Can dogs eat it?
Can dogs eat beetroot?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Plain beetroot is safe for dogs in small amounts, cooked or finely grated raw. It can turn a dog's urine and stools pink or red, which looks worrying but is harmless. Pickled beetroot in vinegar is not suitable, and dogs prone to bladder stones should avoid beetroot because of its oxalate content.
Preparing beetroot
Scrub the beetroot and boil it whole for 30 to 45 minutes, or roast it wrapped in foil, then peel and cube. Raw beetroot is very hard; if you use it raw, grate it finely. Vacuum-packed cooked beetroot works well as long as it contains no vinegar.
Beetroot has around 43 calories per 100 g and is fairly sweet.
The pink surprise
The red pigment in beetroot is called betanin. Many dogs, like many people, pass some of it unchanged, which can tint urine pink and stools reddish for a day or so. If you have not fed beetroot, red urine or stools are not normal and need checking by a vet.
Amount and frequency
One or two teaspoons of grated or cubed beetroot is plenty for a small dog. A medium dog can have a tablespoon, a large dog up to two. Offer it once or twice a week at most. Beetroot contains oxalates and natural sugar, so it is not a daily vegetable.
Beetroot leaves are edible and similar to chard, but they are high in oxalates, so keep them to a small nibble or skip them.
Pickled beetroot and beet products
Pickled beetroot is soaked in vinegar and sugar, sometimes with spices. Beetroot crisps are fried and salted, and borscht is made with onion and garlic. Beet pulp in commercial dog food is a processed fiber ingredient and is not the same as feeding whole beetroot.
Key takeaways
- Plain cooked or grated beetroot is safe in small amounts.
- It can harmlessly tint urine and stools pink or red.
- Stone-prone dogs should avoid it because of oxalates.
- Pickled beetroot and borscht are unsuitable.