3 Reasons to Feed Pumpkin to Your Dogs

  100% Pumpkin (not the spiced pumpkin for pies) is very good for your dogs for many reasons, but we are going to concentrate on three. While most people consider pumpkins as vegetable, they are really a fruit born from vine plants of the genus Cucurbita, part of the gourd family.

Pumpkins are rich in carotenoids, beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, fiber, zinc, iron, vitamin A and potassium. In fact, you can tell the pumpkin is rich in the antioxidant beta-carotene, just by looking at its bright orange color. While you can buy a fresh pumpkin and cook it, canned pumpkin is really simple to feed to your dog. Canned pumpkin is just as packed with nutrients as fresh pumpkin.

If you buy fresh pumpkin, you will want to puree so it is easy to mix in your dog’s food, like the canned pumpkin. You can even roast the pumpkin seeds and grind them up, but do not add salt. The leaves and stems should not be given to dogs because of the sharp hairs that will irritate your dog.

1. Give it to your dog as a treat: or use it as an ingredient when you make your dog treats. When first introducing as a new food, only feed a small quantity at first to see if it causes your dog stomach upset, such as gas.

We keep canned pumpkin and fresh frozen pumpkin at all times. It is one of the basic must haves in my home for the following reasons:

 

2. Dog diarrhea and constipation: Pumpkin has high fiber and water content, which are good for correcting and preventing constipation or even diarrhea in dogs, plus it can help bulk up your dog’s stool. Start with feeding your dog 1 or 2 tablespoons of pureed pumpkin a day, depending on your dog’s size.  NOTE: Pumpkin may not help your dog with diarrhea or constipation if there is an underlying medical condition.

3. Helping your dog lose weight: Some dogs need to lose weight, but their owners don’t want them to feel hungry. Pumpkin is a great low-fat treat that fills a dog up due to its being high in fiber. The proper amount of pumpkin to feed depends on the size of your dog and dietary needs.

As with anything related to your dogs health be sure and consult your veterinarian for how much or how often to use for diarrhea, constipation or weight loss.

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