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:
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.
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!
1 – Save the Pumpkin Seeds for Your Dogs
Did you save the pumpkin seeds? Most people will roast them, but for my dogs, Id prefer to wash them and either grind or ferment the seeds for my dogs. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. I dont think pumpkin seeds can balance a raw food diet, but I do think that they add a nutritional boost to our dogs diet. I like to have pumpkins on hand for my dogs to boost gut health and, in turn, the immune system. I also add ground pumpkin seeds to the bowl when one of my dogs eats a wild animal. We have a lot of rabbits on our property and sometimes the dogs catch one. And eat it. In front of me. Its awful.
2 – Create a Pumpkin Puree for Your Dogs
Instead of buying canned pumpkin, you can make your own with the guts removed from the pumpkin before carving. Just separate the seeds from the string material and then use a food processor to puree the strings into a smooth puree. You can use the puree in your dogs diet as a source of fiber to improve gut health or you can use it as an ingredient to make pumpkin flavored dog treats.
Can dogs eat fresh pumpkin guts?
Pumpkin is so versatile. Apart from making a jack-o’-lantern at Halloween, it can be made into pretty much anything edible! With pumpkin being such a staple for so many, it’s no wonder you might want to feed it to your pup.
You should always do your research and talk to your veterinarian before giving your pup anything different to eat. Dogs can’t always have all the same things that we enjoy, and some human foods are toxic to them. Some “human foods” are safe, and some foods can make an excellent treat for your pup.
The good news, though, is that dogs can eat pumpkin, as long as it’s in moderation. For everything, you’ll need to know about feeding pumpkin to your canine companion, read on!