Since it is often recommended that we put our dogs on whole food diets that include plenty of vegetables, you may be wondering which vegetables are good and safe to give to your dog. For instance, can dogs eat squash, including yellow or butternut squash? The short answer is yes, dogs can have different types of squash, but this doesn’t mean that you can give them tons of it. In fact, dogs can eat both cooked and raw squash as part of a healthy diet.
Below, we will discuss why squash is good for dogs, how you should serve it to them, and how often your canine should have some.
Health Benefits of Squash For Dogs
Squash is a vegetable that many people love to eat, and dogs tend to love it as well. This is a versatile food, because there are so many different types of squash available, including yellow squash, butternut squash, and spaghetti squash. All types of squash are rich in nutrients that dogs need in their diets in order to be healthy and strong.
Some of the biggest health benefits of squash for dogs include:
- Vitamins – Squash is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and they can get a lot of those vitamins in a single serving
- Minerals – Squash contains potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and copper, all minerals that are needed for a healthy doggy diet
- Antioxidants – Squash is rich in antioxidants that help to fight against infections, inflammation, kidney disease, and heart disease
- Vision – The vitamins and minerals in squash are known for aiding in eye health and can help improve an aging dog’s vision
- Cardiovascular Health – Squash contains nutrients that aid in cardiovascular function and can help to defend against cardiovascular disease
- Immune System – The antioxidants and other nutrients in squash can help to improve a dog’s immune systems and prevent a number of diseases
Serving Squash to Dogs
Is raw or cooked squash better for dogs? While it is safe for dogs to eat raw squash, they can’t digest it as well as cooked squash. To be on the safe side, always give your dog cooked food. Also, it is best to make sure that any squash you give to your dog is fresh, and not canned or frozen. Make sure that the skin and seeds are removed, as these parts of the squash can be poisonous to dogs and cause digestive troubles.
There are several ways that you can cook squash, with the easiest being boiled or baked. Make sure that you don’t add butter, salt, or any other seasonings. Salt can cause numerous health issues, and many seasonings can actually be toxic and poisonous to dogs.
Yes, Dogs Can Eat Squash
If you have been considering switching your dog’s diet to whole food instead of traditional dog food, there are several healthy vegetable options you can give them. Smaller dogs can have about a half a cup of squash per serving, and larger dogs can have two-thirds of a cup or more. Make sure that it’s not seasoned or buttered, and that you don’t give your dog a steady diet of squash, as they need other vegetables in their diet.
