Can your dogs eat pumpkin? Pumpkin is popular for dogs, either as a food or as a homemade pumpkin dog treat. Many people may not know that pumpkin has quite a few benefits for your dog's health.
Pumpkin, for instance, is loaded with beta-carotene, which is great for protecting your dog's skin. Besides that, it has iron, potassium, and vitamin C. And, yes, it tastes good so your pet will love eating pumpkin.
Packed full of vitamins and minerals, so why not feed your dog some? While dogs eat pumpkin, it is good for them, at the same time it isn't very good for them. Pumpkin is mostly just sugar. Most dogs get all the vitamins and minerals that they need from their regular food.
There are so many uses for dogs eating pumpkin, including baked goods and dog treats. These are great for all dogs, but especially for dogs who have skin conditions or seasonal allergies.
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Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Pumpkin seeds have many health benefits, so they're a splendid choice for you and for your dog. An excellent source of protein, they also have a lot of zinc and have a lot of fiber.
Pumpkin seeds are also available at your local supermarkets. Pumpkin seeds in the grocery store are dried, so most dogs can have them, even though they're not the freshest on the market.
You can always grow your own from a pumpkin patch or get some fresh picked ones from a pet store.
While Dogs love pumpkin, you'll want to watch how many they eat. We have to watch our dog’s weight just like we do? Like any food, pumpkin seeds aren’t bad for dogs if they don’t eat too many of them.
Even though your dog can consume pumpkin seeds raw, they will probably enjoy them more when they are dry roasted.
Don't add oils or salt to pumpkin seeds you give to your dog. A fatty, rich diet can cause life-threatening pancreatitis in dogs.
How to Feed Pumpkin Seeds to your Dog
- Take out pumpkin seeds from a fresh pumpkin, clean them, rinse them, and let them sit for a bit.
- Roast pumpkin seeds without oil or salt on a baking sheet (with parchment paper to prevent sticking) at 350F for about 15-20 minutes. Cool and reward your dog.
Pumpkin seeds are high in fat, so feed them sparingly.
- 1 ground up pumpkin seed per 10 lbs of body weight per day is a safe amount.
- For puppies, small or underweight dogs, only feed pumpkin in tiny amounts as a treat.
Can Dogs eat Pumpkin and is it good for them?
Pumpkin is good for dogs with upset stomach. Pumpkin is full of fiber that can soothe constipation and diarrhea.
It’s even considered a natural laxative for diarrhea. It also has beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A.
Vitamin A helps fight infections, boosts immunity, and heals damaged cells.
What Type of Pumpkin is Safe for Dogs
Keep your pumpkin plain when feeding pumpkin to your dog. Skip the pie filling, spices, and seasonings that we often associate with yummy human treats.
Canned pumpkin is actually more nutrient dense than fresh pumpkin. This is because canned pumpkin doesn't have the same amount of water in it as fresh.
Fresh pumpkin and pumpkin flesh, as well as plain canned pumpkin without any added sugars, ingredients, or fillers, are safe options for your dog.
One thing you should avoid is sugar-free canned pumpkin. The major problem with sugar-free pumpkin is that it could contain xylitol. Since the ingredients of these change over time (and our knowledge of toxins develops as well), your best bet is to stay away from everything but 100% pumpkin.
Check the ingredients and read the labels very carefully. Only buy canned pumpkin pie filling without xylitol.
What Parts of Pumpkin Should I Avoid
Not all parts of a pumpkin are created equal. If you're giving your dog fresh pumpkin, remember these rules:
- Pumpkin pulp (that stringy stuff in the middle) should be avoided.
- Just make sure you don't feed your dog pumpkin skin and stems, they might upset their stomach.
- Carved Pumpkins are a no-go for pets. You can't recycle your carved pumpkins for your dogs. Carved pumpkins that have been sitting for a while can breed mold and bacteria, which can make your dog really sick.
Can Too Much Pumpkin Be Dangerous For Dogs?
While pumpkin may be an excellent choice to add to your dog's diet, it’s important to remember that you can have too much of a good thing. Too much pumpkin in your dog's diet can have some negative effects.
Nutrient deficiencies. Pumpkin is sometimes given to dogs to help them eat more fiber, but too much can be dangerous. Too much fiber in pumpkins or other fiber-rich foods can inhibit how much protein and other nutrients your pet can absorb from food, so they're more likely to get poorly nourished.
High in calories. Pumpkin is a starchy vegetable with a lot of calories and fiber. Having any one food make up more than 10% of your dog’s total calori’t good.
Potentially high in sodium. When buying canned pumpkin, always check the label. Some canned pumpkin brands with salt can have 600 milligrams of sodium per cup, which is too much sodium for dogs with heart or kidney disease. Some pumpkin can also contain Xylitol, which is toxic for dogs.
May contain dangerous additions. It's important to know the difference between pumpkin pie filling and canned pumpkin. Pumpkin pie filling has added fat, sugar, and spices like cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Some of these spices can be poisonous to your dog. Plain canned pumpkin is fine for your dog.
How Much Pumpkin Dog I Feed My Dog?
While pumpkin can be a significant addition to your dog's diet, it's important to feed the right amount. Overeating pumpkin will probably not cause your dog to overdose on any natural nutrient, but it could lead to nutritional deficiencies elsewhere, or it could mean your dog is getting too few calories.
- Add 1 to 4 tablespoons of pumpkin per meal.
- Always use small amounts so as not to add too much fiber.
- If you're not sure how much pumpkin to add to your dog's diet, consult your vet.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Pumpkin?
Raw and cooked pumpkins are okay for dogs to eat, but they shouldn't replace their regular diet.
Pumpkin is safe for dogs both raw and cooked. Always check with your vet if your dog or cat has diabetes or kidney disease.
Fresh raw pumpkin seeds are fine for our healthy pooches, provided, of course, it's not rotten from being sitting on the porch four weeks.
Pumpkin for a Dog’s Upset Stomach
A sign of your dog's good health is normal pooping. Intestines get strained if your dog's stools are hard or difficult to pass. Pumpkin will help your dog get rid of constipation by providing necessary fibre for bowel movements. Though it may be hard to understand, pumpkins can cure both constipation and diarrhea in dogs. If your pet’s stool is a little loose, a little pumpkin can add bulk’s poop.
Pumpkin can actually help soothe upset tummies in dogs. The pumpkin’s thick texture coats the stomach and eases its aches and pains, while the vitamin A and C content helps to regulate’s enzyme production.
Besides helping ease upset stomach, pumpkin can also help with:
• Decreasing flatulence
• Boosting brain activity
• Helping to heal dog wounds
Pumpkin for Dog’s Diarrhea
Pumpkin is great for so many things, but one thing it's not particularly known for is helping dogs who have diarrhea. When dogs have diarrhea, they can get dehydrated quite quickly. Pumpkin is not a cure-all for dog diarrhea, but it can soothe their stomachs and rehydrate them.
Pumpkin can help soothe symptoms of diarrhea and help your dog feel better.
Moisture Benefits of Pumpkins
You know the health benefits of pumpkins? Pumpkin can also help your dog. Although it might not seem like it, your dog is at risk of dehydration. The key is to make sure they have plenty of water and other hydrating fluids, like pumpkin.
Pumpkins aren't just for carving and eating in October. They’re loaded with moisture and vitamins that can help your dog’s coat look great.
Pumpkin Can Help Naturally Control Parasites
Dogs with parasites, such as tapeworms, gain weight, suffer nutritional deficiencies, have dry skin, and have a shabby coat.
Pumpkin has high amounts of a compound called cucurbitacin, which is toxic to most parasites that eat dogs and has been used to expel worms from ruminants.
Grinding up a teaspoon or two of pumpkin seeds and mixing into canned food (or a little canned pumpkin!) is a good preventative to a dog’s usual treatment.
Other Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs
Pumpkin is good for dogs, but is it healthy for them? It all depends on how much they eat. Before you serve your dog pumpkin, check with your veterinarian to make sure there are no side effects because of any medications.
The most common side effect of eating too much pumpkin is diarrhea. Another potential side effect is upset stomach and gas in dogs that aren’t used to eating pumpkin.
Pumpkins are squashes that are traditionally associated with Halloween. It's packed with vitamin A, fiber, and potassium.
Pumpkin is great hypoallergenic food for dogs, so it's great for food allergies.
It's perfect for sensitive dogs, and those who just don't like to eat.
Using cooked pumpkin, an egg, and cooked rice, you can mix your own pumpkin-based dog food.
Nutrition of Pumpkin for Dogs
Pumpkins are an autumn and winter vegetable, and they're full of vitamin A as beta-carotene, vitamin C and manganese.
The seeds are also an excellent source of protein: 20% of the calories in a quarter cup of pumpkin seed come from protein!
Pumpkin seeds are a wonderful source of fiber, magnesium, zinc, potassium, and phosphorus.
Nutritional Breakdown of a Can of Pumpkin
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 100 grams of plain canned pumpkin contains:
- Water – 90 g
- Calories – 34
- Protein – 1.1 g
- Total fat – 0.28 g
- Carbohydrates – 8.09 g
- Fiber – 2.9 g
- Sugar – 3.3 g
- Calcium – 26 mg
- Iron – 1.39
- Magnesium – 23 mg
- Phosphorus – 35 mg
- Potassium – 206 mg
- Sodium – 5mg
- Zinc – 0.17 mg
- Copper – 0.107 mg
- Manganese – 0.149 mg
- Folate – 12 µg
- Beta Carotene – 6940 µg
- Vitamin A – 778 µg
- Vitamin B-6 – 0.056 mg
- Vitamin C – 4.2 mg
- Vitamin E – 1.06 mg
- Vitamin K – 16 µg
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