Can I Feed Pumpkin to My Dog?

January 1, 2020
• Updated 4 years ago
• 2 min read
Ingredient: 
Pumpkins
Category: 
Vegetables
Nutrients: 
Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Alpha carotene, Calcium, Iron, Lutein
Paw Grade:

Superfood!

Pumpkins for dogs

Pumpkins are an excellent food choice for your dog with almost no side effects. So much so that it is a 'go-to' food for most pawrents whenever their dogs fall sick and require bland, comfort food that does not stir up anymore reaction in their furkids' tummies. What makes it so good for your dog? 🎃

1. High nutrient content, which helps to facilitate healthy functioning of your dog's body systems. (See end of this article for the key nutrients and their main function).

2. Pumpkin helps in relieving diarrhea (lao sai) situations by solidifying the stool due to its soluble fibre content.

3. It is great for easing constipation issues too. (as fibre creates more stool bulk, promotes contraction of the muscles to move stools through the digestive tract)

4. Pumpkins can prove effective in fighting weight loss! (as fibre makes your dog feel 'fuller', and therefore consume less calories)

5. They contain A LOT of moisture (in fact, 90% of pumpkin is water).

6. Pumpkins also promote urinary health as they are high in anti-oxidants.

Additionally, pumpkin seeds are also just as healthy for dogs. However, we must serve cooked pumpkin seeds (raw is a big NO NO). (We will have a separate article on pumpkin seeds 🙂).

For pumpkin meat, however, raw or cooked is fine for your dog. Although for raw pumpkins, it is very difficult to break and chop them into bits. It can also be difficult for your dog to chew on raw pumpkin as they are quite hard. So steaming the pumpkin first is recommended to soften the meats, making it easier for you to cut and also better for your furkid to munch on it.

In our Pawmeal menu, we have 5 recipes that contain the right amount of pumpkin composition. Full recipe ingredients can be found here. 🎃

Pumpkin's key nutrient profile:

- Vitamin A helps maintain immune system and vision.
- Vitamin C is a cofactor for enzymatic reactions and collagen synthesis.
- Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant and enzymatic activity regulator.
- Alpha carotene is an antioxidant that prevents damage to cells.
- Calcium supports cytoplasmic functions and mineralizes bone and teeth.
- Iron contributes to cellular respiration, oxidation, and hemoglobin production.
- Lutein supports the health of the eyes, skin, and coat.

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