’s eyesight sharp, and can even prevent vision loss.
-Carrots also contain a healthy amount of vitamin K, which helps with blood clotting and wound healing.
-They’re also full of B-complex vitamins, which are important for cell health, digestion, and nerve function.
-Carrots contain fiber too! That can help with your Yorkshire Terrier’s digestion.
-Carrots have minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium and phosphorus that promote bone health and overall wellbeing.
-Plus they’re full of lycopene, which protects your Yorkshire Terrier’s skin from sun damage and cancer.
Do all Yorkies like carrots?
Unfortunately, no, not all Yorkies are going to like carrots. Yorkies have food preferences just like people do—and some Yorkies are pickier than others.
Don’t force it if your Yorkshire Terrier isn’t a fan of carrots and ask your vet before you introduce any new food to your Yorkshire Terrier’s diet.
Can my Yorkies have carrots every day?
There’s no rule on how often Yorkies can eat carrots. But it’s important to remember that although carrots are good for Yorkies, they’re not a substitute for actual Yorkshire Terrier food. They’re a healthy snack, and an occasional treat is fine.
So yes, you can feed carrots the recommended amount every day if you want to (and your Yorkshire Terrier will eat them). But we recommend varying your Yorkshire Terrier’s treat intake because Yorkies can get bored just like people do. Also, different treats contain different ingredients, and the vitamins in one type of treat won’t be in another one. So while carrots are great, try giving your Yorkshire Terrier some other healthy foods too.
Can Yorkshire Terrier puppies eat carrots?
Yes, Yorkshire Terrier puppies can eat carrots, but only after they turn two months old. Until that point, they should eat specialized puppy food to ensure that their delicate digestive systems are getting the correct nutritional balance.
Once your puppy turns two months old, consult with your veterinarian about how to introduce new foods into his or her diet.
Wait until he or she gives the okay to introduce foods like carrots by starting off with just a small bite once or twice a week and keeping a close eye on your pup for any symptoms of digestive upset.
How many carrots can Yorkies eat?
Consult with your veterinarian before feeding your Yorkshire Terrier any new food, including carrots. After you get the go-ahead from your vet, you can find out how many carrots are safe for your pup by considering his age, size and activity level.
If your pup is a small breed (less than 20 pounds) like Yorkies, a few bites or one baby carrot should be fine for him. If he’s on the large side (over 20 pounds), he can enjoy two to three baby carrots at once.
It’s important to remember that portion control is an important part of a healthy diet plan for Yorkies, so it’s best to start slowly and feed only a bit at first. If everything goes well, you can offer more next time. Experts say that treats should never make up over 10 percent of your Yorkshire Terrier’s total diet, so be sure to consider all the other treats and snacks he gets when deciding whether he can handle another carrot.
How to serve carrots to your Yorkies?
Carrots are a great source of vitamin A and fiber for Yorkies, and they’re also a safe alternative to processed Yorkshire Terrier treats. But can you give your Yorkshire Terrier carrots every day? You bet!
But before you get started, make sure you check with your veterinarian before adding any new foods to your Yorkshire Terrier’s diet. Once you’ve got the ok, here are some great ways to serve carrots:
Raw Carrots: wash them, then grate them into a large bowl. Add water until they’re submerged. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Serve or freeze.
Juiced Carrots: run carrots through a juicer. Serve fresh or refrigerate in an airtight jar for up to 3 days.
Frozen Carrots: wash and rinse first, then slice lengthwise into thin strips. Add water until they’re submerged. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Serve or freeze.
Cooked Carrots: wash and rinse first, then slice lengthwise into thin strips. Add water until they’re submerged. Let sit in the refrigerator overnight. Serve or freeze.
When are carrots bad for Yorkies?
Carrots are generally a healthy treat for Yorkies, but there are a couple of situations in which they might be bad for your pet.
The first is overindulgence. If your Yorkshire Terrier has a diet that is already high in beta-carotene (the thing that makes carrots orange), then adding a bunch of carrots to their diet could lead to hypervitaminosis A. This can cause some pretty nasty symptoms, including dry skin and hair, liver damage, and loss of bone density.
But don’t worry—this isn’t something that’s going to happen after one or two extra carrots. It takes months for this condition to develop in Yorkies, so unless you made it your life goal to feed your pup nothing but carrots for the next year or two, you should be fine.
Another potential problem is if your Yorkshire Terrier has an underlying health issue like an allergy or diabetes. Some commercial canned carrots have added sugar, which would be bad for diabetic Yorkies, and the preservatives could affect allergic Yorkies as well. So be sure to check the label before you buy.
What happens when your Yorkies eat too much carrots?
If your Yorkshire Terrier eats too many carrots, they may experience:
Nausea and vomiting. Too many carrots could lead to a buildup of gas in the digestive tract, which can cause discomfort and stomach issues.
Diarrhea. This can result from eating too many carrots or carrots that are not cooked properly. Carrots are high in sugar and if eaten raw, can cause diarrhea.
Abdominal pain or bloating. Eating too many carrots could lead to abdominal pain or bloating because of the buildup of gas in the digestive tract.
Obesity. If your Yorkshire Terrier is eating too many carrots, it could become overweight because carrots are high in calories and have a lot of sugar content.
Choking hazards from eating too many carrots include choking on large pieces of raw carrot or choking on the fibrous parts of cooked carrot that get stuck in the throat when swallowed whole.
What to do if your Yorkies eat too many carrots?
We’ve had this issue a few times, and it’s always scary, but it’s totally manageable.
First off: don’t panic. It’s okay—nothing bad is going to happen to your Yorkshire Terrier(s). Take a deep breath and relax.
If your Yorkies are still in the eating process, stop feeding them any carrots and get any remnants of the carrot away from them. They’ll be just fine without their treats for one night.
After that, monitor them for 24 hours. If any of them seem listless or lethargic, be sure to call your vet and explain what happened. But most likely, they’ll be just fine and will be back to their normal selves in no time at all.
Can Yorkies eat carrot cake?
So long as it’s plain carrot cake, there’s no reason your Yorkshire Terrier shouldn’t be able to enjoy a slice or two. Just be sure to keep them away from the frosting and cream cheese, as these are likely to cause digestive upset.
Other human foods Yorkies can eat
What other human foods can Yorkies eat? Here is a list of some other human foods your Yorkies can eat.
So, can Yorkies eat carrots?
So, can Yorkies eat carrots? Yes, they absolutely can! In fact, they’re a great treat.
Carrots are rich in Vitamin A and Beta-Carotene, both of which are essential to maintaining healthy Yorkshire Terrier eyesight. They’re also full of fiber, which can help with digestion, and even have some antibacterial properties. All this makes them an excellent treat for Yorkies.
It’s important to note that you shouldn’t overdo it—give your Yorkshire Terrier only 10% of their daily calorie intake as carrots. The 90/10 rule is a good way to think about it: 90% of your Yorkshire Terrier’s diet should be high-quality, nutritious Yorkshire Terrier food and the other 10% can be healthy snacks like carrots.