Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash? Yes, Cooked and Plain

Why butternut squash suits most dogs

Butternut squash is low in fat, moderate in calories and full of fiber, potassium, vitamin C and beta-carotene, the orange pigment the body turns into vitamin A. The AKC singles out butternut as rich in vitamin C, and its soft, sweet flesh is something most dogs eat happily.

The fiber can help keep stools regular, and because it is filling for few calories, a spoonful can bulk out a treat for a dog watching its weight. Like any vegetable, it is an extra on top of a complete dog food, not a replacement for it.

The parts to keep away from your dog

The skin is thick and tough, and dogs cannot digest it well, so large pieces can cause vomiting or, if swallowed in strips, an obstruction. The seeds and stringy pulp are also hard on the gut. The AKC advises removing seeds, skin and rind and throwing them where your dog cannot reach.

Seasoning is the other trap. Holiday and restaurant squash is often roasted with butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, salt, garlic or onion. Garlic and onion damage a dog's red blood cells, and rich, buttery dishes can trigger stomach upset or pancreatitis, so only share squash you cooked plain.

How to prepare butternut squash for a dog

Peel the squash, scoop out the seeds and pulp, and cut the flesh into cubes. Steam or roast them with no oil until they are soft enough to mash with a fork, then let them cool. Mash the cubes or cut them to a size your dog cannot gulp whole.

Plain canned or frozen butternut squash puree works too, as long as the label lists squash alone. Avoid soups, which usually contain onion, garlic, cream and stock. Raw squash is hard to chew and digest, so it is best served cooked.

For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.

How much butternut squash by weight

Keep it to a treat-sized portion a few times a week. As a rough guide: under 20 lb, one to two teaspoons of mashed squash; 20 to 50 lb, one to two tablespoons; over 50 lb, two to three tablespoons. Treats should stay a small part of what your dog eats in a day.

Start with half that amount the first time and check the stool the next day. Too much fiber at once can cause gas or loose stools. If your dog has diabetes, kidney disease or is on a prescription diet, ask your vet before adding it.

Puppies and butternut squash

Puppies can try a little plain, cooked, mashed butternut squash once they are eating solid puppy food well. Their stomachs are small and sensitive, so start with half a teaspoon and make sure the texture is soft and smooth, with no chunks that could lodge in a small throat.

Growing puppies need their nutrients balanced for growth, so squash should stay an occasional taste. Store the whole squash and any peelings well away from teething puppies, who will happily chew a rind and swallow pieces of it.

Signs it disagreed with your dog and when to call a vet

Most dogs handle squash well. Too much can cause gas, a soft stool or vomiting within a few hours, and these usually settle within a day once you stop. Offer water and go back to your dog's normal food.

Call your vet if vomiting is repeated, diarrhea lasts more than a day, your dog seems lethargic or has a painful belly, or if your dog ate squash skin or a large chunk and is retching, straining or off food. Call straight away if the squash was cooked with garlic, onion or a lot of butter.

Other vegetables to try

Plain canned pumpkin, cooked sweet potato and cooked carrots are close relatives in texture and taste. The ASPCA also lists carrots, green beans and broccoli among snacks you can share, cut into small pieces to avoid choking.

Rotate a few plain, cooked vegetables rather than relying on one, and keep each serving small. A frozen spoonful of squash or pumpkin puree in a puzzle toy makes a good slow-licking treat on a hot day.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.