Beetroot
Can my dog have Beetroot? Can a dog eat Beets? Yes! Beets are safe for your dog to eat in moderation and are a healthy source of vitamin C, fiber, folate, manganese, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals are good for your dog’s digestion and immune system as well as healthy skin and coat. Here are all the benefits of Beets:
Rich in Minerals: Beets are loaded with nitrates, antioxidants, potassium, magnesium, and iron as well as Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, vitamin C, and folic acid. Beets are considered highly beneficial to the heart, liver, blood, and digestive system.
Polyphenols: Beets provide a type of polyphenols known as betalains. Betalains are a water-soluble antioxidant that has a deep red color. This red comes from the antioxidant contents. It is believed that the red pigmentation contains certain anti-cancer agents. It increases oxygen uptake at a cellular level, reduces blood pressure, and protects the cardiovascular system. Betalains also boost the immune system to increase antioxidant defense systems
Potential to Reduce Blood Pressure: It is also believed that beets play a very active role in cardiac health as they can lower blood pressure in some studies.
Anti-Inflammatory: Beets are conducive to potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and vascular protective properties in the body. Beets may be able to play a protective role in the fight against growing chronic diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Battle Dementia: Nitrate contained within beets might be a secret weapon in brain defense. Beets are one of the biggest sources of dietary nitrate. Upon ingestion of nitrate, blood flow both increases and improves.
Caution
Beets can be a potential choking hazard, and chunks of raw beets could cause obstructions in the small intestine. It’s best to blend them and make sure they are cooked first. This will help soften them and reduce the risk of choking or obstructions.
Having blended beets, they can be messy to feed to your dog. The dye can get caught in your dog’s fur, and if you don’t clean it up in time, that red dye could end up on your clothes, floors, and furniture.
The color is harmless, but seeing red in your dog’s poo can be distressing, so just take note of when you feed your dog beetroot so you don’t go into a state of panic.
As with anything too much of a good thing can be bad. Beets are high in oxalates and can cause issues for dogs who are predisposed to bladder and kidney stones. They’re also acidic, which can cause gastrointestinal upset resulting in gas and diarrhoea. So take note of this.
With any new food, it’s always best to feed your dog only a little at first. Wait to see if there is any adverse reaction, if any before you let your dog eat more. When in doubt, please consult your veterinarian.
This festive season, we add a little Beet to our Meat to celebrate Chinese New Year with Bak Kwa for our dogs. It lets them feel engaged with us, whilst being a healthy treat!