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Is Pumpkin Okay for Dogs to Eat? – Yes and no!
Joy and Bliss got to “carve” pumpkins yesterday. I was careful to watch them to ensure they didn’t swallow the stem or eat the rind, both of which are very fibrous and can cause blockages if eaten in bulk. Apparently, their “tastes” were mostly in line with what was healthy. Neither seemed all too interested in eating those parts. But when they broke through to the flesh of the pumpkin, I was really glad for having practiced “trade up” so that I could get them to release the fresh treat.
Raw or cooked pumpkin in small amounts is good for your dogs. Nutrient dense, loaded with vitamins and anti-oxidents, pumpkin is a healthy addition to a balanced diet. However, too much at once can lead to gut upset, so proceed with caution!
Cooked or canned pumpkin (with no spices – just plain pumpkin) in small amounts – a few tablespoons on top of a regular meal for a large dog – can help “bind” a stool, but for some dogs, it can increase bowel movements as pumpkin is high in fiber too.
After I took away the carved pumpkins, I gave each dog a prepared frozen Kong with their regular diet and… you guessed it – PUMPKIN! They loved it.
Do your dogs enjoy pumpkin?
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5 Replies
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Joy and Bliss are just beautiful! Love these pictures!! I never thought of giving a pumpkin. That would be fun for my guys. My guys love pumpkin in their kongs and lick mats:)
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Thanks, @pawsup – it was a lot of fun and they each had a unique style/technique.
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Pure works of art, @programdev !
Glad you mentioned the info about pumpkin seeds — a new tidbit for me.
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Yes! I think of pumpkin as like a fiber bar. A small amount is great for firming everything up, but if you eat 10 fiber bars you’re in trouble lol.
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???? oh boy, @Madeline.Pape
What a great analogy! hahaa.. I’m not likely to forget this one.
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