Most people think pumpkins as vegetables, but they are really fruit born from a vine plant. Pumpkins are rich in fiber, iron, zinc, vitamin C, vitamin A, beta-carotene and potassium. By looking its bright orange color, you can really tell pumpkin provides a natural source of vitamins and nutrients.
- Fiber – a type of carbohydrate that helps in digesting food
- Iron – a protein which carries oxygen from our lungs throughout our body
- Zinc – will help improve skin and coat
- Vitamin C – an antioxidant and supports the immune system
- Vitamin A – important for your dog’s vision health
- Beta-Carotene – beneficial for preventing cancer
- Potassium – an electrolyte essential for muscular contraction and recovery from activity
Why Pumpkin is great for dogs?
There is no scientific benefit that pumpkin is helpful for pets as like other fruit and veggies do. But pumpkin is excellent for your dog’s digestive tract. Pumpkin has high fiber and water content which are good for preventing constipation in dogs. Start feeding your dog 1 to 2 tablespoon of pureed pumpkin a day, depending on the dog’s size. Do not feed them pumpkins if there is an underlying medical condition, it doesn’t help. Call your veterinarian if diarrhea or constipation persists.
Dogs also need to lose weight, but their owners don’t want them to be hungry. Pumpkin is great for losing weight treatment for dogs due to its being high in fiber. Consult your veterinarian for the proper amount of pumpkin to feed.
How to feed your dog with a pumpkin?
Pumpkin is easy and simple to feed to your dog. All you need is to have a canned pumpkin. Canned pumpkin is packed with the same nutrients as fresh pumpkin. It is a puree so it’s easy to mix with dog food, feed to your dog as a treat or use it as an ingredient for dog treats. In buying canned pumpkin, make sure you are getting a 100-percent pumpkin and not a pumpkin pie mix. Fresh pumpkin can also be used but you need to cook it first.
Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?
Yes, but it is recommended to clean and roast them first. Don’t serve it raw. Baked and cleaned pumpkin seeds are a natural, delicious snack for your dogs. Pumpkin seeds also contain antioxidants, which prevent cancers from forming in cells. It also boosts their immune system to help your pets stay healthy.
Pumpkin seeds have a beneficial anti-inflammatory effect due to high in omega 3 fatty acids. It also has a natural remedy for parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms. An amino acid found in pumpkin seeds acts as a natural de-worming agent.
To serve pumpkin seeds to your dog, it should be crushed and ground up when added to their meals. If you prefer to give them a whole seed, make sure to do it one at a time. Remember to not feed them too much, since minerals like iron and fat-soluble vitamins can accumulate to unhealthy and toxic levels. Consuming seeds in high level will cause softer stools due to the high-fat content.