Can Dogs Eat Beets?
In moderation. Cooked beets with no salt are safe in small amounts, but they have a fair amount of oxalates and sugar, so they are not a good fit for dogs with oxalate stones or for every day.
What it gives your dog
Cooked beets have about 45 kcal per 100 g, fiber, potassium, folate and red pigments called betalains, which have an antioxidant effect. Beet pulp, what is left after extracting the sugar, is a fiber widely used in dog food to firm up stools. As vegetables go, beets are among the sweetest: around 7-8 g of sugars per 100 g.
What calls for moderation is the oxalates. The root has a noticeable amount and the greens have much more. In predisposed dogs, oxalates favor calcium oxalate urinary stones. A practical detail: the pigments can turn urine and stool pink or red for a day or two. It is harmless, but it is easily mistaken for blood, so it is worth knowing before you give them beets.
How to serve it
- Boiled or roasted with no salt, peeled and finely diced or grated
- Precooked vacuum-packed beets only if they have no vinegar or salt
- Mixed into their food in small amounts
- Never pickled, in vinegar or in dressed salads
- Without the greens, which concentrate far more oxalates
How much can they eat?
1-2 times a week: small dog (under 10 kg / 22 lb), 1 tablespoon (10-15 g) of cooked beets; medium dog (10-25 kg / 22-55 lb), 2 tablespoons (20-30 g); large dog (over 25 kg / 55 lb), 3-4 tablespoons (40-50 g).
Risks
- Oxalates: not advised for dogs with oxalate stones or kidney disease
- Sugar: not a good fit for diabetic or overweight dogs
- Pickled or dressed beets: vinegar and salt
- Raw in large chunks: hard and difficult to chew
- Reddish pee or stool that can be mistaken for blood
Frequently asked questions
Why is my dog's pee red after eating beets?
Because of the beet pigments, betalains, which pass into the urine and stool and turn them pink or red. It is harmless and goes away in a day or two. If the color persists after that, if you see clots or if your dog pees with pain or very often, do not blame the beets: take them to the vet.
Can dogs eat raw beets?
Raw beets are not toxic, but they are very hard and, in cubes, a dog may struggle to chew them or choke. If you give them raw, grate them finely and keep the amount small. Cooked beets are easier to digest, and boiling removes part of their soluble oxalates. Either way, they are better as an occasional extra than as a regular vegetable.
Is beet pulp in dog food bad?
No. Beet pulp is what is left after extracting the sugar, so it contains almost no sugar. It is a moderately fermentable fiber that helps form firm stools and feeds the beneficial bacteria in the gut. Having it in your dog's food is not a problem; it is one of the most studied fiber ingredients in dogs.
General information reviewed against veterinary sources. If your dog has eaten something that worries you, call your vet or a 24-hour emergency vet right away, without waiting for symptoms.