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Can dogs eat pumpkin? After all, it’s the gourdiest component of the gourd season as we prepare for pumpkin-spice-everything season and choose which creative costume you’re going to dress Sparky up as this year (a black cat, of course). But before you allow Sparky to go crazy on that pumpkin, we consulted Dr. Priscilla Bowens, DVM, MPH, Esq. Can dogs eat pumpkin? According to (aka @drpetnugget), the creator of PetNugget, a platform for pet health education, the answer is both yes and no. Here, we explain.
How Much Pumpkin to Give Your Dog
Before adding pumpkin into your dog’s diet, it’s always a good idea to consult your veterinarian about the amount of pumpkin that is safe for your dog to eat. However, the rule of thumb is to add just 1 to 4 tablespoons to your dog’s meal depending on his size (small dogs need much less). Don’t add so much right away, because you’ll want to see if your pup is allergic to it or has any sensitivity at first.
You can add up to 1 tablespoon to your dog’s food for a large dog and 1 to 2 teaspoons for a small dog or medium dog once or twice a day if your dog has diarrhea or soft stools. Additionally, if you give your dog pumpkin, make sure he gets enough water.
Discover delicious food your dog deserves
When feeding a fresh pumpkin to your dog, remove the flesh, cut it into small cubes, and then boil, steam, or roast them until they are tender. You can feed your dog these cubes or make a puree for your dog by blending them with a little bit of water. If you prepare pumpkin puree for your dog, you can spread it on a licki mat or use it as a filling for a Kong toy.
The flesh and seeds from a pumpkin you purchased to carve for Halloween can be saved and given to your dog. Prior to cooking the flesh, simply remove the seeds and stringy parts. The seeds can also be peeled, roasted, and ground, and your dog can eat those as well.
Moderation is essential with almost any food your dog consumes. Although eating pumpkin is completely healthy and safe, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. If your dog eats too much of the high amounts of fiber at once, it may upset their stomach. Additionally, there is a lot of beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A. While your dog needs some vitamin A, too much can be toxic.
Yes and no. Although it is difficult to digest and could make some dogs ill, raw pumpkin is safe for dogs to eat. If your dog consumes a lot of raw pumpkin, you might notice that they experience diarrhea or vomiting.
You just need to be aware that raw pumpkin can cause stomach issues. Your dog can probably eat a spoonful of it and be fine. It’s typically best to lightly cook pumpkin before feeding it to your dog.
However, you should never give a whole, raw pumpkin to your dog. Particularly hard to chew and digest is the skin. Additionally, it can increase the risk of choking or intestinal blockage if they consume large chunks of it. The tough stem, which your dog cannot safely chew or decompose, is similar.
Dogs can consume canned pumpkin, and this is usually the simplest way to give them some. It is safe for your dog to consume a spoonful of pumpkin straight from the can.
You can easily use canned pumpkin to add some enrichment to your dog’s food because of its consistency. Like the puree, you could spread it on a licki mat or stuff it into a Kong toy to keep your dog occupied for a short while. You could also use a can to make a delicious recipe for doggie ice cream if you were able to hold onto one until summer.
There is only one rule for feeding canned pumpkin to dogs, and that is to make sure to use it sparingly. Read the label!
Make sure there are no additional ingredients, such as sugar, and that you are only giving your dog pure pumpkin by carefully reading the label.
There are additional ingredients and seasonings in canned pumpkin pie filling (or anything similar) that can make your dog ill, so you cannot feed them to your dog.
There is a lot of refined sugar in canned pumpkin pie filling, which is bad for dogs. Additionally, it frequently contains nutmeg, which is toxic to both dogs and cats.
Dogs can consume pumpkin seeds, but only after some preparation. If there are any fresh seeds left over after carving a pumpkin, you must peel, roast, and grind them before giving them to your dog.
The roasted seeds could be consumed whole by large dogs, but they can be a choking hazard for smaller dogs, so you might want to grind the seeds first.
You can always opt to purchase a packet of pumpkin seeds from the grocery store if that sounds like too much work.
Pumpkin seeds have a lot of nutritional value. Like nuts, they are loaded with protein and useful fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 that will help maintain the health of your dog’s skin and fur. However, you should only give your dog a small amount of the seeds once or twice a week at most because they are quite calorie-dense and fatty.
Additionally, those tiny seeds contain a surprising amount of nutrients, such as a lot of fiber, a small amount of vitamin K, and minerals like phosphorus, iron, and zinc.
A wide range of amazing benefits for humans, including the prevention of some cancers and heart disease, have been discovered for pumpkin seeds.
Although there isn’t much proof that your dog will enjoy the same advantages, it’s conceivable that they might.
Clean and healthy guts are one advantage of feeding pumpkin seeds to your dog. In addition to providing a significant amount of fibre to support gut health and regular bowel movements, the seeds also have an “anthelmintic” effect. That means that eating pumpkin seeds can assist both humans and dogs in getting rid of parasitic worms.
Your dog will still require routine treatments for creepy crawlies like fleas and ticks because it hasn’t been thoroughly studied and won’t shield them from every parasite out there.
However, it appears to be effective, and since pumpkin seeds are already extremely healthy, there is no reason why you and your dog can’t enjoy a snack of this superfood.
Fiber, Raw Pumpkin, and Pumpkin Filling
We’ve seen that pumpkin can be beneficial for dogs who are constipated or have diarrhea. Additionally, it has important vitamins and minerals, and its high fiber content can prevent a dog from gaining too much weight. Having said that, it’s crucial to consider the risks associated with pumpkin, as well.
Fiber is a double-edged sword. Its great for your dog in the right amount. But too much can upset your dogs stomach or lead to vomiting. The same goes for vitamin A — while its not extremely common, too much vitamin A can result in poisoning.
The risk of choking when giving your dog raw pumpkin is really not worth it. Do not give your dog raw pumpkin flesh, gourd skin, or stem. Since plain canned pumpkin is less watery than fresh pumpkin, it is inherently healthier.
However, canned pumpkin is very different from pumpkin pie filling. When youre at the grocery store looking for pumpkin items for your dog, don’t put canned pumpkin pie filling in your cart. Its chock-full of harmful ingredients for dogs like added sugars, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Avoid sugar-free plain canned pumpkin, too, as it may be sweetened with an artificial sugar called xylitol that is toxic to dogs.
FAQ
How much raw pumpkin can I give my dog?
It’s always a good idea to speak with your veterinarian about how much pumpkin is safe for your dog to eat before including it in their diet. The general rule is to add 1 to 4 tablespoons, depending on the size of your dog (small dogs require much less), to his meal.
Is it OK for dogs to eat raw pumpkin?
Although pumpkin can be eaten raw by dogs, it may be difficult for them to digest and pose a choking risk. The rind can also suffocate someone and result in an obstruction in the intestines. If the pumpkin is 100% pumpkin and contains no additional ingredients, you can feed cooked or canned pumpkin to your dog.
How do you prepare raw pumpkin for dogs?
You can also serve fresh pumpkin. Take out the seeds, then bake it in your oven until it’s soft. Additionally, you can give your pets pumpkin seeds as a crunchy treat. After cleaning them, roast them for an hour at 350 degrees in your oven, let them cool, and then grind them into your pet’s food.
What part of a raw pumpkin can dogs eat?
The gist of the matter is that, yes, dogs can eat pumpkin, both the pulp and the seeds, but only when properly prepared and served plain (sorry, pup; no pumpkin pie for you).