Can my dog eat Japanese pumpkin or kabocha squash?
Can my dog eat Japanese pumpkin or kabocha squash?
Can my dog eat Japanese pumpkin or kabocha squash? 
Japanese pumpkin, also known as kabocha squash, is a winter squash first cultivated in Japan. It’s now become popular in the U.S. and other parts of the world and is prized for its sweet, buttery flavor. Kabocha squash looks like a small pumpkin, with green knobby outer skin. You can cook this squash in a variety of ways, including as a side dish, soup, etc. You can even use it as an alternative to pumpkin, butternut squash or acorn squash in certain recipes. Japanese pumpkin is very healthy and includes Vitamins A & C, iron, copper, magnesium, B Vitamins and more.
Can my dog eat Japanese pumpkin? Yes, your pup can enjoy Japanese pumpkin along with you! Can my puppy eat Japanese pumpkin? Yes, your puppy can also enjoy some Japanese pumpkin. However, before feeding this squash to your dog or puppy, there are some things to keep in mind. While the skin of some squashes (summer squash) is edible, the skin of winter squashes is not, because it’s usually thicker and harder. Avoid feeding this part to your fur baby. It’s best to first cook the squash, to make it easier for your dog to digest. You can feed him only a small amount mixed in with his regular dog food (homemade or commercial). What happens if my dog eating too much Japanese pumpkin? If he eats too much, he could develop tummy and digestive problems, including diarrhea.
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No doubt, the skin of the winter squash is harder and thicker. I learned that only when I had fed my dog and noticed that he was struggling more than normal with the squash. After careful examination, I noticed the skin was harder. Honestly, I didn’t even know there are summer and winter squash.
Same here. In fact, since I started feeding my dogs anything that had skin, I’ll always remove the skin before cooking or serving it. Not all of them have skins that are edible and I can’t memorize which is which so I just avoid leaving them on entirely.
My curiosity on this matter came from my dog’s attitude of watching me eat my Japanese pumpkin. As though he longed to have a taste, but I wouldn’t budge until I have done my due diligence on whether it is safe for his consumption.
Good news for me. We eat a lot of kabocha squash in my house and it’s unfair how we are enjoying it and my dog has that longing look in his eyes but I can’t give him because I’m not sure if it’s good. Now I’ve had time to check and I’m glad to know that he can join in whenever we eat it.