Dogs love the taste of pumpkin– which is great news for pet owners, because pumpkin has so many health benefits for dogs. Pumpkin is sometimes called the “ultimate superfood for dogs,” since adding a little bit of pumpkin to your dog’s daily routine can make an enormous impact on their overall health. Wondering what benefits pumpkin could have for your pet? Below, we’re going over everything you need to know about pumpkin for dogs. We’ll go over the health benefits of pumpkin for dogs, what type of pumpkin you should give your dog, and how much pumpkin you should give your dog.
The Many Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs
The Vitamins and Minerals in Pumpkin
Pumpkin is a natural source of many dog-healthy vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including:
- Alpha-Carotene
- Beta-Carotene
- Fiber
- Iron
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
Pumpkin and Your Dog’s Digestive Health
Pumpkin is an excellent source of fiber, so it can be good for both dog diarrhea and dog constipation. The soluble fiber in pumpkin flesh helps to slow digestion and absorb water, which can help manage your dog’s diarrhea. Then, on the opposite side of the spectrum, the fiber in pumpkin can get things moving for dogs that are suffering from mild constipation. Fiber helps to create more stool bulk, which helps to stimulate your dog’s colon wall so that their digestive muscles move more easily.
Pumpkin and Your Dog’s Skin and Fur
Pumpkin seeds contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are two essential fatty acids that are crucial for your dog’s skin and fur health. Since dogs can’t produce essential fatty acids on their own, it’s important that they get some in their diet through a source like pumpkin seeds.
Pumpkin and Your Dog’s Urinary Health
Pumpkin seeds are great for your pup’s urinary health. The essential fatty acids and antioxidants in pumpkin seeds support a healthy urinary tract, which can help your dog’s overall urinary health and ease issues like urinary incontinence, urinary tract infections, and kidney stones.
Pumpkin and Aiding Dog Weight Loss
If your pooch needs to lose some extra pounds, adding a bit of pumpkin to your dog’s diet can be a helpful way to promote weight loss. Pumpkin is a low-calorie gourd that has a high water content and a high fiber content. Taking in more water and fiber helps to promote a sense of fullness. So, giving your pup a little pumpkin can help them feel fuller and reduce their urge to overeat. If your dog needs to lose some body weight, consider reducing a portion of your dog’s regular food and then replacing that portion of kibble or wet dog food with canned pumpkin puree.
What Type of Pumpkin Can You Feed Your Dog?
Pumpkin is very nutritious for dogs. But if you’re thinking of feeding your dog pumpkin, know that you should only give your pup fresh pumpkin. If you’re reading this post in autumn, around Halloween, you may have some pumpkins sitting around your house that you’ve been using as decor. But you don’t want to give your pet pumpkin that is several weeks old, since pumpkins can go rancid fairly quickly. A pumpkin you’ve had for a while may seem like it’s still fresh, but it could be harboring hard-to-see mold or bacteria.
So, we don’t recommend feeding your dog an old pumpkin. But what type of pumpkin should you feed your dog? Both the seeds and the flesh of a fresh, cooked pumpkin are great for your furry friend. Raw pumpkin is safe for dogs to eat, but it can be hard on their digestive system, so it’s better to give your dog cooked pumpkin than raw pumpkin. An easy, safe way to give your dog cooked pumpkin flesh is by giving them a bit of canned pumpkin puree. (But only give them plain pumpkin puree– not pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and spices.) You can also make your own pureed pumpkin at home using a fresh pumpkin that you’ve cooked. Then, with seeds, it’s recommended that you roast and grind them up before giving them to your dog. Pumpkin seeds are nutritious for dogs, but eating them whole can be a choking hazard. So always grind up pumpkin seeds before giving them to your pet.
How Much Pumpkin Can You Give Your Dog?
Just like with many foods, pumpkin is best served to dogs in moderation. Pumpkin is a great source of beta-carotene, which your dog’s body will convert to vitamin A. Some vitamin A is very healthy for dogs, but too much vitamin A can have a negative effect on dogs. A good general rule of thumb is to give small dogs a teaspoon or two of pumpkin a day and large dogs a tablespoon or two of pumpkin a day. If you’re not sure how much pumpkin you should give your dog, ask your veterinarian for guidance.
Why We Use Pumpkin in Dr. You+ Pet CBD Products
Every Dr. You+ Pet CBD product contains the highest quality full-spectrum CBD extract. But our veterinarian-formulated pet products also contain a variety of other high quality, pet-healthy ingredients, including pumpkin. There’s more that goes into pet CBD products than just CBD. And we believe that every ingredient in our pet CBD oils and CBD dog treats should meet the same high standards for quality and health benefits. That’s why the inactive ingredients in our products, like organic pumpkin puree and organic pumpkin seeds, were all carefully chosen with your pet’s health in mind.
Shop Our Veterinarian-Formulated, Veterinarian-Approved Pet CBD Products
