Its that time of year again: pumpkin stuff here, pumpkin stuff there, pumpkin stuff everywhere! Not surprisingly, pumpkin seeds are a popular snack in the fall, especially after youve carved out your jack-o-lanterns with the kids and are left with the stickiness from inside the gourd. Roasting pumpkin seeds is a favorite tradition for many families, and for good reason — pumpkin seeds are chockfull of nutritional goodness, including being an excellent source of magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, and iron. If you have a dog, though, you might wonder if dogs can eat pumpkin seeds. Because lets be real, when youre knee-deep in pumpkin guts with your kids, your pup will probably seize the opportunity to gobble down a pile of the orange, seed-filled goop.
While theres nothing toxic about pumpkin seeds that would harm your furry friend when consumed as a treat, Cuevas cautions they are not a complete and balanced meal for a dog. Although they can be a great way to add to your dogs health, “They should only be fed in moderation as a supplement to their normal diet.”
Pumpkin seeds are also rich in fat and are not easy to digest, Cuevas adds, which means feeding too many pumpkin seeds — even if prepared correctly — could cause a dog to suffer from gastrointestinal distress and diarrhea. And because pumpkin seeds are calorie-rich, feeding those extra calories to your dog regularly can cause it to put on weight. “Excessive weight is unhealthy and has negative consequences on a dogs overall health,” cautions Cuevas. “Moderation is the key.”
“The first signs a dog presents are usually vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, and dehydration,” Cuevas explains. “After a few days, anemia signs become obvious, the dog will have difficulty breathing, have a rapid respiratory and heart rate, and its gums will look pale and might present dark color reddish or brown urine. The dog will need emergency veterinary care, including intravenous fluids and blood transfusions. If your dog shows signs of gastrointestinal distress, it is better to bring them to the clinic sooner after recent ingestions. Gastric decontamination and the use of absorbers can reduce the damage.”
If your dog has consumed pumpkin seeds that are simply baked and roasted without anything added (or raw, aka Mr. Jack-O-Lanterns insides), Cuevas recommends keeping a close eye on the pup, making sure it keeps well hydrated, and monitoring its feces. “Temporary diarrhea should pass in less than 24 hours, [so] put the dog on a bland and easy-to-digest diet for a day or two. If the dog has obvious signs of pain or discomfort, excessive vomiting, or diarrhea that lasts more than 24 hours, please bring the dog to the veterinarian.”
Feeding Pumpkin Seeds to Your Dog
If you skip recipes with pumpkin seeds that include a lot of other ingredients, like sugar and salt, and the pumpkin seeds are peeled and cooked, youre probably OK to let your dog have some in small quantities, Schmid says.
“You can feed them any way you want,” she explains. Grinding would make them easiest for dogs to digest and pass. Grinding is used by some to turn pumpkin seeds into a protein supplement.
So, while its true that people eat pumpkin seeds for nutritional benefits, dogs have different nutritional needs. Schmid says your best best for a healthy, happy dog is a good dog food. “If the dog is on a high-quality, balanced diet specifically designed for dogs, theres no need to supplement with pumpkin seeds,” she says.
Pumpkin Seeds for Dogs 101
Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds? Yes, absolutely – you can feed your dog seeds from the pumpkin with one caveat: it is highly recommended that you clean, peel, roast, and then grind them up.
Its best not to feed your dog raw pumpkin seeds as they can rapidly spoil and go rancid.
Roasted and ground pumpkin seeds are an easy addition to your dog’s food and provide multiple benefits for canine health.
It requires some preparation on your part, but the benefits from feeding dogs pumpkin seeds are numerous. There are plenty of homemade dog food recipes that include pumpkin seeds, too.
Need some ideas for pumpkin dog treats? Watch our videos of these tasty recipes:
Lets take a look at the nutrition of pumpkin seeds and some proven health benefits of this food. An ounce serving of peeled pumpkin seeds contains the following:
Calories: 126
Fiber: 1.7 grams.
Carbs: 5 grams.
Protein: 7 grams.
Fat: 13 grams
Because pumpkin seeds are very high in fiber, they can help improve digestion in dogs, which results in weight loss for overweight dogs and better overall health (Burrows et al., 1982).
They also have one of the highest content of magnesium of all foods, which can help dogs maintain healthy bones, regulate blood sugar and pressure, and reduce the risk of heart diseases in dogs.
Pumpkin seeds have also been studied to help with certain diseases, infections, and worms in dogs (Mahmoud et al. 2002)
Here are some other potential benefits of pumpkin seeds for dogs and humans:
Overall, given they are prepared right, pumpkin seeds for dogs can be highly beneficial.
So can dogs eat pumpkin seeds all the time, and how exactly will the addition of this food benefit their overall health? Heres what you should know.
My dog had diarrhea THIS Fixed it FAST!
Yesterday, we talked about feeding pumpkins to dogs and their health benefits. We know that its a superfood, a fruit that packs a mighty punch when it comes to nutritional value.
Chock full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. But can dogs eat pumpkin seeds as well, or are pumpkin seeds for dogs a bad idea? Lets take a closer look.
If you were wondering, “can I give my dog pumpkin seeds,” the answer is YES – dogs can eat pumpkin seeds, and theyre not dangerous when prepared (do not give them raw and always peel them).
In this article, well look specifically at the benefits of pumpkin seeds for dogs, how they affect dogs and how to feed them, are pumpkin seeds bad for dogs in any way, and are pumpkin seeds are good for dogs to feed regularly.