Can Dogs Eat Zucchini?

As one of the many veggies safe for dogs, zucchini offers several health benefits to your furry friend. When fed as part of a balanced diet, this human food—which boasts a high water content—makes a nutritious, hydrating, low-calorie treat for your pup.

We spoke with expert vets to get the 4-1-1 on feeding zucchini to your dog, including how much is safe to feed your dog, the benefits of feeding zucchini, how to include zucchini in your dog’s diet and a few health and safety considerations.

Before incorporating any new foods into your dog’s diet, always consult with your veterinarian to make sure it’s a safe addition to your pet’s diet given their health, diet needs and current medications. Your vet will tell you if your dog can eat zucchini and the appropriate serving size.

When introducing any new food to your dog, gradually add zucchini to your dog’s diet—and carefully monitor for digestive issues.

When it comes to quantity, limit to no more than 10 percent of your dog’s daily caloric intake​​. It should serve as a small supplement or a treat, not a staple. The quantity your dog can safely eat also depends on other factors such as their regular diet, size and age.

Zucchini is low in calories, with each medium zucchini containing about 33 calories. So, with the 10 percent rule in mind, follow these guidelines:

Can Puppies Have Zucchini? You should never give zucchini to puppies younger than 6 weeks old, as they cannot have any solid or raw food due to their developing digestive systems.

If raw zucchini doesn’t upset your dog’s stomach, you can grate the zucchini and jazz up their regular kibble by topping it with the grated veggie.

You can also chop it up into small pieces and offer it as a crunchy snack.

Any of the standard cooking methods will work: boiling, steaming, roasting or grilling.

Just remember not to add any seasonings such as salt, pepper or spices, as they are not dog-safe.

Slice raw zucchini into medallions—or cut it into bite-sized pieces—and put it in the freezer.

Frozen zucchini makes for a cool, refreshing treat for your pup, especially in the summer.

Do not–we repeat, do not–feed your dog zucchini bread. This human food is not Fido-friendly.

Instead, follow these instructions and bake your own dog-safe zucchini snacks:

• Wash and slice zucchini into medallions.
• Press the slices between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
• Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place the round pieces in a single layer on it.
• Brush the pieces very lightly with egg yolk. You don’t need much.
• Grate freeze dried dog treats over the top.
• Set the oven to 155 F and bake ’em low and slow for about three hours.

Check the list of dog-safe veggies and pick a few you’ve already given your dog that they’ve tolerated well.

Toss those in the blender along with zucchini and pulverize them into a nice slushy “drink” for your doggo.

Our vets give another unanimous “yes” in response to the question, “Is zucchini good for dogs?” The health benefits of zucchini for dogs include:

• Zucchini is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, copper, lutein, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and potassium. These promote a strong immune system, stronger bones and a healthy coat and skin.
• Zucchini‘s fiber content is high, and that supports a dog’s digestive system. The vegetable can lower the possibility of constipation by helping keep your dog regular.
• Zucchini is full of antioxidants, which help protect your dog from free radicals. What are those? The short explanation is that free radicals are harmful, unstable molecules; so, the more antioxidants, the better.
• Zucchini is a low-glycemic food. This means the sugar content is low, and it won’t cause your dog’s blood sugar to spike.

While zucchini is safe, there are a few potential issues to keep in mind, including:

• Gastrointestinal troubles: Offering your dog a large amount of zucchini can lead to diarrhea and/or vomiting. As such, limit your pooch to no more than the recommended amount.
• Choking hazard: Your pup could choke on raw zucchini—or even cooked zucchini if it’s not served in small pieces. Make sure to cut it up into bite-sized pieces no matter how you serve it; and if you have a small dog, err on the side of caution when deciding how big is too big.
• Bitterness: It turns out large zucchinis can have more of a bitter taste than smaller ones. And bitter zucchinis can cause an upset stomach. So be on the safe side and stick to small ones.

Can dogs eat raw zucchini?

Yes, and many dogs like the crunch. Just be sure to cut it into smaller chunks to avoid a choking hazard.

Can dogs eat cooked zucchini?

Yes, and some dogs actually prefer softer, cooked zucchini over raw zucchini. Never cook your zucchini with seasoning, like salt or other flavored sauces, if you plan to feed it to your dog. Plain is the only way to go.

Can my dog eat the zucchini skin?

Yes! Those are the healthiest part of this vegetable, so don’t peel the zucchini. Again, just ensure the pieces are small enough to avoid posing a choking hazard.

How many zucchini slices can I give my dog?

It really depends on the size of your dog and their general health, but vegetable treats shouldn’t make up more than 10 percent of your dog’s overall food intake. Start with small amounts, and if your dog tolerates the zucchini well (no upset stomach or stools that are too hard or too soft), you can give them a little more.

Are zucchini and summer squash the same thing?

Zucchini is one type of summer squash. Zucchini is generally known as the most easily digestible vegetable in the summer squash family.

Now that you know dogs can eat zucchini, make a grocery store run and work this healthy veggie into your dog’s diet. Remember to start slowly and to only offer small pieces. Check out some other fruits and vegetables safe for dogs.