Can dogs eat zucchini?

Raw courgette sticks are crunchy and mild, and most dogs accept them happily. Steamed slices are soft and suit puppies and older dogs. Grated raw courgette mixed into a meal adds volume without many calories, which can help a dog on a diet feel fuller.

Yellow courgettes and pattypan squash are handled the same way.

Courgette flowers are edible too, but they are usually stuffed with cheese and fried, which rules them out.

As a portion guide, offer a few thin slices to a small dog of 5 kg (11 lb), about a quarter of a courgette to a medium dog of 15 kg (33 lb), and up to half to a large dog. Because it is mostly water, courgette rarely causes problems, but large amounts can loosen stools.

Occasionally, a courgette or other squash tastes intensely bitter. This bitterness comes from cucurbitacins, compounds that can cause severe stomach upset in people and animals. Home-grown plants that have cross-pollinated or been stressed by drought are more likely to produce them. If a courgette tastes very bitter to you, throw it away rather than giving it to your dog.

Courgette fritters, ratatouille, stuffed courgettes, zucchini bread and fried courgette chips usually include onion, garlic, cheese, sugar or oil. Spiralized courgette noodles are fine plain but often come with pesto, which contains garlic. Keep a few plain pieces aside while cooking.