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Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin?

CAN DOGS EAT PUMPKIN?

This question often crosses the minds of several dog parents all around the world, but it’s frequency almost doubles in the month of October. Well, Halloween is just around the corner and many dog owners eagerly await the answer to this question as they also want their dogs to enjoy this delicious fruit just like they are going to be. So, without any further ado, the simple answer to this question is Yes! Dogs can certainly have Pumpkins as it is one of the most nutritious and safest fruits to give to a canine.

There are a lot of different nutritional elements that are present inside a Pumpkin and apart from the fruit itself, you can also feed Pumpkin seeds to your dogs as well (but only after properly cleaning them and then roasting them). The table given below represents all the important constituents that are present inside a pumpkin and these different nutritional components make the Pumpkin so nourishing and health-giving.

Nutritional Elements in a Pumpkin 

Calories

**

Proteins

**

Fat

*

Dietary Fibers

**

Vitamin A

**********

Vitamin C

****

Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6, E

***

Potassium, Copper, Manganese

***

Iron, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc

**

As we can see, this fruit is filled with so much goodness and is an amazing source of various nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Manganese, Potassium, Iron et cetera. And, all these elements certainly make Pumpkins highly advantageous and beneficial for a canine’s health and fitness. All the pros (and some precautions) related to feeding Pumpkins to a canine are discussed in the section below.

Benefits of feeding Pumpkin to your dogs

  1. Pumpkins promote better digestive health in the canines. Giving adequate amounts of Pumpkin to a dog can help him in case of various stomach issues such as constipation, diarrhea et cetera.
  2. Pumpkins can also help a canine to shed some weight and become more fit and healthy. Pumpkin is an extremely low-calorie fruit which can be used as a part in your dog’s feeding material. Simply replace a small portion of your dog food with the same portion of pumpkin (it can be in the form of puree) and it will help the canine to shed some kilos.
  3. As mentioned earlier, Pumpkin seeds are also highly beneficial for a canine. These seeds not only keep a canine’s coat and skin glowing and healthy, but they also improve a pooch’s urinary health as well. Dogs with conditions like Urinary incontinence can certainly feel a lot better after consuming some pumpkin seeds.
  4. And, as we now know, Pumpkins are a great source of Vitamin A and C which are immensely important for a canine’s vision and immune system, respectively. Thus, feeding this fruit to a pooch is definitely a great idea if you are looking to improve your dog’s eyesight and immunity.
  5. A Pumpkin also promotes an increased state of hydration in the canines as it is composed of nearly 90% water.

Precautions while feeding Pumpkin to your dogs

  1. Whenever you start feeding something new to your doggy, it is always a good idea to start slowly and this is also true in the case of pumpkins. Although, this fruit is exceptionally healthy and safe for the canines, still, you don’t know how your pooch will react to this new food item. Thus, it is better to just give 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin puree to your dog and see how he reacts and if he likes it, then you can gradually increase its quantity to 3-4 tablespoons of puree.
  2. Never feed salted pumpkin seeds to your dog and always remember to first clean the seeds and then roast them before feeding them to your pooch.
  3. And finally, never allow your doggy to consume a pumpkin’s leaves or stem as they can cause irritation to the canine’s mouth and intestinal tract.

FINAL VERDICT:

So, it is crystal clear by now that Pumpkins are immensely advantageous for our canines. This fruit is good for their digestive health, urinary health, skin, coat, eyes and immune system. And, it also helps the canines to reduce some unwanted weight. Thus, it is very easy to recommend this fruit to any dog parent and there is simply no harm in feeding a pumpkin to a canine (although it is advised not to get carried away, especially in the beginning, and provide this fruit to your dog in a controlled and limited manner).