In this article, we’ll talk about acorn squash in dog food. As a minor ingredient in a handful of commercial recipes, it adds variety, flavor, some micronutrients, fiber, and carbohydrates.
Contents
What is an Acorn Squash?
Acorn squash is a variety of Cucurbita pepo, a cultivated winter squash related to summer squash and pumpkins.
It got its name from its pointed egg-shaped fruit with distinctive ridges along its sides, thus resembling an acorn.
The most common variety of acorn squash is dark green on the outside but there are also variegated, white, or yellow cultivars.
Another name for this vegetable crop is pepper squash.
Benefits of Acorn Squash For Dogs
Acorn squash can provide several health benefits to dogs when incorporated into their diet.
Its yellow-orange flesh has a sweet or nutty taste.
Acorn squash is primarily composed of water, accounting for 80-90% of its total weight[1].
Although this may make it low in dry matter, it also means that it is relatively low in calories (about 40 kcal/100 g). This makes it a great ingredient for dogs that need to maintain a healthy weight.
Despite its low protein and fat content, acorn squash still provides some essential nutrients.
For instance, it adds some beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, which helps support healthy skin, coat, and vision.
Additionally, it provides a good source of carbohydrates and dietary fiber, which can promote good digestive health and regularity.
Furthermore, acorn squash is rich in potassium. It also contains other essential minerals such as magnesium and calcium.
Overall, acorn squash is a nutritious and beneficial ingredient to include in dog food recipes.
Its low-calorie content, combined with fiber and mild flavor, brings variety and taste to the bowl and makes acorn squash a suitable ingredient for dog food.
Is Acorn Squash Good For Dogs?
Overall, raw acorn squash contains very few nutrients.
Too little, at least, to make it suitable as a carbohydrate source for dry kibble, it seems.
But acorn squash does provide some micronutrients and dietary fiber, which earns it a place as a somewhat useful dog food ingredient.
To date, acorn Squash is used by very few manufacturers and only as a minor ingredient.
While acorn squash may not be widely used in dog food products, it can still provide some benefits even when used in small amounts.
It is relatively low in nutrients so it’s obviously not used as a carbohydrate source for dry kibble.
Acorn squash is an excellent source of dietary fiber, which can promote gut health and stool quality in dogs.
Fiber helps keep the digestive system working properly by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria and keeping stools regular and well-formed.
Therefore, incorporating acorn squash into dog food can be a great way to add variety and substitute less appealing by-product fiber ingredients like beet pulp or pomace.
Further Reading
[1] U.S. Department of Agriculture. Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central. 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov