What You Should Know Before Feeding Your Dog Squash!

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Do you want to share some squash with your dog?

You’ll be happy to hear it’s totally fine. Fantastic actually!

Squash comes in several different varieties — none of which are harmful for dogs.

Can I Give My Dog Squash?How best to serve squash is the key question when it comes to canines.

First, you should know that feeding it raw is a bad idea.

Cook that squash! It will help your dog to better digest what should be small portions. Then, gradually introduce a bit more if all goes smoothly.

Mixing this healthy veggie in with regular meals is an excellent way to share.

Your Dog Can Eat Squash

This food is a winner. The nutritional value is off the charts!

But again…

Cooked It, Never Raw

People generally break down vegetables better than canines. So, it makes sense to cook squash for your dog.

In raw form, it will be tougher on the stomach and may not be properly digested.

Basically, for dogs, the goal is to enable optimal absorption. This, in turn, enables the most health benefits.

Fun Fact: Squash is a broad term. It may include zucchini and even pumpkin.

Proper Prep For Pets

Obviously you want your dog to safely enjoy this special treat. Well, there’s a bit more than just cooking involved…

Be sure to remove the seeds and skin of squash as these may cause an obstruction.

Then simply cut a modest serving size into sufficiently small pieces based on your dog’s size. Better yet, turn squash into a purée (mashed mush)!

Just Keep It Simple

The point is to keep squash reasonably plain — without unnecessary additions.

Simple makes sense and your dog won’t mind!

That does not mean you can’t make a squash recipe! Keep reading for a specific dish you can whip up!

Numerous Benefits

The healthy attributes of squash are quite extensive, but let’s quickly touch on them here.

What really stands out is the level of vitamin A.

For dogs though, perhaps the best reason to share is for the anti-inflammatory effects.

Arthritic animals could, at least in theory, benefit from having squash in their diet.

The beta-carotene, fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and E as well as folate are all great for pets too!

Super Squash Recipe

We’ve recently tried a tasty Butternut squash homemade recipe for our oldest.

He absolutely loved it!

This treat contains eggs, peanut butter and 2 different flours.

It’s really very simple. You simply puree the squash mix and bake it.

Avoid Getting Fancy

Does your dog want whatever squash recipe you prepare?

Again, you have to be selective!

This means preventing your dog from eating a bunch of garlic, salt and questionable spices. These ingredients often go with squash and some of them are off limits.

The Bottom Line

It’s a smart move to feed your dog some squash.

This veggie is seriously nutritious and certainly has its benefits.

Just remember to cook the squash, remove any skin and seeds before cutting it up for easy digestion.

Serve it in combination with regular dog food or, better yet, put together a simple homemade recipe!

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

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6 thoughts on “What You Should Know Before Feeding Your Dog Squash!”

  1. I have a 7 pound dog. I add cooked mashed plain squash every night to her little bit of kibbles. She loves it!

    I noticed when she poops it is nice and moist. It also fills her tummy for the night until the morning. I worry about weight gain so adding squash is necessary to help keep her full and satisfied.

    1. How much mashed squash do you give her? I have a 7 pound dog as well.

  2. My dog, for two years, had kidney and urinary problems. I just give her K/D and U/D as her food. She takes Nefrotec DS tablets twice a day. Aside from K/D and U/D, I mixed it with mashed potato and carrots. This time I want to add squash and sweet potato. Can I give her boiled squash and sweet potato in addition to potato and carrots?

  3. They have just doubled the amount of Lasix that my Corgi is taking for her heart issues. I have read that it will severely drop her potassium level and that greatly concerns me. She is older, and I don’t think that she can withstand that. I am looking for a potassium supplement just to ensure that she gets what she needs. Will cooked squash work?

  4. I have senior female Weimaraner that has kidney disease. She refuses to eat her Hill’s K/D unless it is mixed with something she likes such as sweet potatoes, squash or pumpkin. What is a good low protein diet for her that she will eat? What can I safely offer her to stimulate her appetite? I have been told that the sweet potatoes, squash, etc. are too high in potassium for her.

    1. We were having the same problem; a senior dog with kidney disease who isn’t crazy about K/D. The vet actually switched her from K/D to U/D saying it’s even lower in protein. She eats the canned U/D much better than the K/D. I hope this helps!

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