Can Dogs Eat Beets? When it is or isn’t an Emergency

Yes, dogs can eat beets in moderation, whether that’s red beets, golden beets, or sugar beets. The beets can be fed to dogs raw or cooked.

How much beets can you give a dog?

The key word is moderation. Human foods like beet shouldn’t replace regular dog food. The golden rule of thumb is for human foods to not account for more than ten percent of a dog’s daily food intake. To be on the safe side, we would feed your dog no more than a few bite-sized pieces of beet per day.

Beets shouldn’t be fed to dogs with health disorders like kidney disease. Beets are part of a family of vegetables that are high in oxalic acid. The ingestion of too much oxalic acid can cause problems in the dog’s body, such as calcium deficiency. Check with your vet first.

How to prepare beets for dogs

Dogs can eat cooked or raw beets as long as it’s fresh. There are a few steps you should take when preparing beets for dogs. First, scrub the beet to remove the dirt. Second, cut the beets into bite-sized pieces. Large pieces of beets can increase the risk of choking.

Cooked beets are considered safer than raw beets because the cooking process helps with reducing the amount of oxalic acid. The safest way to cook beets for dogs is by blanching, steaming, or boiling them.

Can dogs eat canned beets?

It depends on what ingredients the canned beats contain. Many canned beets available in stores are unhealthy for dogs because they are soaked in additives like sodium and preservatives. These ingredients may cause problems in your dog’s stomach. It’s best to feed your dog fresh beets.

Can dogs eat beet greens?

Avoid feeding your dog beet greens. The leaves have high concentrations of oxalic acid. As mentioned earlier, too much oxalic acid can lead to kidney problems.

Can dogs have beet juice?

Yes, dogs can have a small amount of beet juice but check the ingredient list. Some beet juice products may have a lot of added sugar. These products aren’t recommended as high sugar intake can lead to various health problems in dogs, such as dental issues and pancreatitis.