I always wince when I see people giving their dogs human food. It’s so dangerous and not only because the dog might get sick or have an allergic reaction. If you give your dog too much of something, they could die. The best rule to follow is “when in doubt, leave it out.” Zucchini falls into this category for most dogs.
Zucchini is considered safe for dogs to eat in small quantities. You can feed them raw, cooked or steamed. Some dogs may not be able to tolerate this vegetable due to problems digesting fiber or allergies. if you suspect your dog has adverse reactions to zucchini, call your veterinarian immediately.
Read on to find out what should you take note of when introducing this vegetable for the first time to your canine.
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Can Dogs Eat Zucchini?
The answer is yes but if you are feeding them raw, remember to remove the skin. Cooked or steamed zucchini is totally safe for dogs. It’s safe to give them to your dog as a treat or you can cook it with their meals.
If zucchini is steamed just until tender, it still contains all of the beneficial nutrients that raw zucchinis have.[Source]
There are some dogs who cannot tolerate any amount of zucchini in their system because they have problems digesting most fibers or who might be allergic to the plant itself. It is recommended to only feed a small quantity if it is your first time introducing zucchini to your pup.
Can Dogs Eat Zucchini With Skin
Zucchinis are not particularly bad for dogs to eat. However, there are a few things you should know before giving your dog one.
For starters, the skin and seeds of zucchini contain an ingredient called cucurbitacin. This compound is toxic to both humans and animals. If you feed your dog too many cucurbitacins, it can lead to vomiting or diarrhea, which I’m sure we would all prefer our pups didn’t do in the house.
Another issue with zucchini is that it contains roughly 95% water and 5% carbohydrates and protein. Zucchinis don’t have any significant vitamins and minerals and very little nutritional value for dogs at all.
Therefore, this vegetable should not be considered a good source of food.
The only other health problems I could find were chewing plant parts of the zucchini plant, which can lead to inflammation or anaemia if your dog consumes too many toxins.
Zucchinis might also trigger allergic reactions if you know your pup has trouble digesting certain vegetables or if they have a sensitive stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Zucchini Spirals?
YES! It is perfectly fine to feed zucchini spirals. If you are feeding it raw, remember to remove the skin before feeding your dog. If you are cooking it, avoiding putting any seasoning before feeding.
How Much Zucchini Can A Dog Eat Daily?
If your dog eats about 0.5% of its body weight in zucchini, it should be okay. This means that if your dog weighs 15 pounds, it can eat about 1.25 pounds of zucchini before there are any dangerous side effects.
If you think that your dog has eaten too much zucchini or cucurbitacin in general, take them to the vet immediately.
What Does Zucchini Do For A Dog?
Zucchinis are not considered very nutritious as it contains mainly water with only 17 calories per 100g. It serve as a source of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium if you are feeding it to your pup.
The one small benefit of zucchini is that dogs can digest about 95% of the vegetable fiber. However, this fiber isn’t important if your dog doesn’t need extra fiber in its diet.
Also, keep in mind that as omnivores, dogs don’t need any fiber at all because they digest their food twice as fast as humans do, so leave out the veggies!
Can Dogs With Kidney Disease Eat Zucchini
Zucchini is one of the perfect treat for dogs with kidney disease. When your dog have kidney disease, it is important to avoid food or treats that are too high in phosphorus, salt, and protein. [Source]
Check out the table below for other safe fresh foods that you can safely feed to pups with kidney disease.
How To Treat A Dog That Overeat Zucchini?
If your dog does eat too much of this vegetable, watch out for severe symptoms like digestive problems, diarrhea or allergies. If you notice any, call your local vet as soon as possible.
If your dog does not show any of these symptoms, you can treat them at home. Try to make smaller portions of food for the next meal and make sure they drink plenty of water. If their stool is hard or dark green in color , try feeding some canned pumpkin with it to help their stomach digest the vegetable.
Alternatives To Give A Dog Instead Of Zucchini?
If you don’t want to give your dog zucchini or cucurbitacin, just avoid the vegetable altogether. There are other foods that have a similar flavor and health benefits without dangerous toxins inside them.
For example, cauliflower has a very mild taste which is almost identical to zucchini but doesn’t contain anything dangerous for dogs.
If you really need to feed veggies to your pups, make sure they are cooked or shredded so there aren’t any sharp edges that can get stuck in their gums or stomachs. I guess it’s time to get grating!
Fun Facts About Zucchini
- The zucchini plant, Cucurbita pepo, is originally thought to come from Peru.
- The plant was found growing in the Peruvian Andes Mountains. From there, it rapidly spread across South America and eventually to Europe.
- It wasn’t until Christopher Columbus brought the vegetable back to Spain that it spread throughout the rest of Europe.
- Nowadays, most countries grow their own zucchinis because they are so popular around the world.
