August 31, 2018

ARE PUMPKINS GOOD TREATS FOR DOGS? 

It’s almost Fall and the Pumpkin-flavoured food is everywhere – pumpkin pie, pumpkin lattes, and pumpkin cookies. It’s a delicious treat for humans but can dogs eat pumpkin, too? Turns out, it can make an excellent healthy treat and supplement for dogs if you serve it right.

How many pumpkins Do I Feed My Dog?

Like many people, dogs love the flavour of pumpkin and while pumpkin can be a fantastic addition to your dog’s complete diet, it’s important that you feed the correct amounts. It’s unlikely that your dog will get sick consuming too much pumpkin, but if your dog eats too much, it could lead to a nutritional deficiency somewhere else or could mean your dog is getting too few calories.

Most dogs will willingly lap up regular pumpkin, however, for an extra treat, you can add a small amount of cinnamon or honey.
Generally, 1 tsp of pumpkin per 10lbs of body weight per day is a good standard to go by. If your dog has a health condition such as diabetes, please talk to your vet about their correct dietary needs before feeding pumpkin to your dog.

Pumpkin seeds are high in fat and should be fed more sparingly. One ground up pumpkin seed per 10lbs of body weight per day is a safe amount. For puppies and very small or underweight dogs, only feed pumpkin in very small amounts as a treat. Pumpkin seeds can be consumed raw by your dog, but your dog will probably enjoy them more when they are dry roasted. Avoid salting or adding oils to pumpkin seeds that you give to your dog. Fatty, rich foods can cause a life-threatening condition called pancreatitis in dogs. Clean, rinse, and dry out pumpkin seeds after you scoop them from a fresh pumpkin.

How Do I Serve Pumpkin to My Dog?

There are a variety of pumpkin treats and canned foods for dogs containing pumpkin you can feed your dog. For their safety, ensure that you feed your dog only supplements and treats that are designed with dogs in mind.
Simple canned pumpkin can also be fed to your dog, but be careful not to give them fatty pumpkin pie filling or any canned pumpkin with added sweeteners or spices. You can also make your own dog treats from canned pumpkin, but ensure that you include only safe, healthy ingredients for dogs in your recipes.
You can also feed your dog homemade cooked pumpkin or make dog treats.

Why Is Pumpkin Healthy for Dogs?

Pumpkin is a nutrient-rich food that is low in calories but packed with essential vitamins and minerals. In addition to its high concentration of vitamin A. Pumpkin contains a lot of potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure, improves muscle health, and assists your dog’s metabolism. With the help of other key nutrients, such as vitamin C, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and folate, this superfood can help improve your dog’s health in a variety of ways.