Does your furry friend love pumpkin? Is it safe for them? Well, a pumpkin is perfectly safe and considered a superfood for dogs.
Is pumpkin safe for dogs?
Yes, pumpkins are nutritious and are safe for dogs to eat. However, all parts of the pumpkin are not safe for dogs to eat.
- Pumpkin pulp: It is the gooey part in the center of the pumpkin and must be avoided.
- Pumpkin skin and stem: Avoid sharing pumpkin skin and stems with your dog. It can cause an upset stomach and indigestion.
Nutritional Benefits of Pumpkin
Pumpkins provide various benefits for dogs. It contains essential nutrients, vitamins A, C, and E and essential minerals like iron and potassium.
Let’s have a look at some of the benefits of pumpkin for dogs:
- Improve your dog’s coat: Vitamin A and zinc in pumpkin is great for your dog’s skin and coat.
- Good for eyes: Pumpkin is packed with Vitamin A and promotes eye health.
- Immunity booster: Pumpkin is a great source of antioxidants that are integral for your dog’s immune health.
- Stomach soother: Pumpkin helps to regulate your dog’s digestive system. If your dog is constipated, adding pumpkin to its diet can help ease mild constipation. The fiber in the pumpkin can help make your dog’s stools more firm and regular.
- Stimulate the growth of good bacteria: The prebiotic properties of pumpkin regulate the growth of good bacteria in your dog’s intestines and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
- Prevent kidney stones: Pumpkin seeds contain Omega 3 fatty acids. They have anti-inflammatory properties that can help dislodge kidney stones.
- Control parasites in dogs: Pumpkin can help to control dog parasites. It is toxic to many common dog parasites and helps to expel worms in canines.
- Tastes great: Most dogs enjoy the rich, creamy flavour of pumpkin. It can also serve as a tasty doggy treat.
Risks of feeding pumpkin to dogs
While pumpkin is a great food for dogs, there are a few things you should keep in mind when feeding pumpkin to your dog.
- Pumpkin is a starchy vegetable that is high in calories.
- A huge amount of pumpkin can give dietary upsets to dogs.
- Avoid feeding pumpkin products that contain spices, salt, additives, and sugar. They can actually make your dog sick.
Doggy Chef Tip: Stop feeding your pooch pumpkin immediately if you notice any allergic reaction.
How should you feed pumpkins to your dog?
Both fresh and canned pumpkins are good sources of nutrients. However, plain canned pumpkin is the healthiest choice for your dog.
Here’s how you should feed pumpkin to your fur buddy:
- Baked pumpkin: Wash the fresh pumpkin because it may contain pesticides. Remove the seeds and bake it before serving them to your dog. The soft pumpkin is easier for your dog to chew.
- Plain canned pumpkin: You can also give plain canned pumpkin as it is easy to feed your dog as you don’t need to cook it. Make sure to feed unsweetened pumpkin to your dog.
- Pumpkin puree: You can even prepare a yummy pumpkin puree.
- Raw pumpkin seeds: Offer raw pumpkin seeds to your dog. Some dogs also enjoy them more when they are dry roasted. Avoid adding salt or oils to pumpkin seeds that you give to your dog.
- Pumpkin treats: I have a lot of dog treat recipes that include pumpkin.
You can add pumpkin with other ingredients in your dog’s regular diet.
The benefits of pumpkin make it a wonderful food to include in your dog’s daily diet. Remember that a large quantity of pumpkin can cause an upset stomach, even in healthy dogs. If you are not sure how much pumpkin is safe for your dog, it’s better to check with your vet.
If you want to introduce pumpkin to your dog’s diet, it’s a good idea to start slowly to see how your dog’s stomach reacts.
Woof!
