If your dog is anything like ours, as soon as food drops on the floor, they come and gobble it right up. So, what happens if you are carving your pumpkins and you drop some pieces on the ground?
Can my dog eat pumpkin?
You may wonder if your dog can eat those pieces of pumpkin… well, guess what… your dog CAN eat pumpkin! How awesome is that, and believe it or not, pumpkin is a superfood for your dog! Keep reeding to find out if your dog can eat the insides of a pumpkin and pumpkin seeds…
Health benefits of pumpkin the superfood
Pumpkin can help your dog get over diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dehydration, urinary tract infection, upset belly and it’s even good for helping to lose a few extra pounds.
IMPORTANT: If your dog has any of these symptoms for more than 24 hours, you should contact your vet to make sure there aren’t any serious health issues to consider.
Pumpkin is filled with great vitamins and nutrients, including Alpha-Carotene, Beta-Carotene, Fiber, Iron, Potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Zinc.
- Vitamin A helps promote healthy eyes
- Antioxidants boost the immune system
- Vitamin A and zinc create healthy skin and coat
- Fiber helps with both constipation and diarrhea
- Fiber and water content can help with weight loss
- Cucurbitacin found in pumpkin seeds paralyzes and eliminates worms from the digestive tract
Pumpkin for dogs
Pumpkin is not just for Halloween and Thanksgiving. Your dog can benefit from canned pumpkin puree all year round.
Here are several ideas on how to add pumpkin into your dog’s diet:
- Canned pumpkin
- Fresh pumpkin
- Pumpkin powder additive
- Frozen pumpkin treats
- Crunchy pumpkin treats
- Homemade pumpkin puree
It’s important to note that not all pumpkin is created equal. When I talk about pumpkin, I’m talking about PURE pumpkin; NOT the sugary filling you buy to make your pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving.
You can buy canned pumpkin at the grocery store that is pure unsweetened pumpkin puree. This is a great option if you want to give your dog some pumpkin with his daily food.
Organic air-dried pumpkin
I recently found Native Pet’s air-dried pumpkin with apple and pumpkin seed. It’s the perfect for adding to your dogs food or making homemade pumpkin treats. It contains only organic ingredients and is sourced and packaged in North America.
Simply mix with equal parts cold water, and it turns into a delicious pumpkin puree. We just made frozen dog treats with it and the dogs love them!
Can dogs eat the insides of a pumpkin?
I hear this question every year around Halloween, can my dog eat the guts of a pumpkin. The answer is yes, BUT… If you give your dog fresh pumpkin, make sure he’s not eating the pumpkin that you carved yesterday or last week. Carved pumpkins will start to decompose quickly and can become moldy… making your dog sick instead of healthy.
It is safe for your dog to eat the insides of a fresh pumpkin… and remember in moderation! Do not let your dog eat the entire pumpkin, he will likely end up with diarrhea and very bad stomach ache.
Even better, and you are feeling adventurous, try making your own pumpkin puree! I found this easy to follow directions for homemade pumpkin puree.
How much pumpkin to give a dog
Add 1 to 4 tablespoons of pumpkin with your dog’s food to help with diarrhea. As with anything, too much of a good thing can turn bad. I recommend slowly adding pumpkin to your dog’s diet, 1 to 2 tablespoons a day. Then gradually increase depending on the size of your dog.
Always consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s health.
Dogs and pumpkin seeds
If you are wondering if pumpkin seeds are safe for your dog, the short answer is YES!
According to DogsNaturally, “Pumpkin seeds contain the amino acid called cucurbitin, which paralyzes and eliminates the worms from the digestive tract.”
If you drop a few when carving your pumpkin, he can eat them raw. But anytime after that, make sure to roast the seeds to keep them fresh for longer (about a month). Raw pumpkin seeds will become spoiled quickly without roasting. Seeds that are unsalted for your dog is best.
Roasting pumpkin seeds is very easy. Simply wash them, removing the pumpkin flesh as best as possible. Spread them out on a roasting pan, and put them in a preheated oven at 300° for about 20-25 minutes. You can roast a batch for yourself with some olive oil and salt and a plain batch for your dog.
So let’s recap:
- Yeah! Pumpkin is healthy for your dog all-year-round.
- Pumpkin is filled with great vitamins and nutrients.
- Feed your dog only fresh or canned pure pumpkin; avoid sweetened pumpkin pie filling.
- Pumpkin seeds are healthy for your dog too! (As long as they are unseasoned, no salt).
- Pumpkin can help with many temporary health issues, but always consult your vet if you have questions or concerns.
Check out some of these healthy homemade pumpkin dogs treat recipes on my Homemade Dog Treats Pinterest Board.
Do you have any creative ways you feed pumpkin to your dog? I would love for you to leave a comment below and share with us…
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I make pumpkin balls. Canned pumpkin not the pie filler 100% pumpkin add peanut butter coconut oil dry kibble. Make small balls put on cookie sheet. Freeze then when frozen put in freezer bag give them one Dailey when I go to work they love them
This is a great idea! I’m sure your dogs love them! Thanks for sharing.
She started having pumpkin on her food. She loves it!!
That’s great. Our dogs love pumpkin too!
I am wondering if the ear treatments would work for my cats or is there any way to treat it in a similar way?
Thanks
Hi Eileen, I’m guessing you are referring to the Eco Ears by Vet Organics? And yes, they do make a version just for cats. You can find it on Amazon also: http://amzn.to/2ASY2YG
Pumpkins are the BEST!!!