Happy Halloween: Can dogs eat pumpkin?
Sweet or sour? Definitely neither when it comes to taste! While most people enjoy crafting beautiful pumpkin lanterns for Halloween, here comes the insider tip for you and your furry friend:
Is pumpkin just for decoration in front of your door, or does this spooky-beautiful vegetable also deserve a place in your four-legged friend's bowl?
Can pumpkin be toxic for dogs?
Whether butternut or hokkaido, every edible pumpkin that ends up on your plate can also go into your furry friend's bowl. →Toxic for dogs are mainly ornamental pumpkins or wild-growing pumpkins. The same applies to home-grown pumpkins. Bitter compounds like cucurbitacins are present in unpredictable amounts and can cause anything from →diarrhea to severe pain and even life-threatening conditions in dogs.
What should I consider when feeding pumpkin?
To spare your four-legged friend from →tummy rumbling and diarrhea, there is one important thing you should keep in mind when feeding pumpkin. All pumpkins offered in vegetable shops as well as organic or regular supermarkets are safe for consumption and you can feed them to your pet without worry. For all other pumpkins, there is a significant risk that your dog could ingest some of the toxic bitter compound.
When choosing pumpkin, make sure it comes from a store. This way you can avoid accidentally offering your four-legged friend a piece of pumpkin containing the toxic bitter compound.
How do I feed pumpkin to my dog?
Whether raw, cooked, pureed, or as a topping on their food: Most dogs love pumpkin in various textures and you can try out which way your furry friend enjoys and tolerates this healthy vegetable best. Since pumpkin is generally very well tolerated, there’s no such thing as “too much.” Just remember to →adjust the feeding amount for your dog so you don’t increase their energy intake.
Your furry friend can also benefit from pumpkin seeds. They provide plenty of vitamins and minerals and you can occasionally add them in pieces or ground up to their food as a supplement.
One more tip to be on the safe side: Always try a piece of the pumpkin yourself before feeding it to your dog. If it tastes bitter, don’t use it. Otherwise: full pumpkin power ahead, straight into the bowl!
Is the food for your furry friend not fresh enough for you? In our BARF Fresh Menus you’ll also find delicious pumpkin, which with its numerous benefits makes a healthy side dish in the bowl.
But Please, With Pumpkin! Discover Our BARF Fresh Menus with the Healthy Vegetable
Why feed pumpkin? Our top 10 reasons for your dog
Pumpkin is rich in fiber, which supports healthy digestion.
It is low in calories, fat, and cholesterol.
Pumpkin keeps your furry friend feeling full for a long time—dogs who need to watch their weight benefit from this and are also supplied with important nutrients and vitamins.
Diarrhea and →constipation are a thing of the past—this colorful plant helps prevent digestive problems.
Vitamin bomb and mineral miracle: Pumpkin is rich in vitamin A, B6, C, E, K, calcium, copper, folic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, niacin, phosphorus, riboflavin, carotene, and thiamine.
Crushed pumpkin seeds support kidney health in your four-legged friend.
For male dogs, feeding pumpkin can help with prostate issues.
Achoo! Not with pumpkin—it’s one of the foods where →allergic reactions are almost unheard of.
Pumpkin in the bowl = support for →coat and skin health
Raw or cooked? Doesn’t matter, all suitable pumpkins can also be fed raw and thus offer flexibility and variety in feeding.
