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Just like the title says, this post is about how I discovered a snacks dogs love, but also one that is good for them and inexpensive.

I’ve had a dog or dogs since the 90s, so I thought I knew pretty much everything there was to know about their likes and dislikes, but I stumbled upon this snack by accident while I was making dinner. I’d had a craving for some squash. It had been a long time since I had some and sounded like a perfect comfort food. I bought some butternut squash and was cutting it up to cook and mash it with some butter.

In the process of cutting the squash up, I accidentally dropped a chunk on the floor. My three dogs were in the kitchen with me and one of them — Amy — rushed to scoop it up. Since I’ve tried to give them vegetables such as carrot sticks in the past and pretty much been met with the sound of crickets, I figured she’d taste it and spit it out. But she wolfed it down.

Yes, it’s safe!

I was kind of worried that squash might not be good for dogs, so I Googled it and found out the opposite is true.

According to Rover.com, “Butternut squash, like many other vegetables, is healthy for your dog. In particular, it’s rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals support the health of your dog’s vision, immune system, colon, muscles, and more.”

Also according to Rover.com, butternut squash is good for a dog’s digestion.

And, according to an article on akc.org, squash is safe for dogs to eat, provided seeds, skin, and rinds have been removed.

Thus reassured, I shared squash with all three dogs. However, since it is a new food for them, I didn’t go crazy, only giving them a couple of chunks. I also put those chunks in the microwave for about 30 seconds first, to soften them up a bit since uncooked squash is pretty tough. If you do this, I recommend making sure to let the squash cool for a few minutes before giving it to your pet because squash holds a lot of heat in a really short amount of time.

But, I will definitely be giving it to them on a regular basis from now on, since the health benefits sound great, squash doesn’t cost a lot, and I like the idea of adding fresh food to their dry dog food. Not to mention, it’s something we all enjoy. Well, except for the cats who had a crickets chirping kind of reaction when I offered it to them. (According to the ASPCA, butternut squash is safe for cats to eat too.)

Is your dog or cat a squash fan? Let me know in the comments if they have already tried it, or how it goes if you’re just trying it out for the first time.