Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash? Yes: Safe Amount by Weight

Safe

Yes, dogs can eat butternut squash!

Plain cooked butternut squash is a healthy treat for dogs, rich in fiber, vitamin A and potassium. Remove the skin and seeds and serve it soft, mashed or cubed.

Butternut Squash for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	Safe
Calories	About 5 kcal per 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash
Main benefit	High in vitamin A (beta-carotene)
Main risk	Raw squash and the tough skin are hard to digest
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How much butternut squash can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash has about 5 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if butternut squash were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max butternut squash per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	6.5 × 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	11 × 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	19 × 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	26 × 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	33 × 1 tablespoon mashed cooked butternut squash

Benefits and risks

Benefits

High in vitamin A (beta-carotene)
Fiber helps with digestion and stool quality
Naturally sweet and low in fat

Risks

Raw squash and the tough skin are hard to digest
Seeds can cause stomach upset
Butter, brown sugar and spices (nutmeg) in recipes are not dog-friendly

How to feed butternut squash to your dog

Peel, seed and cook until soft
Mash or cube and serve plain
Use as a food topper or freeze in toys

What if my dog ate too much butternut squash?

Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell.

Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.

Butternut Squash and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have butternut squash?

Yes. Plain cooked butternut squash is a healthy treat for dogs, rich in fiber, vitamin A and potassium. Remove the skin and seeds and serve it soft, mashed or cubed.

Can dogs eat other squash?

Yes. Plain cooked acorn, spaghetti and summer squash (zucchini) are also safe.

Can puppies eat butternut squash?

Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete puppy food.

More "can dogs eat" guides

Browse lists: all vegetables dogs can eat · human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat

Sources

This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.

Can Dogs Eat Butternut Squash?