Zucchini, a good vegetable for dogs
If there are a few vegetables not recommended for dogs, zucchini is not one of them. On the contrary, it has multiple benefits for the dog.
A vegetable low in calories and rich in water
The high water content of zucchini makes it a very low-calorie vegetable. It can therefore serve as a "he althy" treat for a dog who appreciates them and as a hydration supplement for a dog who tends to drink little.
Used in a household ration, it gives volume to the ration and thus helps to satisfy the appetites of the most gluttonous dogs.
A vegetable source of fibre
Although the dog is a carnivore, its diet should not consist solely of meat. It must include fibers that are found in quantity in vegetables such as zucchini. Cooked, zucchini provides no less than 1.05 g to 1.5 g per 100 g. This fiber intake contributes to harmonious intestinal transit and improves the animal's digestive comfort.
A vegetable source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants
Source of vitamin C, vitamin B9, B2 and B6, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, copper, zucchini also stands out with interesting levels of antioxidants beneficial for the he alth of our hairy ones !
Note carefully!
Although zucchini contains vitamins and minerals, its intake is not sufficient to cover the needs of a dog fed with a household ration. If necessary, consider supplementing its contributions with a CMV.
A vegetable suitable for kidney stones
Zucchini is a vegetable that helps reduce urinary saturation with calcium oxalate. As such, it can be part of the diet of a dog suffering from oxalate stones in order to slow down their formation.
How much zucchini to give my dog?
Well, it depends on the size of the dog, its tolerance for zucchini and how you use zucchini, as a vegetable source in a household ration or as a simple treat .
Zucchini as a treat
The very low energy density of zucchini allows you to distribute them to your dog as treats almost without counting. However, it must be ensured that an excess of fiber, to which a dog would not be accustomed, does not cause diarrhea in your dog. If the zucchini is used as treats, however, be careful not to exceed 10% of its daily energy requirement.
Zucchini in the household ration
If zucchini is the only vegetable brought as part of a household ration, the quantities to add to your dog's bowl are to be calculated precisely according to your dog's needs. Our article en titled "calculate a household ration for your dog" should help you.
These amounts of zucchini are usually between 10 and 50 grams of vegetables per kg of body weight.
In what form to give zucchini to your dog?
The best thing is to give cooked zucchini to your dog. It is in this form that it is best accepted and tolerated digestively by the dog.
Used fresh, cut it into slices or cubes before steaming it or in water with a small pinch of s alt before giving it, once cooled, to your dog . Frozen zucchini should also be cooked and then cooled before offering them to your pet.