Can Dogs Eat Beets? Yes, in moderation: Safe Amount by Weight

In moderation

Yes, in moderation

dogs can eat small amounts of plain cooked beets. They provide fiber, vitamin C and folate, but they are high in sugar for a vegetable and can turn urine and stool red, which can look alarming.

Beets for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	In moderation
Calories	About 5 kcal per 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet
Main benefit	Fiber, folate and vitamin C
Main risk	Higher in sugar than most vegetables
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How many beets can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet has about 5 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if beets were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max beets per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	6.5 × 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	11 × 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	19 × 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	26 × 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	33 × 1 tablespoon diced cooked beet

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Fiber, folate and vitamin C
Antioxidant pigments
Beet pulp is a common fiber ingredient in dog food

Risks

Higher in sugar than most vegetables
Oxalates may be a concern for dogs prone to bladder stones
Pickled or canned beets are high in salt or sugar

How to feed beets to your dog

Cook plain and dice small
Offer a spoonful occasionally
Expect red-tinged stool or urine

What if my dog ate too much beets?

Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell.

Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.

Beets and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have beets?

Yes, dogs can eat small amounts of plain cooked beets. They provide fiber, vitamin C and folate, but they are high in sugar for a vegetable and can turn urine and stool red, which can look alarming.

Why is my dog's poop red after eating beets?

Beet pigments can color stool and urine red or pink. This is harmless, but if you are unsure whether it is blood, call your vet.

Can puppies eat beets?

Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete puppy food.

More "can dogs eat" guides

Browse lists: all vegetables dogs can eat · human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat

Sources

This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.

Can Dogs Eat Beets?