Vegetables are a good source of nutrients, even for dogs! Luckily, many dogs actually love vegetables as treats, such as carrot sticks, potatoes, and peas. You might be wondering what vegetables dogs can eat other than these.
Since dogs are omnivores, they can eat both meat and plant-based food. Not all vegetables are safe for your dogs to eat, but most of them are harmless.
If you’re a dog owner who also loves gardening, there might have been a time when your dogs unintentionally dug out your crops, let’s say a zucchini, and ate them. You might start wondering, “can dogs eat zucchini?”
Fortunately, you don’t have to worry because dogs can eat zucchinis!
Is Zucchini Safe For Dogs?
Yes, eating zucchini is perfectly safe for your dogs.
According to Dr. Avi Blake, zucchinis are actually one of the best vegetable options for dog treats because it’s non-toxic and contains a healthy amount of nutrients that are beneficial for your dogs.
If you’re keeping a small list of foods that dogs should not eat, zucchinis shouldn’t be on that list.
Quick Facts About Zucchini
Zucchini is also known as courgette and belongs to the squash (Cucurbitaceae), including spaghetti squash, melons, and cucumbers.
But did you know that zucchinis are botanically classified as a fruit? Zucchinis come from seeds and grow from the flowering part of a zucchini plant. This definition makes zucchinis technically a fruit.
In the culinary sense, zucchinis are considered vegetables since we mostly associate fruits with sweet and tangy or citrus flavors.
It’s one of the most popular vegetables in the world and is used in a variety of different recipes. There are recipes that include zucchinis in soups, salads, and even desserts! There’s probably a zucchini recipe for any type of food, you name it!
Health Benefits of Zucchini for Dogs
There are numerous health and nutrition benefits we can get from including zucchinis in our diet. What’s great is that our dogs can benefit from eating zucchinis as well. Here’s a quick look at the health and nutritional benefits of zucchini!
Zucchinis are rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants help the body get rid of free radicals, which can cause oxidative stress. The presence of high amounts of free radicals in the body is also linked to damages in the central nervous system and immune system of pets. It can also lead to rapid aging.
Antioxidants are also commonly found in colorful fruits and vegetables such as berries, carrots, and squash.
Zucchinis contain antioxidants called carotenoids, particularly lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene, which can benefit your dog’s eyes and overall vision.
The zucchini skin contains the highest amounts of antioxidants, so it’s better not to peel it when given as a treat.
Aids in good digestion
Zucchinis have a high water content which can soften your dog’s poops and avoid constipation. Zucchinis also contain both soluble and insoluble fibers, which aids in good digestion.
The insoluble fiber helps the food to move through your dog’s digestive system smoothly and adds bulk to the stool to regulate bowel movements. This also reduces the risk of your dogs having constipation.
Meanwhile, the soluble fiber helps ferment the beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA). These fatty acids nourish the gut cells and can prevent irritable bowel movements and other gut disorders.
Rich in vitamins and minerals
Zucchinis are rich in vitamins and minerals that keep your dog healthy.
You can include zucchini in your dog’s diet, especially if they lack vitamin A, vitamin B6, potassium, or magnesium. Raw zucchinis are also rich in vitamin C.
These vitamins and minerals aid for proper body function, which your dogs can benefit from.
Can help in weight reduction
Zucchini is a known low-calorie vegetable that is rich in water. A cup of zucchini only contains 17 calories!
Regular consumption of zucchini can help achieve the feeling of fullness, reduce hunger, and regulate your dog’s appetite.
Is cooked zucchini okay for dogs?
Yes, your furry friend will be fine since cooked zucchini is perfectly safe for them. Both raw and cooked zucchini are perfect as dog treats.
They can also be mixed into their regular meals. However, raw zucchinis contain higher amounts of vitamins since the cooking process reduces the vitamin content.
If you want to add raw zucchini to your dog’s meals, make sure to chop them into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking. Raw zucchinis are hard so your dogs might have trouble chewing on them.
How to prepare zucchini for dogs
You can boil, steam or blend the zucchinis and complement them into your dog’s meal. You can also make a homemade dog treat using zucchini, like this Banana Zucchini Homemade Dog Treat recipe.
Here are other ways you can prepare zucchini for your puppy meals or treats:
- Grilled or baked
- Sliced thin and frozen as treats
- Raw and shredded as toppings to their usual meals
- Blended and mixed to their food
However, avoid using seasonings and salt when cooking zucchinis for your dogs. While we humans love our seasoned food, dogs can suffer from health problems due to the consumption of salt and other seasonings.
When cooking zucchinis, you can opt to save a small batch for your dogs and modify it so as not to include ingredients that can be harmful to them. You should also skip using other ingredients that are harmful to dogs, such as garlic and onion.
If you’re incorporating zucchinis into your pet’s diet for the first time, you can ask your vet for tips on how to best include them. But as a general rule, you can introduce zucchini to your dogs in small amounts to see if they like the veggie or not.
If they end up liking it, you can gently increase the amount of zucchini in their food. Always remember not to give them too much!
Don’t let your dogs eat too much zucchini
As we always say, moderation is key. While your dogs and their overall health can benefit from eating zucchini, it’s not ideal to make them go into a strict zucchini diet.
A dog’s diet should consist of 10% fruits or vegetables on average. Here’s a quick guide on how much zucchini you can give your dogs:
- If you have a large dog, you can give them 1-2 tablespoons daily
- If you have a medium breed dog, you can give them around 2-3 teaspoons daily
- If you have a small dog, give them 1-2 teaspoons daily
Too much zucchini, and food in general, can lead to some stomach problems. And we don’t want our dogs to suffer!
Dogs and vegetarian diet
As mentioned earlier, dogs are omnivores which means they eat both meat and plant-based food. But their primary diet is meat so it’s not ideal for your dogs to be on a strict vegetarian diet.
Dogs need their nutrients from a healthy diet. If you’re adamant not to let your dogs consume meat, it might be challenging to find a good and balanced meal plan without the meat.
You can always ask your veterinarian for advice on how to proceed, and before introducing your dog to any new diet.
Can your dogs eat zucchini noodles?
Spiralized zucchini noodles are a good alternative option for flour or egg-based noodles, especially for people allergic to gluten or eggs. But can dogs eat zucchini noodles?
The answer is yes. Zucchini noodles are safe for your dogs to eat. If you’re preparing a pasta recipe to treat your dogs using zucchini noodles, make sure to check if the other ingredients you’re using are safe for your dogs.
Salt, seasoning, and oils can cause stomach upset and other illnesses to your furry pals. This means that commercially-available pasta sauces and condiments are out of the picture. Plain zucchini noodles or those with little to no seasonings are your best bet.
Can your dogs eat zucchini bread?
Zucchini bread and other zucchini-based baked products may contain high levels of sugar, fat, and calories, which can present problems in the long run.
Calories, sugar, and fat can cause weight-related problems for your dogs. There is also a risk of getting diarrhea and pancreatitis because of the high-fat content of these baked treats.
Baked goods may also contain other ingredients that are considered toxic for dogs, such as chocolates, grapes, raisins, currants, walnuts, or macadamia nuts.
Is the zucchini plant toxic for dogs?
If your dog accidentally ate other parts of the zucchini plant, you don’t have to worry. All parts of the plant are non-toxic. The flower of the zucchini plant is actually edible and can be fried or cooked for human consumption.
Although, zucchini contains cucurbitacins, which are chemicals that defend the plant from attackers. This compound is bitter to the human taste. Cultivated squash varieties are specifically bred to maintain low levels of cucurbitacins, so your usual zucchinis and other squashes are safe to eat.
Are zucchini seeds safe for dogs?
Zucchini seeds are safe so no need to panic if your dog swallowed them while enjoying their zucchini treats. The seeds are not toxic and there are no known side effects to consuming zucchini seeds.
Conclusion – Can dogs eat zucchini?
Yes, zucchinis are perfectly safe for your dogs to eat. Zucchinis also offer a lot of health and nutritional benefits for your dogs.
It’s rich in antioxidants that can boost their immune system and improve their overall vision. Zucchinis also have high water content which is helpful for hydration and digestion. It’s also a low-calorie snack that can help your dogs reduce weight.
There are many ways to introduce zucchini to your dog’s meal, but make sure to give it to them in moderation.
Consult your veterinarian for any additional advice if needed.