In many cases, we wonder if some of the vegetables that we humans routinely eat may also be suitable for our four-legged friends. In this specific case, we will address the issue regarding zucchini:
First of all, it should be noted that this very common vegetable in our diet naturally contains potassium, folic acid, vitamin E and vitamin C . For humans, the zucchini are diuretic and help combat the problems of the urinary tract and suitable for people suffering from inflammation all’instestino. But what happens if we give our dog zucchini ? If our dog were to eat courgette, unless he has major health problems related to other issues, nothing will happen . Zucchini is rich in fiber and can be an alternative for snacks dedicated to dogs at risk of obesity. Let’s take a practical example: if your dog has already had lunch but it’s time for a snack for him, you can prepare a cup with courgettes (better if cooked ), perhaps enriched with fish oil (obviously, this last indication varies according to the needs and characteristics of our animal). In this way, the dog will be satiated without taking in excessive calories. The courgette, like many other vegetables, therefore, represents almost exclusively an additional option to break the hunger of your 4-legged friend:
This is because, it must be remembered, your dogs do not need zucchini to improve their health ! We must always keep in mind that the dog – a carnivorous animal derived from the wolf – must eat above all good meat and fish . Vegetables should be selected while cereal-based crunchies should be reduced if not eliminatedfor the reasons mentioned above. The reason why it is very common to give our dog cereals (and therefore also bread) and vegetables is also linked to an economic issue. It is suitable for humans, but not for our dogs (who instead need animal proteins and fats to avoid unpleasant diseases). Be careful, therefore, to avoid offering your dog already beautiful “in the flesh” an additional snack based on bread and zucchini. Zucchini should be offered alone or at most with a low-sugar dressing. Some vegetables, such as garlic and onions , are extremely harmful to dogs, but courgettes are perfectly safe. The quantity of zucchini administration varies according to the size of the dog:
If the dog is of medium – large size, a cup of zucchini could be an ideal snack while for small dogs it would be more appropriate to prefer smaller portions. Also pay attention to pieces of courgette that are too large which, if raw (and therefore rather hard) could cause suffocation . It would therefore be better to cut the vegetable into small pieces before giving it to our dog. Even if our dog should occasionally eat the courgette flower , theoretically, there should be no problems. However, these are occasional foods that do not replace the diet based on animal proteins that they constantly need. It is also important to remember how it is best to consult a veterinarian if our four-legged friend should show clear symptoms of discomfort. In conclusion, can our dog eat zucchini? The answer is yes , even if, in reality, it doesn’t need it. The ideal, therefore, is to use them strategically as an occasional snack.
