Pumpkin For Dogs

When you see a pumpkin, your mind probably jumps to fall. Who can blame you? This is the time when almost everything is related to the big ‘ol fruit. Many of us love it, some of us hate it. But, what about your dog? 

Is Pumpkin Good For Dogs? 

Pumpkin isn’t just good for the fall drinks and treats, it’s also great for dogs. This fruit has a lot of vitamins and minerals that’ll make your dog healthier than ever, in moderation of course.

Pumpkin has: 

• Carotenoids, such as alpha-carotene, beta carotene, and lutein 
• Helps eye and skin health
• Vitamin E, a fat-soluble nutrient 
• anti-inflammatory and supports heart function 
• Iron, excellent for hemoglobin 
• Potassium - muscles and nerves
• Fiber for a strong digestive system 

It’s also low in calories for those dogs who are watching their figure 😉

 We Recommend: Best Diet For Weightloss

Pumpkin For Dog Diarrhea 

If your dog suffers from gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea or constipation, it’s recommended to add pumpkin into their diet. 

Diarrhea can be a sign of many things, such as stress, diet change, disease, infection, etc. Different types of diarrhea mean different things and if your dog is suffering from an extreme case, we highly recommend talking to your holistic or traditional vet. If your dog’s diarrhea is mild, which will most likely go away on its own, pumpkin can provide a little help to your dog’s tummy. 

Pumpkin For Dog Constipation 

Constipation is no fun for anyone, including dogs. Dried poops are an uncomfortable experience because it’s hard to pass through. Reasons for constipation could be many things like dehydration. Dogs prone to dehydration issues are those that are fed dry dog food since it has a low moisture content. The fiber in pumpkin helps with moisture retention and an easier passing of the stool. 

Switch to raw to improve your dog’s dehydration, even supplementing does wonders! 

For any gastrointestinal issue, pumpkin serves as a beneficial supplement because of the fiber. It’s helpful because the fiber also lowers the PH level of your dog’s intestinal tract. This allows beneficial bacteria to grow and be active while inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria.

The fiber also slows down the digestive process and encourages the absorption of nutrients. 

Check Out: Prebiotic vs Probiotic

Is Pumpkin Safe For Puppies 

These baby dogs are growing fast and naturally need a little more love when it comes to nutrition. Anything that will benefit an adult dog will usually also be beneficial to puppies when it comes to natural foods. Since pumpkin for dogs is great, it’s also great for puppies. Puppies tend to need more than adult dogs when it comes to nutrition from food in general. Feed a little bit of pumpkin at a time here and there, no more than 2 tablespoons. 

If you’re looking to provide your puppy all the nutrition they need, consider feeding Cali Raw’s Puppy Formula.

When To Not Feed Pumpkin

• Dogs that are diabetic should get a veterinarian’s opinion  
• Already ate a serving, too much can cause a loose bowel movement 
• Dogs with pancreatitis

Fresh, uncooked pumpkin is great because it’s natural and no heating process will strip its nutrients. Like a raw diet, all the beneficial nutrition will be available for your dog to digest and absorb. 

Pumpkin Seeds For Dogs

The seeds are a great treat for you and your dog. It’s packed with fiber, phosphorous, protein, copper, zinc, calcium, iron, and antioxidants. You can roast or feed these jam-packed nutritious seeds for a great treat you and your dog can share. Keep in mind that these can spoil quickly and will go toxic if not sealed properly. 

Benefits Of Pumpkin Seeds For Dogs:

• Soluble fiber 
• Natural de-wormer 
• Omega 3 fatty acid 
• Dislodge kidney stones 
• Prevention of cognitive decline
• Boosts cognitive performance 

The seeds should only be fed in moderation and without salt. 

Canned Pumpkin For Dogs?

If you’re looking to feed canned pumpkin, we encourage you to read the labels because some like canned pie filling contain xylitol. This chemical is dangerous to dogs and should be avoided. Instead, we recommend looking for a plain canned one that doesn’t have any extra ingredients.

Is Pumpkin Puree Good For Dogs?

Another great way to feed pumpkin to your dog is homemade puree with no added ingredients. The best puree to feed your dog is any that don’t have unnecessary ingredients and preferably only made of one ingredient. 

For small dogs, feed about 1-2 teaspoons. For larger dogs, 1-2 tablespoons. 

You can also make puree easily at home. To make the puree, simply bake the pumpkin without the seeds and blend. It´s as simple as that! 

For some fun pupsicles, add some scoops of puree into an ice mold and freeze. You can also mix carrot or apple puree to get a nice mix. 

Baking a treat using pumpkin is a great way to have some fun treating your dog and we have a couple for you to try. 

Peanut Butter And Pumpkin Treats For Dogs

• Recipe 1

The ingredients used are whole wheat flour, homemade peanut butter, pumpkin, stock, and a dash of cinnamon!

• Recipe 2

If you don’t have any stock on hand or cinnamon, this a great alternative. This recipe calls for pumpkin, peanut butter (xylitol free), coconut oil, eggs, turmeric, cinnamon, and coconut flour 

Pumpkin And Carrot Treats

• Pumpkin and Carrot Dog Treats

This is another great recipe that includes carrots and spinach. It’s just as easy to make as the other recipes too! 

These homemade baked treats are great because they use dog-friendly ingredients. The ingredients such as spinach, turmeric, carrots, and coconut oil are great natural foods for dogs. But of course, nothing beats fresh food like raw since it’s the best way to get all the nutritious goodness. 

Time to head off to the market for some pumpkins for myself and my dog! What about you?