So you’ve carved out your pumpkins, saved some for your pumpkin pie and you are now wondering if you can feed the rest to your dog... the answer is yes, yes you can!
Pumpkins are delicious, nutritious and super healthy making it an excellent treat for your dog. Pumpkin is low in calories, rich in vitamins and minerals including vitamin A. It also contains a lot of potassium which helps regulate blood pressure, improve muscle health and assists in metabolism, it also contains Vitamin C, Iron. Phosphorous, Magnesium and Folate.
The benefits of Pumpkin:
- Benefits the eyes
- Boosts Immune health
- Moisturises skin and coat
- Encourages digestive regularity
- Aids in weight loss
- Pumpkin hydrates
- Naturally controls parasites
- The seeds can prevent urinary incontinence
How much pumpkin should I feed my dog?
While pumpkin can be a fantastic addition to your dog’s complete diet, it’s important that you feed the correct amounts. It’s unlikely that your dog will overdose on any natural nutrient by consuming too much pumpkin, but if your dog eats too much pumpkin, it could lead to a nutritional deficiency somewhere else, or could mean your dog is getting too fewer calories.
Generally, 1 tsp of canned (or cooked and pureed) pumpkin per 4.5kg of body weight per day is a good standard to go by.
If your dog has a health condition such as diabetes or kidney related issues, please talk to your vet before feeding pumpkin to your dog.
As a general rule, treats (including fruits and vegetables) should never exceed 10% of your pet’s daily caloric needs. Pumpkin seeds are high in fat and should be fed more sparingly. 1 ground up pumpkin seed per 4.5kg of body weight per day is a safe amount. For puppies and very small or underweight dogs, only feed pumpkin in very small amounts as a treat.
Happy Halloween!
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