You should be interested in knowing whether your canine can eat raw or cooked pumpkin due to the implication it can have on the health of your four-legged furry friend. The responsibility of taking care of a dog should be exclusive to people that are willing to understand what should be included in the diet of a pooch.
Yes, dogs can eat pumpkin raw and cooked. Besides the fact that it is tasty and many dogs enjoy eating it, it is also nutritious, and its raw seeds are edible without posing an issue in dogs. Yet, it is crucial to know how much pumpkin to give to dogs because overconsumption can lead to diarrhea, among other gastrointestinal issues.
Pumpkin is a popular vegetable that many dog owners include in the meal of their pooches. Yet, you should not act based on popular opinion. This article will help you to understand all you need to know regarding whether raw and cooked pumpkin is safe for your canine.
Should Dogs Eat Pumpkin Raw?
This is a tricky question, especially when you do not consider all the angles, including the safety of raw pumpkin for dogs. Raw pumpkin is not toxic.
Yet, this does not mean that you should allow your canine to eat it. You should consider the difficulty your pooch can have when trying to digest it because of the nature of the digestive system of dogs.
Do Dogs Like Raw Pumpkin?
It is hard to find a dog that does not like the taste of raw pumpkin. They can eat it alone and enjoy it. Still, they will munch it with gladness when added to their regular food.
Yet, this does not answer the question. What matters is the safety of this vegetable for your dog. The good news is that pumpkin is generally safe for your pooch.
Still, the challenges your canine might encounter when digesting raw pumpkin should make you have a rethink. Raw pumpkin can affect the digestion of your canine, especially when eaten excessively. So, you should not throw caution to the wind.
How Much Raw Pumpkin To Give Your Dog
As earlier mentioned, raw pumpkin is generally safe for your dog. Still, it will hurt your canine when eaten excessively. Therefore, it is crucial that you know the quantity of this vegetable that is safe for your pooch. It is not safe for your dog to eat a whole pumpkin because it can lead to:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Intestinal blockage
- Digestion issues
Due to the possible troubles that can arise from eating too much pumpkin, experts recommend that you only give your pooch one to four pumpkin tablespoons per meal. Anything more than this can hurt your dog.
Parts of Pumpkin That Dogs Can Eat
It is essential to know the parts of pumpkin you can give your dog, especially when it is raw. The stems and skin of this plant can be dangerous for your pooch due to the challenge it can pose regarding the digestive process.
The seeds and pulp are the safest parts of the pumpkin for your dog. Still, ensure that it is prepared properly.
Pumpkin pie is popular, but it is not the safest option for your pooch to avoid digestion issues. Stick with only the seeds and pulp when giving raw pumpkin to your dog.
Issues When Dogs Eat Too Much Pumpkin
Prevention is always better than cure when it comes to feeding your dog with raw pumpkin. You can invest the time, energy, and money spent on taking your canine to the vet on other productive things in your life.
So, it is in the best interests of your pooch and yourself to avoid letting your dog eat too much pumpkin. When your pooch eats too much pumpkin, it can lead to the following health issues:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal diseases
Therefore, it is imperative that you monitor the number of pumpkins your dog eats. Do not be deceived by the fact that you did not notice a side effect immediately.
Your pooch will not become sick instantly after eating an excessive amount of pumpkin. The effect will be seen later, but you can prevent it by ensuring that your dog eats a healthy amount of the treat.
Should Dogs Eat Cooked Pumpkin?
Experts posit that cooked pumpkin can serve as a healthy, tasty, and versatile snack for your dog. Pooches can have it as a topper or treat. Cooking pumpkin makes it softer, which helps to reduce the digestive issues that come with eating the raw form.
Canned Pumpkin For Dogs
Canned pumpkin is one of the easiest ways your pooch can have this treat. Your dog can enjoy the delicious taste of this vegetable by getting a spoonful directly from the can.
Moreover, canned pumpkin is safe for your canine. It is a fantastic option to add this nourishing and tasty vegetable to the meal of your four-legged furry friend.
Another reason canned pumpkin is a great option for your dog is its consistency. Its consistency makes it an excellent way to add extra nourishment to the diet of your pooch.
You can simply spread it on a Lickimat or stuff it into a Kong toy and let your four-legged furry friend do the rest. It can also be used for making a doggy ice lolly recipe if you retain it until summer.
How To Cook Pumpkin For My Dog
Dogs enjoy the taste of raw pumpkin, but they prefer it in the cooked form. Still, a poorly prepared pumpkin can ruin the mood of your pooch. Therefore, it is important that you know how to go about it. This section will give you tips that will enable you to prepare the following:
Pumpkin Latte
Combine one cup of warm water, two tablespoons of pumpkin puree, and a tablespoon of active plain yogurt. Top it with a light dusting of cinnamon after mixing it, and it is ready to be served.
Pumpkin Dinner Topper
Add a tablespoon of unsweetened active yogurt to a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree. Mix them together while adding water based on your discretion. Refrigerate it and serve it to your dog at mealtime.
Pumpkin Kong Filler
Mash a ripe banana with some cooked pumpkin. Add a spoon of plain unsweetened yogurt to the content. Stuff it into a Kong filler and watch your happy dog consume it.
What Are The Benefits Of Pumpkin For Dogs?
Beyond the fact that it is delicious, pumpkin has several health benefits. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of the following nutrients:
- Fiber
- Zinc
- Iron
- Phosphorous
- Vitamin K
Health Benefits Of Pumpkin For Dogs
There are several ways pumpkin can benefit the health of your dog. Here are some of them:
Remedy For Worms And Parasites
Pumpkin serves as a remedy for worms and parasites because its seeds contain an amino acid called cucurbitin. This amino acid helps in the paralysis and elimination of parasites, especially the ones found in the digestive tract of your canine.
This is one of the reasons the seeds of pumpkin are recommended as the part of the vegetable your dog should eat. A quarter teaspoon of pumpkin for every 10 lbs of body weight should help your pooch get rid of worms and parasites. This shows that letting your dog eat pumpkin seeds keeps the vet away as much as possible.
Urinary Health Support
Due to the oils present in the seeds and flesh of pumpkins, they are potentially beneficial to the urinary health of your four-legged furry friend.
Therefore, you should not be so surprised to notice an improvement in the condition of a dog with urinary issues after eating some pumpkin for some time.
Despite this possibility, it is essential that you do not allow your dog to consume this treat excessively. When your pooch eats an unhealthy amount of pumpkin, it becomes a problem instead of acting as a remedy for various health problems.
Full of Vitamins And Antioxidants
Loads of vitamins and antioxidants present in pumpkin make it offer several health benefits to your dog. The reason for the deep orange color of this vegetable is the presence of carotenoids, which are potent antioxidants. Pumpkin seeds are also rich in antioxidants.
It also contains vitamins A, C, and K. Vitamin A is beneficial to the vision of your pooch, while vitamin C is popular for its role in the immune system.
Zinc in this vegetable improves the skin and coat of your canine, while magnesium is helpful in support of bones and the nervous system.
Digestive Health Benefits
As mentioned earlier, pumpkin is a rich source of fiber. Pumpkin flesh, in particular, is rich in soluble fiber, making it a potent remedy for constipation and diarrhea. Also, the fiber in pumpkin is beneficial to the bacterial in the gut, improving intestinal health.
The main reason the consumption of this vegetable improves your dog’s digestive health is that the pumpkin absorbs excess moisture in the stool of your canine. By adding bulk to the stool of your pooch, it helps to control diarrhea.
Therefore, by adding a healthy amount of pumpkin to your dog’s meal, you are inadvertently contributing to the digestive health of your canine.
