Mary Allen
Zucchini is one of many people’s favorite vegetables. No wonder, because the versatile pumpkin vegetables not only taste very fine. Zucchini is also healthy.
A vegetable that is, therefore, suitable for your dog. Or rather not?
Can dogs eat zucchini?
Zucchini is therefore an excellent vegetable for your dog. You can add shredded zucchini to conventional feed. In addition, the zucchini is an ideal addition to a BARF meal.
Your dog likes courgettes best when they are about 10 to 20 centimeters tall. Because they are easy to digest, courgettes are an excellent addition to your four-legged friend’s diet. Also because of their healthy ingredients.
Zucchini for dogs: with or without the skin
You can simply steam the zucchini for your dog and then puree it. Then mix the fruit with cooked rice and a little cottage cheese. This makes a very healthy meal for your sick or convalescent dog.
Zucchini is highly dehydrating. You should consider that. As a precaution, you should go outside with your darling after a meal.
Zucchini as a healthy vegetable
The zucchini doesn’t have a great taste of its own. That makes them very versatile. However, their ingredients are impressive. It contains vitamins A and C. It also has a high vitamin B1 content.
Potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, and iron ensure that the mineral and trace element balance is covered. In addition, the zucchini is extremely easy to digest. It has a draining and purifying effect. It is also extremely low in calories.
Zucchini is one of the pumpkin plants. It is one of the oldest cultivated plants of mankind. She is originally from America. From there, seafarers brought zucchini to Europe. From Italy, the plant began its triumphal march through Europe. Like many other vegetables.
The zucchini plants we cultivate today are a cultivated form of the original American plant.
Grow zucchini in your garden
Did you laboriously plant the zucchini vegetables in the spring? Then the time has finally come at the end of June. You can harvest zucchini. Hobby gardeners love the zucchini in their home gardens. You can harvest the large fruits from the end of June until the first frost. Best when they are not fully ripe.
Zucchini grows extremely fast. And it grows in large quantities. Did you plant the zucchini in the garden? Then you always have fresh vegetables at hand in the summer. A single plant will bring you up to 20 fruits.
Did zucchini cook or raw?
Zucchini from your garden should only be given to your dog with caution. If a zucchini tastes bitter, do not use it. Neither for yourself nor your animal. Because bitter zucchini is poisonous.
The bitter taste indicates a high concentration of cucurbitacins. These are very toxic bitter substances. These are heat resistant. You cannot destroy the poison by cooking.
Always try a small piece of raw zucchini before consuming or processing homegrown fruit.
Cucurbitacins taste bitter
Cucurbitacins are plant-specific protective substances. Breeders have bred these away from today’s garden zucchini. Nevertheless, under certain circumstances, it can happen again and again that the plant produces cucurbitacins. For example, when the plants suffer from extreme heat or drought.
Be careful not to plant the courgettes next to ornamental squashes. This can lead to unwanted, poisonous crossings. It is particularly dangerous if you reuse the seeds from the zucchini you harvested yourself the following year. Better buy this one new every year.
symptoms of poisoning
If your dog eats zucchini that contain cucurbitacins, it is very dangerous for him. The poison can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and profuse salivation.
Further consequences can be nerve damage, drowsiness, disorientation, and movement disorders. If your vet does not treat the poisoning quickly, it can lead to the death of your pet.
When buying zucchini, also make sure that they do not taste bitter. When you buy the zucchini, it should have juicy green skin. As you bend the zucchini, it should spring slightly. If it gives way too much, it’s overripe.
You can store zucchini very well, for example in the basement. They have a shelf life of around 12 days if you keep them cool and dark.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which vegetables can my dog eat raw?
The only vegetable that needs to be cooked before eating is potatoes because raw potatoes contain toxic solanine. If the dog is to be given vegetables or fruit, the tolerance must always be checked. If the dog eats broccoli or cauliflower raw, this can lead to flatulence, for example.
Can I give zucchini to my dog?
And one can say in advance: that zucchini, which is easily digestible for humans (and does not taste bitter) and can usually be bought in the supermarket, is also harmless for dogs. It only becomes dangerous if the zucchini contains too much of the bitter substance cucurbitacin.
How much zucchini dog?
Always try a small piece of pumpkin and zucchini if you want to feed it to your dog. Ornamental gourds, which always contain cucurbitacins, should be placed in such a way that your dog cannot reach them.
Are carrots good for dogs?
Carrots: are well tolerated by most dogs and can be fed raw, grated, boiled, or steamed. They provide the dog with a large portion of beta-carotene, which has a positive effect on the health of the eyesight, skin, and hair.
Can I give my dog a cucumber?
Cucumber for dogs brings variety to everyday food and provides important nutrients. In addition, the cucumber consists of around 95% water and is therefore ideal for those who drink little and as a small refreshment for the dog on hot summer days. However, cucumbers are also often fed as a light food for the intestines.
Which is better for the dog rice or potatoes?
In addition to potatoes, you can also feed them peeled and boiled sweet potatoes. Of course, the carbohydrate sources most commonly used by humans are also suitable for dogs: rice and pasta. Rice is often used for gastrointestinal problems because it is easily digestible and therefore well tolerated.
Is egg good for the dog?
If the egg is fresh, you can also feed the nutrient-rich yolk raw. Boiled eggs, on the other hand, are healthy for your four-legged friend because the harmful substances are broken down when heated. A good source of minerals is the shells of eggs.
Is oatmeal good for dogs?
Oatmeal is perfect for dogs as a little change, a perfect healthy snack in between meals or to help with digestive problems. Not only are they super tasty for your dog, but they also contain a lot of fiber.