We love to share many things with our dog, including our food. But can dogs eat kabocha squash? How should I give it to my dog if I want to? What should I do if it eats too much Kabocha Squash? Answers to all this in the article below.
Table of Contents
Dogs are omnivorous animals which means they can eat both meat and vegetables. So most of the vegetables are safe for your dog. Veterinary doctors usually recommend a mixed diet to keep your pet dog healthy.
But remember, all the vegetables are not safe for your dog. For instance, onion and garlic are safe for human beings but not safe for your furry friend. In the same, people have doubts about Kabocha Squash. Thankfully, kabocha squash is safe for your dog.
In this article, I will discuss more kabocha squash and dogs, how you can feed it to your pup and what to do if it ingests too much of it.
Can Dogs Eat Kabocha Qquash?
What is it?
Kabocha squash is also known as Japanese pumpkin. It was first cultivated in Japan and later became popular in the United States and many parts of the World. Kabocha is quite hard from the outside.
It looks deep green from the outside and intense yellow to orange from the inside. An average Japanese pumpkin will weigh between two to three pounds, but large squash weighs more than 8 pounds.
Kabocha squash is packed with vitamins and minerals, including iron, beta carotene, potassium, calcium, and small traces of folic acid.
Can dogs eat it?
Yes, dogs can eat kabocha squash. Kabocha is loaded with nutrients that can help your dog reduce the risk of many dreadful diseases like diabetes, heart problems, and others.
But you need to keep a few things in mind before feeding kabocha squash to your furry friend. The skin of Kabocha is usually thin when it grows in summer. So your dog can easily eat it.
But the skin of kabocha squash grown in winter is very hard. So you can avoid giving this part to your furry friend. Try to feed Japanese pumpkins in small quantities to your dog.
You can mix a small amount of Japanese squash into his regular diet. If he overeats, he can have digestive problems, vomiting, and others.
Moreover, always cook the Japanese squash before feeding it to your dog, which helps him digest it easily. Don’t feed large chunks of Japanese squash; otherwise, it may cause choking. You can chop it into small pieces before feeding your furry friend.
5 Steps Before You Give Kabocha Squash To Your Dog?
#1. Peel The Skin
Your first step should be to wash the Japanese pumpkin properly because many people handle it. Then you can peel its skin.
#2. Cut The Pumpkin
Now cut the Japanese pumpkin into two halves and remove all the seeds. Then cut the squash into small cubes so that your dog can easily ingest it.
#3. Simmer The Cubes
Simmer the cubes of Japanese pumpkin either in vegetable broth or in milk till it becomes soft and tender. Alternatively, you can also make a puree of Japanese pumpkin and feed your dog.
#4. Mix Cubes Or Puree In Dog’s Diet
Now mix the cubes or puree in your dog’s favorite meal and feed him.
#5. Skip Seasoning
People love to add salt, black pepper, and other things to every food and eat. But they are not healthy for your dog.
Adding little salt or rosemary will not harm your dog. But the best thing is to skip the seasoning. Your dog will be excited about eating kabocha squash. They will never mind the lack of spices or any toppings on kabocha squash.
What Should I Do If My Dog Eats a Lot Of Kabocha Squash?
If he eats a large amount of kabocha squash, your dog might have side effects like drooling, wobbling, and gastrointestinal problems.
You can make your dog vomit at home by giving 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Give two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide for every ten-pound weight of the dog. So, if your dog is 20 pounds, give four tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide.
You can give hydrogen peroxide by dropper, syringe, or turkey baster. Now allow your dog to walk for a few minutes, which may lead to vomiting. But if your dog doesn’t vomit within 10 minutes, repeat the procedure.
If still, your dog doesn’t vomit, then take him to the veterinary doctor. He will examine your dog and may give apomorphine to get all the kabocha squash out from the dog’s stomach and avoid any adverse issues.
Alternatively, you can use activated charcoal to make your dog vomit all the kabocha squash. You can easily get activated charcoal in pharmacy stores.
You can give 1-3 grams of activated charcoal per pound weight of your dog every 8 hours. Mix the activated charcoal in the food you will be feeding your dog or water and give your dog. It will reduce the risk of intoxication.
You may also expect your dog to have gastrointestinal problems like stomach upset and diarrhea for the next 24-28 hours after ingesting kabocha squash. So you should consider opting for a light diet for your dog. For instance, you can give white rice with boiled bones chicken or scrambled egg.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1. Can dogs eat Korean squash
Yes, your dog can eat Korean squash.
The squash is rich in vitamins and minerals, which are essential for your furry friend’s health.
#2. Is squash poisonous to dogs
No squash is not poisonous for dogs.
Dogs can eat different varieties of squash, and each squash has its benefits. For instance, spaghetti squash helps in improving the immune system, vision, muscles, and many more.
Corn squash is also filled with folate and vitamin A, which helps in improving the digestion of your dog. Moreover, eating corm squash can result in your dog’s shining coat.
Again don’t feed him in excess; otherwise, it can cause gastrointestinal problems in your dog.
#3. What kind of squash can dogs eat?
Your dog can eat any squash.
But you need to remove all the seeds and peel the skin before feeding your dog.
#4. Can dogs have Zucchini or squash?
Zucchini is perfectly safe for your dog.
Veterinary doctors rank Zucchini as one of the best vegetables to feed your dog. Zucchini is packed with a lot of fiber, minerals, and nutrients, which is good for your dog’s health.
It’s estimated that one cup of Zucchini has almost 20 calories. So, it is an excellent alternative to treats high in sugar.
You should give Zucchini in moderation to your dog, i.e., 10 percent of the regular diet. If you give your dog Zucchini, he may have stomach upset, gastrointestinal problems, and various others.
Again don’t give large pieces of Zucchini to your dog because it can cause a choking hazard. You should always cut Zucchini into small pieces and then feed your dog.
Moreover, you can give raw, cooked, or steamed Zucchini safe for dogs. But don’t add any oil or seasonings while giving to your dog.
A Few Final Words
Whenever you plan to cook kabocha squash for yourself, you must think of sharing it with your pet dog.
Kabocha squash is packed with vitamins and minerals and is perfectly safe for your dog. But feed them in small quantities and observe for a few hours. If your dog doesn’t have diarrhea, vomiting, or stomach upset, you can give kabocha squash to your dog.
But don’t give too much kabocha squash in a day. You should give Japanese pumpkin in moderation, i.e., 10 percent of his regular diet.
Thank your for reading the article, we hope you found the content useful. If you have more questions and doubts, just drop us a line in the comments section below.
You might also like to read about other things that might be poisonous to your dogs: Can Dogs Eat Fig Leaves? And What Happens If A Dog Eats Chalk?