With the beginning of the autumn season, we see the presence of fruits such as pumpkin in the stores, the use of pumpkin in the human diet has many health benefits. For this reason, you may want to use this fruit in your and your dog’s diet, but you doubt whether pumpkin is good or bad for dogs. You don’t know if dogs can eat pumpkins or not. In this article, we will examine another good vegetable for dogs, i.e., pumpkin, and explain the benefits and essential points of feeding dogs with pumpkin.
Is pumpkin good for dogs?
Yes, pumpkin is safe for dogs. As we said, pumpkin is one of the valuable and good fruits for dogs. Feeding dogs with pumpkin has many benefits for the dog’s health, including:
Help with dog constipation:
Due to its high fiber content, pumpkin works excellently in controlling constipation in dogs. For this reason, you can use a small amount of pumpkin in the diet of a constipated dog. Of course, remember that overeating pumpkins can cause diarrhea.
Making the dog feel full and lose weight:
Also, the high fiber in pumpkin makes it digest later in the dog’s digestive system and feel complete. For this reason, pumpkin can be used in the diet of obese dogs as a calorie control.
Rich in vitamins
Also, pumpkin contains a variety of vitamins that can help improve the overall health of the dog’s body. These vitamins include:
- Vitamin A: Improves eyesight in dogs
- Vitamin C: improves the function of the immune system and relieves joint pain
- Beta-carotene: It is a red, orange, and yellow pigment, and as a potent antioxidant, it slows down the aging process of cells.
- Lutein is a solid antioxidant that prevents cell damage caused by free radicals and helps eye and skin health.
Note: Some of these benefits are also found in other vegetables that you can use instead of pumpkin. For more information, you can read the following article:
How to give pumpkin to the dog better? Raw or cooked?
Eating raw pumpkin is not a problem, but it is better to try it with a small amount. Digestion of pumpkin in the dog’s digestive system is complex and slow, so it is better not to give raw pumpkin to the dog. The best way to prepare the pumpkin for dogs is to steam or boil it.
After cooking the pumpkin, you can add this pureed fruit to the dog’s diet. You can also divide the pumpkin into small cubes, cook them, and give them to your dog as an incentive.
Can a dog eat pumpkin seeds?
Raw pumpkin seeds are not toxic to dogs, but it is better to remove the seeds when giving them to dogs. Because pumpkin seeds may block the dog’s respiratory tract and cause suffocation.
You can also give cooked pumpkin seeds to the dog, provided it does not contain salt. You know that salt is not suitable for dogs.
Is eating pumpkin skin and stem bad for dogs?
The skin and stem of the pumpkin are much more challenging than the flesh and have a higher percentage of fiber. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid giving pumpkin skin and stem to dogs and puppies separately.
It is difficult for dogs to digest pumpkin skin and stem, and it can cause digestive problems and intestinal obstruction.
Can my dog eat pumpkin pie?
The short answer is no. Because pumpkin pie contains illegal additives and a large percentage of sugar, which can cause obesity, diabetes, and other diseases in dogs.
But suppose you want to prepare pumpkin pie for your dog at home. In that case, it is better to consult a veterinarian about the raw ingredients of pumpkin pie before preparing it.
How many pumpkins can I give my dog?
The answer to this question can be different depending on your dog’s weight, age, and health status. But usually, 10% of a dog’s daily diet can be provided by fruits and vegetables. So you can’t give the dog a lot of pumpkin and other fruits and vegetables daily.
It is better to divide the pumpkin into small pieces of one centimeter and give one piece daily as an incentive or snack to your dog.
If you plan to add pureed pumpkin to dog food. It is better in small amounts. You can add about 20 grams of pureed pumpkin to your dog’s food daily.
Note: Of course, remember that the dog’s weight and age directly affect the amount of food it eats daily. So, considering 10% of fruits and vegetables, you can use them in your dog’s diet.
Can I give my dog pumpkin every day or not?
You don’t need to feed your dog pumpkin daily, as their basic nutritional needs are met with meat and fats. On the other hand, as we said, overeating pumpkins by dogs can cause diarrhea.
So if you want to give pumpkin to your dog daily, try to eat it in small amounts so that digestive problems do not occur due to overeating pumpkin. Keep in mind that moderation is essential when feeding dogs fruits and vegetables.
Other safe vegetables and fruits to feed dogs
In addition to pumpkin, many fruits and vegetables are safe for dogs, and you can use them in your dog’s diet. These fruits and vegetables are:
The bottom line
Pumpkin is one of the natural foods allowed for dogs and has many properties for their health. Eating pumpkin can help treat constipation in dogs, lose weight, and also help the dog’s overall health. It is better to cook the pumpkin and add it to your dog’s diet in the puree. Pumpkin is a healthy and safe snack for dogs, so add this fruit to your dog’s food list as fall begins.
