10 Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs

If your pet’s stool is a little loose, the benefits of pumpkin for dogs can add bulk and form to your dog’s poop. The key is to understand how much pumpkin you should feed your dog, which we will discuss further.

We recommend having some canned pumpkin for dogs with upset stomachs on hand, even if your dog doesn't usually have digestive issues. Fruitables Digestive Supplement contains a lot of apple pomace, spinach, tomato pomace and ginger to help boost nutrition and soothe irritated stomachs and nausea.

7. Pumpkin Can Help Naturally Control Parasites

Though the evidence for this is so far only anecdotal, regular pureed pumpkin inclusion in your dog’s food may contribute to deterring parasites from inhabiting your poor pup’s gut.

Parasites, such as tapeworms, can wreak havoc with your dog’s digestive system and cause unpleasant symptoms, including weight loss, nutrient deficiency, dry skin, and a shabby coat.

Pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin, an amino acid that may help paralyze some intestinal worms. Grinding up a teaspoon of ground pumpkin seeds and mixing them into canned food (or a little canned pumpkin!) is a good preventative measure, but don’t skip out on your pet’s usual treatment.

8. Pumpkin Aid in Weight Loss

Pumpkin has a high moisture and fibre content, which makes it a powerful tool for your pet’s weight loss.

Replacing a little of your dog’s regular food with canned pumpkin (a few teaspoons for a small dog, up to half a cup with a large dog) can help your dog feel full on fewer calories.

Pumpkin fibre for dogs and the additional water in the pumpkin will keep them full, so they don’t miss the extra calories.

9. Pumpkin Hydrates

Many dogs fed a kibble-only diet suffer from mild but chronic dehydration. Dry dog food has very low moisture content, and dogs do not possess a very strong thirst drive.

This means that getting extra moisture content into your dog through drinking can be difficult. However, the high moisture content of pumpkin adds more water to your dog’s diet easily and naturally.

10. Pumpkin Tastes Great

Like many people, dogs relish the rich, creamy flavour of pumpkin. Anyone who has tried to feed a dog something healthy that does not taste good will appreciate this benefit thoroughly. It's easy to add to your dog's regular meals for easy feeding.

Canned Pumpkin VS Fresh Pumpkin for Dogs

Is canned pumpkin good for dogs? Canned pumpkin for dogs is not only very beneficial for your dog’s health but also a delicious meal topper for dogs. If you want to feed your dog the healthiest kind of pumpkin, then you should buy plain canned pumpkin. You would think fresh is better than canned, but that rule doesn’t apply in this case.

Canned pumpkin contains a higher concentration of fibre and nutrients compared to fresh pumpkin. How can that be? It is because fresh pumpkin has more water than canned pumpkin, which results in a diluted concentration of nutrients.

Can Dogs Eat Canned Pumpkin for Humans?

Some options will be pure pumpkin, while others might be a blend of ingredients made for pie or other human meals that could be toxic or not tummy-friendly for dogs.

Pumpkin products made for humans can be used, but make sure you check the ingredients. Pumpkin baby food for dogs can be a suitable option, so long as it is 100% pumpkin. Avoid sweeteners, spices, lemon juice, thickening agents or preservatives to be safe.

Also, skip dog pumpkin pie filling or other sweetened or spiced canned pumpkin. Stick to plain canned pumpkin for dogs, preferably organic pumpkin.

How Much Pumpkin to Give a Dog?

While this seasonal treat can be a fantastic addition to your dog’s complete diet, you must feed the correct amount of pumpkin. Though overall healthy, too much of anything can cause issues.

Pumpkin is safe, nutritious, and yummy when fed in moderation, but giving too much can lead to nutritional imbalances or digestive issues. Always introduce pumpkin slowly and pair it with a complete and balanced diet.

How Much Canned Pumpkin for Dogs?

Generally, 1 tsp of canned (or cooked and pureed) pumpkin per 10 lbs of body weight per day is a good standard to go by. If your dog has a health condition such as diabetes, please talk to your vet before feeding the pumpkin to your dog.

As a general rule, treats (including fruits and vegetables) should never exceed 10% of your pet’s daily caloric needs. For puppies and very small or underweight dogs, only feed pumpkin in tiny amounts as a treat.

Are Pumpkin Seeds Good For Dogs?

Have you ever wondered if pumpkin seeds for dogs are okay? They might seem like an odd snack, but like most seeds, when properly prepared, they are full of nutrients that can support your dog's health.

Pumpkin seeds contain a lot of vitamins and minerals your dog may lack, such as vitamin A, vitamin B, magnesium, folic acid, calcium, zinc, and niacin.

They also contain trace minerals such as manganese, potassium, iron, and sodium. Pureed pumpkin seeds are also full of antioxidants, which help prevent heart disease, stroke, cancer, and dementia.

How to Feed Raw Pumpkin Seeds for Dogs

All seeds, though loaded with nutrients, contain phytic acid. Phytic acid is considered an anti-nutrient, meaning it can inhibit the absorption of nutrients during digestion.

Soaking your seeds is the best way to remove the phytic acid from raw pumpkin seeds. Here’s an easy 4-step guide to preparing pumpkin seeds for dogs:

1. Soak the Seeds: Soaking your seeds will help leach out the phytic acid. Soaking the seeds in water for about 10-12 hours is the best method. Phytic acid will bind with minerals, so sprinkle in a small amount of salt to help the process. You don’t need a lot, only about ¼ tsp for 4 cups of water.

2. Drain and Rinse: After soaking, you need to drain, rinse, and repeat. Much like rinsing the starch off of your rice before cooking, this process will remove the salt and any phytic acid or enzyme inhibitors that have been pulled from the seeds.

3. Let Them Dry: Spread your seeds out on a baking sheet lined with a paper towel or a clean dish towel to absorb any excess moisture. Let them sit at room temperature for 2-3 hours. This step isn’t required, but it will make them easier to chop or grind.

4. Grind or Crush the Seeds: The cells of seeds, as well as those of all plant matter, contain cellulose, which is an indigestible fibre. This makes them difficult for your dog to digest. Breaking up the cellulose will improve digestibility and allow your dog to get the most out of this nutritious food. You can chop the seeds with a knife to break down some of the cellulose linings, but the best way is to place them in a food processor and finely grind them into a rough powder.

The ground seeds can be stored in an airtight jar and kept in the fridge for up to a month. Note that if you haven’t dried your seeds, then the ground seeds won't keep as long.

Roasting Pumpkin Seeds 

Pumpkin puree for dogs is great, but sometimes your pooch might want a crunchy snack. You can feed pumpkin seeds raw, but you might also want to consider roasting the morsels.

Cooking pumpkin seeds is a quick and easy way to break down the phytic acid so that your dog can reap all the benefits of pumpkin seeds. Simply deshell and bake the seeds on a cookie sheet until golden brown. Once they are cooled, they can be ground or fed as a small crunchy snack.

Benefits of Roasting Pumpkin Seeds for Your Dog

Pumpkin is good for dogs, and so are pumpkin seeds! Below are just a few benefits of roasted pumpkin seeds for canines:

• • • Easy to Carry Snack:  Once the pumpkin seeds are roasted, you can carry them to the dog park or anywhere in a plastic container or sandwich bag to function as a quick snack. You can even use the seeds as a training tool to reinforce good behaviour. When your dog sits, lies down, or performs some other command, then give the pup a seed or two as a reward.
    • Meal Topper: Why not add pumpkin seeds to your dog’s food for a tasty treat? Your pooch will enjoy the texture and the added flavour.
    • Added Nutrition: Pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are a source of zinc, magnesium, iron, potassium, and phosphorus.

    A single ounce (28 grams) of shelled seeds provides about:

    • • • 160 calories
        • 14 grams of fat 
        • 4 grams of carbohydrates
        • 8.5 grams of protein 
        • 2 grams of total dietary fibre 

         

How Do I Serve Pumpkin to My Dog?

Your dog can enjoy pumpkin in a variety of ways. Many pumpkin treats, canned foods for dogs containing pumpkin, and pumpkin supplements can easily be fed to your dog.

For their safety, ensure that you provide your dog only supplements and treats designed with dogs in mind. Simple canned pumpkin can also be fed to your dog, but be careful not to feed pumpkin pie filling or any canned pumpkin with added sweeteners or spices.

Cans should be good for 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator; portion out and freeze in individual servings for a longer-lasting alternative (ice cube trays work perfectly). Store these properly to avoid freezer burn, which can affect taste and nutrient density.

You can also make your dog treats from canned pumpkin, but make sure that you include only safe ingredients for dogs in your recipes. Check out our favourite homemade pumpkin dog treat recipes for ideas.  

You can also feed your dog cooked pumpkin that you make at home. Prick a few holes in a pumpkin and bake at 350°F for 45-60 minutes.

Cube or puree for a tasty, home-cooked dog treat! While pumpkin is safe for dogs, the flavour and texture improve with cooking.

Pumpkin seeds can also be fed to your dog, providing many benefits. Soaking seeds makes them more digestible, so soak your pumpkin seeds overnight. Once dried, they can be ground and added to your dog's meals or favourite treat recipes.

 

Best Pumpkin Supplements for Dogs

Whether you are looking for the best natural remedies for digestion or just a tasty meal topper, we carry a range of simple and safe pumpkin products for dogs.

The safest option is to stick to pumpkin made for dogs. Check out some of our top sellers:

• • Nummy Tum Tums: This 100% pumpkin puree is our best canned pumpkin for dogs and can be easily added to food, used in frozen KONGs, or added to homemade dog treat recipes.
  • Weruva Pumpkin Patch: When it comes to health benefits, Pumpkin Patch offers a range of pouches to support your dog's individual needs that combine pumpkin with health-boosting ingredients like ginger and turmeric for digestion or coconut and flaxseed for skin and coat support.
  • Diggin Your Dog Firm Up!: This easy-to-use dehydrated pumpkin digestive aid is the perfect fibre supplement to support your dog's daily digestive needs. Just add warm water to rehydrate and serve.
  • Primal Pumpkin Spice Goat Milk: Combining pumpkin with raw goat milk is a tasty way to add a digestive boost to any diet. Perfect for raw feeders and rehydrating freeze-dried dog foods.

 

Pass the Pumpkin!

Is pumpkin good for dogs? Pumpkin is a simple, nutritious addition to most dogs' diets. With so many benefits, it is unrivalled by just about any other food choice. It is a versatile food for humans and dogs alike, so why not indulge together?

Additionally, dogs tend to love pumpkin, so why not feed them something so nutritious and a treat they love?

Pumpkin For Dogs FAQs

What are the nutritional benefits of feeding pumpkin to dogs? 

Pumpkin is a nutrient-rich food for dogs, containing fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that can support digestion and provide other health benefits.

Can dogs eat raw pumpkin?

Yes, raw pumpkin is safe for dogs, but like all vegetables, it's best either cooked or pureed to ensure proper digestion.

Can pumpkin help with digestive issues in dogs? 

Yes, pumpkin is known for its digestive benefits in dogs. It can help regulate bowel movements, alleviate diarrhea, and ease constipation due to its abundant fibre content.

Is pumpkin beneficial for weight management in dogs? 

Pumpkin can aid in weight management because it is low in calories and can be used as a healthy, filling addition to a dog's diet. The fibre helps your dog feel satisfied while cutting down on calorie consumption.

Can pumpkin treat diarrhea in dogs? 

Pumpkin can be used to support the treatment of diarrhea. Start by offering small amounts, 1 teaspoon per 10lbs of body weight, and increase as needed until loose stool clears up. When feeding often, stick to the 10% rule or less.

Is pumpkin safe for puppies? 

Puppies can eat pumpkin, but it needs to be properly prepared and balanced with a high-quality diet to ensure proper growth and development.

How much pumpkin seed to feed a dog?

Pumpkin seeds for dogs are high in fat and should be fed more sparingly. One teaspoon of ground-up pumpkin seeds per 10 lbs of body weight per day is a safe addition to their regular diet. High-energy and working breeds can handle higher fat, so you can increase the amount, but make sure you don’t go overboard.