If you are wondering, “can dogs eat pumpkin?” you are at the right place! This article will explore everything you need to know about pumpkins and dogs.
In short – yes! Pumpkins are safe for dogs and make a fantastic snack or even an addition to their meals. Furthermore, there are multiple benefits, so let’s explore them!
Is Pumpkin Good For Dogs?
Pumpkin is one of the human foods that is safe and good for dogs. Here are the reasons why you should feed your dog pumpkin:
1. Vitamins and minerals
If you want to add something super nutritious to your dog’s diet, you should consider adding pumpkin! This superfood is packed with essential vitamins and minerals for a dog’s well-being. Here is what all it includes:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Potassium
- Iron
2. Fibrous
Another fantastic health benefit of pumpkin to dogs is the high fiber content. It adds bulk to your dog’s stool and makes the bowel movements super easy and comfortable. Not just this, but if your dog faces constipation issues, pumpkin might be their best way out!
3. Low calories
If your dog is obese, you should feed them healthy snacks and meals that do not add many calories to their weight. Pumpkin is a perfect low-calorie food that fulfilling and does not make your dog obese.
Can Dogs Eat All Types of Pumpkin?
While dogs can eat pumpkins, not all types may be suitable or even healthy for them. Here are a couple you need to be aware of:
1. Pumpkin spice flavored snacks
NOPE! Dogs should not have pumpkin spice-flavored snacks at any cost. Even though it is not toxic to dogs, it can cause digestive problems. This spice also includes other species like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves, which might not be the best combination for dogs.
2. Pumpkin seeds
You can serve your dog small amounts of pumpkin seeds. The only catch is not to add any seasonings, toast them, or toss the salted pumpkin seeds to your dog. Giving your dog plain pumpkin seeds would be best, as they are packed with essential nutrients for their health. Please ensure that you only give your dog small amounts of it, as too many can lead to upset stomachs and abdominal pain.
3. Canned pumpkin
Even though canned pumpkin is safe for dogs, they might not be the best. The canned version may include sugar or additional flavors, which can be dangerous to dogs (study). Otherwise, it is pretty convenient to use canned pumpkins.
Moreover, we recommend that instead of serving your dog canned ones, you can also make pumpkin puree at home and store it. The only problem we have with canned pumpkins is the preservatives and additional flavorings to make them palatable for humans.
4. Pumpkin pie
You should not feed your dog pumpkin pie! It contains ingredients like sugar, spices, and even xylitol! Can’t remember? Xylitol is the same toxic compound found in marshmallows and many store-bought candies, and this can be fatal to dogs, even in small amounts (study)! Hence, feeding your dog pumpkin pie takes away its nutritional value and makes it unsafe for doggos.
Other Foods That Dogs Can Eat
Now that you know your dog can eat pumpkins, you can reward your dog with some! But, eventually, your dog will get bored and eye on other foods, too. So, to keep their snacks and meals interesting, you can make a salad or also add these human foods to the kibbles:
Conclusion
Our final thoughts on “can dogs eat pumpkin?” is a BIG YES! Pumpkins are packed with goodies for you and your pooch. Be it having multiple vitamins and minerals or being a great add-on to boring kibbles. The only catch is to keep the consumption of pumpkins minimal, as it should not be your dog’s primary meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, dogs can eat pumpkin seeds safely. The only catch is to keep the seeds plain and unseasoned. The plain pumpkin seeds are super healthy for dogs in moderation.
Yes, canned pumpkin is safe for dogs in moderation. It holds the same nutritional value as that of homemade pumpkin puree. We do not recommend canned pumpkin because it has alot of preservatives and may also include salt or other additives.
Giving your dog pumpkin greens, be it the leaves or the stems, is harmful to their health. It cannot be digested properly and will cause gastrointestinal issues in dogs. If your dog ate stems or leaves of pumpkin, please monitor them and contact your veterinarian.
No, you should not feed your dog pumpkin bread. The pumpkin itself is not harmful to dogs, but other ingredients like chocolate chips, spices, sugar, and xylitol can make your dog sick. Hence, it is best to avoid pumpkin bread.
No. You should only feed your dog the pulpy part of pumpkins. The skin is very tough and cannot be digested by dogs. They can cause choking hazards and make your dog very sick. Please keep your dogs away from the skin when cutting pumpkins for them.
