Every dog owner knows that dogs and chocolate do not mix. While chocolate is a very much beloved treat for us humans, they are very toxic to dogs. But there is an alternative that is safer for dogs to consume, and that is carob chocolate.

What Is Carob Chocolate?

Carob comes from a pod that is grown on the carob tree, which is similar to the cacao tree on which cocoa beans are grown. However, the carob tree is not found growing naturally in the wild. It is most commonly cultivated in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.

As with chocolate, carob comes in a variety of flavours, including milk and dark. Like chocolate, the carob pod contains seeds that contain carob powder. The carob powder is made into carob chips, mulch, and flour.

Carob is also available as syrup and powder. However, just like chocolate, you do have to be careful in choosing carob as a dog treat, as some carob products contain sugar.

Carob is about 50 times sweeter than sugar, so it is also a great substitute for sugar. You may find it in energy bars or other baked goods. You can also use it to make your own dog treats.

What Are the Benefits of Carob?

As a dog treat, carob is great for your dog’s teeth as it is an excellent source of calcium and a great alternative to chocolate.

It also contains many vitamins, including vitamin B6 and folic acid.

Carob contains nutrients that aid in the development of your dog’s eyesight, digestive systems, and nervous system. It is also believed to have antioxidants that help fight free radicals. Additionally, carob is gluten-free.

Carob is also believed to have many health benefits for humans. Some are claiming that it is a natural weight loss aid, a natural antidepressant, and an aid for those suffering from diabetes. Studies are still ongoing to determine whether or not carob can be used for these purposes.

Carob is also believed to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in remedies for various skin conditions.

The chocolate alternative, in general, has also been used in making certain low-fat chocolate products.

Is Carob Completely Safe for Dogs?

As with anything that you give your dog, you want to make sure that you give it in the right way and in the right amounts to avoid side effects or problems. You need to be especially careful with carob since it is a chocolate alternative.

Overindulging your dog on carob can cause problems, just as it would cause problems if you overindulged on chocolate for yourself.

Carob can cause your dog to have loose stools or diarrhea, so you may want to feed your dog carob in very small amounts.

However, carob is not considered to be toxic to dogs, so you should not have to worry about your dog getting sick from carob.

In Summary

Carob is a great alternative for chocolate, especially for dogs that like to get into your chocolate stash. However, you should always check the ingredients list of any carob product before you give it to your dog, as some products may contain added sugar. Be sure to keep carob in a safe place where your dog cannot get to it. Do not give your dog carob on a regular basis, as too much carob will cause your dog to have loose stools or diarrhea.

Get some delicious carob chocolate dog treats that are safe for your pup from Frankie Loves Barkery. Here at Frankie Loves Barkery, our aim is to create treats that are equally as tasty as they are wholesome. Whilst every bite-sized snack is packed full of flavour; all our treats are wheat-free, preservative-free and hand-made from human-grade ingredients, so you can be sure they will be kind to your pup’s tummy. Shop now!