In addition to offering quality feed to our dogs, other types of food such as the homemade diet or the BARF diet are becoming increasingly popular. Although each of these dietary patterns has different advantages, whichever one is chosen, always keep in mind what a dog can and cannot eat.
Their diet should be based mainly on protein and, to a lesser extent, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. In addition, there is also room for carbohydrates, with special mention of fruits and vegetables. Although some vegetables are harmful to our four-legged friends – such as avocado and onion – others are very beneficial for them.
Among the vegetables that dogs can eat, zucchini should be highlighted. This vegetable, belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, provides many positive nutrients for the health of our pet. But, yes, we must know how to give it correctly.
Zucchini contains very few calories, is rich in fiber and has a high water content. Therefore, it is suitable even for dogs with overweight problems, contributing to their satiety. It is also very digestive, being of great help to relieve your constipation.
In addition to being tasty and light, it has a high content of antioxidants, which help fight free radicals and oxidative stress in cells. Consequently, it delays aging and contributes to strong health.
On the other hand, its great contribution in vitamins A, B6, C and K stands out. Likewise, it is an excellent source of minerals, such as copper, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and zinc.
First of all, it should be noted that zucchini –as well as any vegetable in general– should not account for more than 10 or 15% of our dog's diet, which should be based on protein as the main macronutrient. That said, we can give it to you raw, cooked, steamed, baked or grilled, as long as we use little oil in cooking (because it adds calories and fat), we don't use salt or spices. You can leave the skin on, but it is essential to clean it very well and remove the seeds.
If our dog is fed a homemade diet, we can give it to him at any time of the day, even mixed with his food. However, if you eat feed, natural foods should not be mixed with it, as their digestive processes are different. You must wait until it has fully digested to offer it zucchini if it has previously eaten feed.
Finally, it is important to know that, although zucchini is good for dogs, those with a bitter taste should be avoided. This is because bitter gourds contain cucurbitacins, biochemicals present in the stem and leaves of the plant, which often spread to the zucchini fruit and are toxic to dogs. To avoid this, try to choose small zucchini and taste them before giving it to your pet to make sure it doesn't taste bitter.
