There is no better way of balancing your dog’s diet than including superfoods as an occasional treat. Pumpkin is one of the fruits that is everywhere around us, especially in fall and is fairly inexpensive making it the perfect snack for your dog. So, are pumpkins good for dogs to eat?
Absolutely. Pumpkin is a nutritiously packed snack that provides many health benefits for your dog. They include many vitamins including vitamin C, B6, and A, as well as manganese, folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Since they are packed with nutrients, they provide many health benefits for dogs, such as improving their digestive system and eyes, boosting their immune system, hydrating them, and maintaining a healthy balance.
However, even though we know all the benefits that pumpkins bring for dogs, sometimes dog owners are confused about how they should include human superfoods in their diet.
Well, the situation here is a bit difficult just because the digestive system in dogs is different than humans, meaning that they could not digest some foods no matter their benefits.
Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy foods like pumpkin that is safe for dogs to eat!
How To Serve Pumpkin to Your Dog?
It is safe to say that, unlike other foods, the majority of dogs actually enjoy eating pumpkin and they enjoy it in a variety of ways. Nowadays, pumpkin-infused food is everywhere around us. You can find anything from treats and canned foods, to ice cream and pumpkin puree that can also be enjoyed by your dog and stays best when stored in the refrigerator.
When it comes to how to feed your dog pumpkin, it is safe to say that most pumpkin products are safe for dogs to eat. The only thing you should consider when buying pumpkin food for your dog is to avoid pumpkin pie filling or any other canned pumpkin products that include added sweeteners or spices.
Any other natural and not flavored food is safe for your dog. The most practical way of including pumpkin into your dog’s diet is by buying canned pumpkin food. The cans will be good in the refrigerator for at least 4-5 days, and you can freeze individual servings in ice cube trays for a healthy and refreshing snack.
You can also make your own dog treats from pumpkin, just avoid using any spices or sweeteners that can have a negative effect on your dog’s health.
Dogs also enjoy baked pumpkin where you can put a few holes just to make sure the heat goes inside, and bake at 350F for about 45 to 60 minutes.
Even though most dogs love eating pumpkin, if for some reason your dog doesn’t prefer its taste, you can try pumpkin puree mixed with their daily canned dog food. In fact, pumpkin puree is the most practical way of feeding your dog pumpkin since can be incorporated into their main diet.
Are Pumpkin Seed Safe for Dogs?
For humans, pumpkin seeds actually come with many health benefits that can help kidney problems, bladder infections, high blood pressure, and destroy any parasites. But are they safe for dogs to eat?
Actually, they have similarly helpful qualities for dogs as well, and giving your dog pumpkin seeds is perfectly safe.
The seeds of this orange fruit contain a lot of vitamins and minerals that your dog can benefit from, such as Calcium, folic acid, magnesium, niacin, zinc, and Vitamin B and A.
On top of that, they also contain trace minerals like iron, sodium, potassium, and manganese and are full of antioxidants, preventing heart diseases, cancer, stroke, and dementia.
So, they are not just safe, but also packed with healthy nutrients that can boost your dog’s health. Since pumpkin seeds have sharp and pointy edges and their taste is not to die for, it is best to grind them up and add them to your dog’s everyday food.
Canned or Fresh Pumpkin?
It is common to think that fresh fruit has more helpful nutrients than canned fruit, but that is not the case with pumpkins. If you want the healthiest pumpkin for your dog, then choosing a canned pumpkin should be your first choice.
Both options are perfectly safe and a source of healthy nutrients and fiber, but canned pumpkin does not only healthier but also tastes better than fresh pumpkin.
Canned pumpkin has a higher concentration of fiber and other nutrients compared to fresh pumpkin. But how could that be? Isn’t that the same product?
Well, fresh pumpkin contains 90% of water, whereas, on the other hand, the majority of the water is excluded in the process of making canned pumpkin making it more nutritious per gram and keeping them on your countertop.
Both serving ways are great for your dog, and there is no significant difference in their nutrient quality. That’s why you should choose whichever one works for you best and which one your dog prefers. Since the majority of dogs prefer canned pumpkins instead of fresh ones, so you should start with that choice just to save you the trouble of picking up leftovers from your dog’s bowl.
