One of the most delightful treats the fall season has to offer is the squash during the fall season. It is the best time where people dream (or go crazy) about eating delicious roasted veggies, hot bread, vegetable soup, and thick stews.
Grilling butternut squash or any vegetables can satisfy our tummy, but what about our furry friends? – Can a dog eat butternut squash? Is it good for them?
The answer is YES.
In this article, I’ve gathered information from reliable sources to help you understand feeding squash or any veggies to your canine friends.
Let get started, shall we?
Is feeding vegetables to my dogs good?
One popular misconception is that most people think of dogs as carnivores that only eat meat and meat – but to tell you, they can eat vegetables too!
I, myself, was surprised. Dogs are omnivores indicated by vets and animal experts, meaning they can enjoy a diet with both tender steaks or meats and healthy veggies.
You can gradually introduce both fruits and vegetables to your dog and always make sure to keep the portion to no more than 20%. Plus, practicing a healthy diet can help you train and keep them healthy at the same time.
But what about Butternut squash? Is it healthy for dogs?
Let’s jump to the quick answer – YES, butternut squash is great for dogs, but not to give them raw.
Squash and other vegetables offer numerous health benefits in humans, as do our dogs or other canine friends. Sharing or feeding veggies like squash are ideal for keeping them healthy, but knowing how to serve best is another question.
In this case, there are different types of squash, the butternut squash – none of these types is known to be harmful to dogs. Mixing bits in a regular meal is a great way to add it to your dog’s diet.
Feeding raw butternut squash may not be suitable for your dog’s digestion which is why cooking the squash before serving to them is the best way to do it. This way will help your dog properly and smoothly digest the small bits of the vegetable, which is also the best way to introduce more of this healthy squash into their digestion.
Choose the best type of squash for your dogs
To further elaborate, the first type of squash is the annual group. As the name implies, it is only produced annually and considered mesophytic (can adapt to wet environments and requires a constant water supply) and short-lived.
On the other hand, plants that don’t require a constant water supply and tolerate a dry environment belong to the xerophytic or perennials squash.
Here are some main varieties of squash that provides several benefits to you and your furry friends as well:
- Acorn Squash. Or also known as winter squash and used for creating dessert-like treats.
- Zucchini Squash. Used in several recipes like zucchini bread.
- Crookneck squash. Or Summer squash named after its crooked appearance.
- Pumpkin. A quite enormous type of squash that is popularly used during Halloween although it is still edible.
- Ornamental Gourds. As the name implies, it is not edible, so you never feed this type of squash to your dogs.
Why should I feed butternut squash to my dog?
Squash, in this case, the butternut squash is mostly accessible almost anywhere during the fall season, which is why this could be the best and healthiest treat for your furry friend.
“Healthy” – that’s the only word and reason that describes why you should feed butternut squash as well as other fruits and vegetables to your dog. It consists of numerous essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, manganese, and copper, plus it also prevents heart failures in dogs thanks to its high amount of potassium. Besides, it also keeps your dog’s skin and eye health at its best, primarily because of its high amount of Vitamin A.
Butternut squash is also loaded with powerful and natural antioxidants and some natural anti-inflammatory properties that could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney failure in dogs.
Letting your dog consume butternut squash is also believed to support a healthier urinary tract and dislodge kidney stones as well. One study was conducted on male dogs with BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, a condition where the prostate gland that carries urine from the bladder is enlarged. Oil extracted from the Butternut squash is found to be beneficial for dogs suffering from BPH.
If your dog is obese, adding butternut squash or any other type of squash to your dog’s diet is a great idea, mainly because it can only contain 0.17 grams of fat and no cholesterol. The creamy goodness of the squash will make your dog want more of it.
In short, its consumption can have a significant impact on your furry friend’s immune system as well as on their overall health.
How can I prepare butternut squash for my dog?
Good question.
Preparing butternut squash and other veggies and fruits properly for your dog’s consumption is very important.
As I mentioned earlier, one way to introduce this vegetable to your dog is to cook or bake it before serving it to them. May it be a not-so-good idea to eat raw vegetables like butternut squash.
No one wants to eat raw or uncooked vegetables. And so do our canine friends. Because consuming raw butternut squash will affect your dog’s digestive tract, leading to gastrointestinal issues including bloating, constipation, gas, and stomach aches.
Cooking, boiling, or steaming any vegetables before serving them to them is your best option. However, to avoid toxic that may form in your dog’s body, you should never add any seasonings, toppings, or sodium to the squash you’re preparing for your dogs. Make sure that all the seeds are removed before letting your dog enjoy and indulge in it.
We strongly recommend serving small pieces of cooked and unseasoned squash to your dog and mixing it with his meal.
How should I cook butternut squash?
The best and easiest way to cook butternut squash for your dogs is to bake it.
Here’s a step-by-step instruction on how to do it:
- Step 1: Grab a clean cookie sheet with an aluminum foil placed over it.
- Step 2: Wash the Butternut squash and scoop out its seeds before cutting it into halves.
- Step 3: Place the sliced halves upside down the cookie sheet, you can also apply a light amount of oil to it but do not add any seasonings, sweeteners, or spices.
- Step 4: Turn on your oven and bake it at 350 degrees and wait for about 45 minutes or until you’ve reached the desired tenderness. The timing may depend on the size of the squash.
- Step 5: Remove the squash from the oven and put it in a sealable container or a durable and high-quality freezer bag.
Here’s an interesting video on how to properly prepare squash meals for your furry friend:
What if my dog doesn’t like the cooked butternut squash?
No worries, you can make your dog like the butternut squash by adding it to a treat recipe like this simple nutty squash dog treat recipe.
Nutty Squash Dog Treats
Ingredients
- ½ cup of creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup of mashed butternut squash or canned
- 1 piece of egg
- ¼ cup of water
- 2 tablespoon of honey
- 2 cups of whole wheat flour
Preparing homemade meals for your dog, remember that you shouldn’t include salt or any other spices or seasonings in the recipe. If possible, we also recommend avoiding canned soup which can contain a high amount of sodium that can put your dog’s overall health at risk.
Dogs love new and interesting dishes, so you should also prepare and improvise homemade soup or other fun meals – your imagination is the limit.
Conclusion
Adding not only butternut squash but also other fruits and vegetables to your dog’s diet can assure that your dog’s health works and functions at its best. However, you should also monitor how much food you’re giving to your furry friend – because too much of anything is not good. And always check your dog for signs of allergies if you are introducing a new meal into their diet, especially plant-based foods.
Rest assured on this question many ask?
“Can dogs eat butternut squash?” – a big YES.
But only if it is properly prepared (skin and seed are removed), introduced in a small amount, and most importantly, it has gone through processes such as cooking, boiling, or steaming.
Here’s an informative video about the health benefits of butternut squash for your dogs.
Do you feed your dog butternut squash? Or have you in the past? If yes, let us know your comments, experience, and suggestions in the comment box below.
And oh, you can also share this article with your family and friends who have a furry friend as well.
Do you feed your dog butternut squash? Or have you in the past? If yes, let us know your comments, experience, and suggestions in the comment box below.
And oh, you can also share this article with your family and friends who have a furry friend as well.