Do you love squash? It’s a great food filled with antioxidants, beta carotene, Vitamin A, and potassium. Squash is an excellent food for you. But what about your dog?
Can dogs have squash? If so, which varieties are suitable for dogs, and which should be avoided? If you like to feed your dog from the table, it’s important to know whether dogs can have squash and how you should prepare it for them.
Benefits of Squash for Dogs
There are several benefits of feeding your dog squash. Here are three of them.
High in Fiber
Squash has fiber that helps your dog feel full. It also helps their digestive systems. If your dog seems to always be hungry, adding fiber to their diet can help with that issue.
Low in Calories
If your dog is overweight, squash is a good choice because it’s low in calories. They have a high water content and lots of fiber which helps your pup feel full. An underweight dog can also have squash, but you should consult the veterinarian about how to appropriately combine it with proteins and fats.
Packed with Vitamins and Nutrients
Squash has beta carotene and Vitamin A, which are good for vision. Several varieties of squash are also rich in potassium. Potassium helps to keep electrolytes balanced.
The Risks of Feeding Your Dog Squash
The only problem with feeding squash to your dogs is they could have difficulty digesting it. Take out the seeds and remove the skin before giving squash to your dog. Cook any squash before feeding it to your dogs because raw squash can be rough on the stomach.
When you cook squash for the dogs, leave out butter, oil, garlic, or onions. You can add cinnamon to squash if your dog has a bit of a sweet tooth. It’s especially good with butternut squash or pumpkin, but don’t add any sugar.
Can Dogs Have Different Kinds of Squash?
Everyone thinks of squash as vegetables. Technically, they are fruits. That means they have seeds inside them. Once you wash and peel the squash, remove seeds and strings before preparing it because this will help eliminate gastrointestinal distress.
When you want to give your dog squash, you should cook it first. Steamed or baked squash without seasoning is best. Some dogs will also eat raw squash-like pieces of zucchini.
Here are some types of squash and whether your dog can have them.
Acorn Squash
Can dogs have acorn squash? Yes. It’s especially good roasted and added to a meat or kibble serving.
Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is suitable for your dog at any time. It’s especially good if your dog hasn’t been feeling well or has stomach issues such as diarrhea. Butternut squash provides your pup with electrolytes.
Fried Squash
You shouldn’t feed your dog fried squash. Saturated fats from fried foods can give them stomach issues.
Pumpkin
Believe it or not, pumpkin is a kind of squash. Dogs love baked pumpkins but don’t forget to remove all of the seeds and strings before giving it to them.
Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is another good choice for your dog. Taking the inside and steaming part of it can provide a satisfying treat for your dog.
Summer Squash
Yes, dogs can have summer squash, also known as yellow squash. It makes an excellent treat once or twice a week. Chop the squash and boil it.
Zucchini
Dogs can have zucchini cooked or raw. It’s one of the few varieties that they seem to enjoy without cooking it.
Can Dogs Have These Different Vegetables?
Now that we’ve talked about squash let’s look at some other vegetables and learn whether they should be given to your dogs or not. For example, asparagus is a no for dogs. Raw asparagus is too tough for dogs to chew and digest, and cooked asparagus has basically no nutritional value for your dog.
Bell peppers, celery, and cucumbers are filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties making them good for a dog’s immune system. Broccoli, carrots, and cooked cauliflower are safe for your dogs, but cauliflower can cause them to have gas.
If your dog likes to beg you for food at the family barbecue, you can give them small pieces of lettuce and a pickle or two. Be careful with the pickles, though, because the vinegar and salt on them can cause issues. Don’t give onions to your dog. They can cause low iron levels and cause problems with the dog’s kidneys.
Can Dogs Eat These Fruits?
What about fruits? We established that squash is technically a fruit, but are there other fruits dogs can eat?
There are definitely fruits dogs can eat. Bananas, apple, kiwi, and oranges all make the okay list. Just don’t give orange peels or seeds. Cantaloupe and other melons are okay in moderation without the seeds or rinds; the natural sugar content in those make them an occasional treat only.
Blueberries and pumpkin are excellent choices to feed your dog. Pumpkin is especially good if your pup has an upset stomach. Dates and papaya are once in a while treats, and the papaya should be cut into pieces. Don’t let your dog have papaya seeds, though; they contain cyanide.
Don’t give your dog cherries. Like papaya, the seeds contain cyanide which is poisonous to dogs.
Can Dogs Have Seafood?
Can dogs have seafood? If they can, which varieties are acceptable? It’s good to know which seafoods are acceptable as even some dog foods include seafood in the ingredients.
Salmon, canned tuna packed in water, and pre-packaged seaweed snacks without toxic seasoning are good choices for your dog to snack on. Shrimp is okay, but it’s high in cholesterol. Crab can be an allergen, so watch your pet closely if you want them to eat crab. Simply prepared lobster is okay with veterinarian approval.
Can Dogs Eat Beans?
Beans can be high in protein, but can dogs have them? We looked into five different kinds of beans to determine whether dogs can eat them or not. We found that black beans, pinto beans, and lima beans all cause gas, but are safe in moderation. Garbanzo beans, also known as chickpeas add fiber and protein to a dog’s diet. Green beans are a good choice because they are full of fiber and vitamins and they are low-calorie.
Can Dogs Have Dry Fruit and Nuts?
What about dry fruit and nuts? Can dogs eat those? Here are a few nuts and dry fruits that we researched to see if your dog can have them.
Don’t give your dog raisins or grapes, as they can cause kidney damage. Almonds are on the no list because they can be hard to digest. Cashews and pistachios are safe choices for your fur baby, though. Pistachios help with brain function and growth.
Closing Thoughts
Squash is an excellent choice if you want to feed your dogs fruits or vegetables. It’s low calorie, high fiber, and full of nutrients. Squash should be cooked before you feed it to your dog to prevent digestive problems.
