Butternut Squash

150 foods contain this ingredient

Vegetable

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About Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is an orange winter squash added to pet food to supply fiber, complex carbohydrates, and beta-carotene.

Butternut squash is a cooked vegetable ingredient used in pet foods as a source of soluble and insoluble fiber, complex carbohydrates, and antioxidants (notably beta‑carotene/vitamin A), often included to aid digestion, add moisture, and support healthy weight management. It can benefit dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats by supplying fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium, but should be cooked and seedless for digestibility, used sparingly in diabetic animals due to carbohydrate content, and treated as a complement to—not a replacement for—animal-based protein.

Related ingredients

Squash

Derived from: flesh of the Cucurbita moschata (butternut) squash, cooked and seedless
Primary role: fiber and beta-carotene (vitamin A precursor) source, carbohydrate filler

Why it's used

Butternut squash is valued in formulations for its dense beta-carotene content, which dogs can convert to vitamin A (cats convert it poorly and need preformed vitamin A from other sources), along with soluble fiber that adds bulk and moisture to help regulate digestion. Its naturally sweet flavor when cooked also makes it a palatable carbohydrate base in recipes designed around limited or novel ingredients.

Common concerns

Carbohydrate load One cup of raw butternut squash contains roughly 15 grams of net carbohydrates, making moderate portioning a consideration for owners managing a pet's total carbohydrate intake.
Raw or unpeeled preparation Sources recommend cooking butternut squash and removing the skin and seeds before feeding, since raw squash is harder to digest.

Also relevant

The ASPCA lists butternut squash as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses on its toxic and non-toxic plant database.

3 sources cited

Common Questions

What category is Butternut Squash?

Butternut Squash is categorized as a vegetable ingredient in the KibbleLab database.

Is Butternut Squash part of an allergen group?

No allergen group is linked to Butternut Squash in the KibbleLab database.

Which foods contain Butternut Squash?

150 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Butternut Squash, including Open Farm, Orijen.

Foods with Butternut Squash

Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.