Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash

Butternut squash, also known as Butternut pumpkin, is a wonderful fruit that is enormously rich in nutrients. As the name suggests, this has attributes of butter and nuts. It is soft and delicious like butter and sweet like nuts. This fruit is always confused as a vegetable because of the way it is served.

Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash? Generally, dogs love it. This is because of the taste and texture of the fruit that the dogs find a lot appealing.

But you do not need to worry if your dog doesn’t really like it. This fruit is usually seen in the market in the cold season. But because of its long shelf life, it is available the entire year. Butternut squash has yellow skin and bright orange pulp.

When you have a pet dog at your home, you start becoming indulgent and cautious as a parent. Naturally, you will be wondering if you can feed butternut pumpkin to the dog. You may like to know how it can help your dog to stay healthy and fit. You may also like to know if there is any harm this fruit can cause to your pet. Are there any side effects?

In this post, we would take a detailed view of all these questions and concerns.  

Yes, You can Feed Butternut Squash to Your Dogs

*As a short answer, we can say there is no harm in feeding the dog a butternut pumpkin. This can help in your effort to provide your dog with nourishment. Fruits and veggies are important sources of nutrition for your dogs. You must feed them these items.  

However, you should be careful about some fruits and vegetables, which can be harmful to your dogs. These include grapes, onions, and certain kinds of mushrooms.

What Is Butternut Squash?

Butternut Squash is grown in regions with low temperatures. Its plant is a vine and hence its stem grows with support. It is generally medium-sized and has long fruits. Squashes are primarily brightly colored and comparable to fruits and also taste mild like vegetables. As the fruit ripens, it increases in sweetness and the color brightens up.

Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash? Yes, your dog may straight away go for it. You can make out if your puppy likes it or not by paying attention to its body language. Though it is unique to each puppy, a general way of how they show it is by wagging their tail more often. Jumping at the sight of the food, and following you around whenever you have the food are the other signs.

Is Butternut Squash bad for your dog?

Butternut Squash is excellent for your pooch, as it is highly rich in nutrients. But it is crucial to note that it doesn’t develop any hypersensitive reactions to it. The vitamins and nutrients that your puppy can derive from this fruit are:

Beta-carotene

This provitamin is a plant pigment that gives bright colors such as orange, yellow, and red to fruits and veggies. This fat-soluble vitamin has enormous antioxidant properties. It also is beneficial in enhancing the vision of your puppy. Vitamin A is excellent for vision because this is a precursor of the pigment responsible for vision.

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid

Since this is a water-soluble vitamin, it is necessary to increase its dietary supply. It is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which can help in enhancing the healing ability of your dog. Its regular consumption can also improve the fur quality. Additionally, it improves skin health. All these are a result of the enhancement of collagen formation by this vitamin.

Dietary Fiber

Butternut Squash is quite rich in dietary fibers. This enhances the working of the digestive system, the appetite of your dog.

Potassium

This is an electrolyte that can improve the performance of the muscles. It can also regulate the heartbeat and stimulate the nervous system.

Folic Acid

This nutrient is essential for normal body functions, such as the synthesis of red blood cells.

Antioxidants

These can help to improve blood circulation. Antioxidants are known for their ability to remove free radicals from the body.

Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash?

Yes for sure! These facts reveal how badly your puppy needs it. Consuming it regularly in moderate quantities can help in enhancing your puppy’s health. So you can straight away for it.

A fun fact about the nutritional value of this fruit is that because of this, people buried their dead ones along with this fruit. They thought that it could maintain the health of their dead ones, even in their graves.

How Much Butternut Squash Can You Give Your Dog?

You should feed your dog butternut squash only moderately. You can prepare it in several ways. One reason people get confused about it for a vegetable is because of how it is prepared. It is important to consider how much your dog weighs before feeding them. In case you are looking forward to increasing the mass of your puppy, there is nothing to be concerned about.

But if your dog already has enough pounds, try to reduce the amount you feed it with. In 100 grams of raw butternut squash, 45 kilocalories of energy is present. Even though it contains lesser quantities of fat, the amount of carbohydrates present is 11.69 grams (in 100 grams of butternut squash), which contributes to the overall energy present in it.

The nutrient fact of Butternut Squash per 100 gm (Raw):

· Energy: 45kcal

· Carbohydrates: 12g

· Dietary fiber: 2g

· Fat: 0.1g

· Protein: 1g

· Water: 85g

· Vitamin value

· Vitamin A: 67%

· Vitamin B: 46%

· Vitamin C: 26%

· Vitamin E: 10%

What are the Possible Side Effects?

As butternut squash is very delicious and has several nutrients in it, this is a sure shot to your puppy’s heart. But consuming it in the wrong way can end your puppy with an upset stomach. You should nourish your puppy with butternut squash only after baking it. Also, make sure you peel off its skin entirely.

Feeding on the seeds of this fruit can also hurt your puppy. Additionally, it is advised to not use any added sugar and salt. Even though they may not be toxic, they can surely make your animal put on weight. Excessive salt is not good for dogs’ health.

Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash? Yes. You can surely include it in your puppy’s daily routine. Take care to prepare it with caution and avoid those parts of the fruit which are harmful to your puppy.

Can My Dog Eat Raw Butternut Squash?

You should nourish your puppy with completely cooked butternut squash. Raw Butternut squash is very hard for your puppy to feed on. Cooking can make it soft and smooth in consistency, which your pooch can like a lot. But adding sugar and spices, such as nutmeg, should be avoided.  

You can cook butternut squash for your dog in several ways such as:

· Roasted recipe

· Smashed recipe

· Mixing the fruit into its kibble diet

· By mixing it with other foods which your dog likes, such as chicken or meat.

How to Cook Butternut Squash?  

Before cooking it, make sure to wash it thoroughly under tap water. It is not necessary to peel its skin before cooking, as cooking can make its skin soft. This makes it easier to remove its skin. Also, divide it into halves and scoop out its seeds. This is because the seeds can be harmful to your puppy. You can put a teaspoon or two of coconut oil into it. But refrain from seasoning it, especially with raisins and other oils. You can cook it in the oven for half an hour or so.

Once it cools down, make sure to peel off its skin. Now, you can either smash it and give it to the dog or mix it with a bowl of separately cooked meat. If you wish to make it more nutritious, you can even add a handful of rice to it.

Final Thoughts

Butternut Squash is a wonderful fruit that can be added regularly in moderate quantities to your puppies’ diet. Even though it is produced in the colder season, its long shelf life of three months makes it available the entire year. This nutrient-rich fruit can make a notable difference in enhancing the health of your puppy.

If your animal loves it, you can make it out from its body language. A dog parent will know about his pet’s love language. Usually, they wag their tails, leap onto the food, follow you to the kitchen where the food is being prepared, and so on.

But the love language is unique to each dog. Furthermore, if they do not love the food, they make it obvious. They turn their face away from the food, and they put on a cautious face at the sight of the food that they aren’t fond of.

So, Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash? Absolutely yes! By now, you clearly know that your puppy will love it.