Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin?
The short answer is Yes, Dogs Can Eat Pumpkin. In fact, if prepared correctly, pumpkin can be a beneficial addition to your dog's diet. It's naturally rich in fiber as well as vitamins A, C, and E and minerals like potassium and iron. You can access pumpkins seasonally when they're available or year round by purchasing canned pumpkin.
Pumpkin can ease digestion in several ways. The soluble fiber content in pumpkin adds bulk to your dog's stool by absorbing water. They continue, Fiber also acts as a Probiotics. They stimulate the growth or activity of these beneficial bacteria in the intestines and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Fiber does this by lowering the pH level and providing the necessary nutrients these bacteria need."
What Form of Pumpkin Can Dogs Eat?
Once you and your vet have determined that pumpkin is a healthy addition to your pet's diet, it's time to think about how to best serve it to your dog.
Dogs can consume canned pumpkin when they're dealing with diarrhea, or they can just eat the raw or cooked flesh of a whole pumpkin simply for its nutritional benefits. If it's fresh, you can steam it, bake it in chunks, purée it or follow these tips when making your own safe dog biscuits. You can also freeze pumpkin for later if you have too much to use at once. The pumpkin "guts" are also edible, but be sure the pumpkin is fresh. Rotting pumpkins can make your pet sick if consumed.
Pumpkin seeds are another potential treat for your dog, although they're high in fat content. If you choose to feed them to your pet, consider roasting them — without any additional salt, seasonings or spices — and feeding them sparingly with only a few seeds in a serving.
Keep in mind that there are pumpkin products that your pet should never consume. For example, never feed your dog pumpkin pie filling — which may be confused with canned pumpkin — as it may contain Xylitol and other spices that can be extremely harmful to your pet. In addition, your pet shouldn't eat any of the pumpkin imitation products that have become so popular recently, such as pumpkin spice cookies or creamers.
As you can see, fiber is a healthy addition to your dog's diet.
Pumpkin Dog Treat Recipes
Basic Pumpkin Treats
Ingredients
1 Cup Fresh Pumpkin
1 1/2 Cups Rice flour
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 Tablespoon Freshly Ground Ginger
1 Egg
1 Cup Honey
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
Instructions
Preheat oven to 175 Deg. Line a flat baking tray with baking paper.
Peel and dice pumpkin into cubes and bring to a boil in a saucepan of water. Drain the pumpkin and allow it to cool. Puree in a blender or food processor (or if you want to be old school, mash your pumpkin to a fine puree). Chill in the refrigerator.
Combine flour, cinnamon and ginger in a bowl and mix well.
Combine the egg, honey and vegetable oil in a large bowl and whisk until well combined.
Add the chilled pumpkin puree to the wet ingredients and whisk until well combined.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet, whisking well until all ingredients are combined.
With teaspoons, spoon the batter onto the lined tray spacing about one inch apart to make mini cake patties.
Bake for 15 minutes. To test, insert a toothpick into the cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready and can be removed from the oven. Allow the cakes to cool and serve. Makes approximately 30 pumpkin dog treats. Best consumed fresh, so freeze any leftovers not consumed within 72 hours.
Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Dog Treats
Ingredient
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 Large Eggs Eggs
1/2 Cup canned pumpkin
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F
Whisk together the flour, eggs, pumpkin, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl. Add water as necessary to make the dough workable, but the dough should be dry and stiff. Roll the dough into a 1/2-inch-thick roll. Cut into 1/2-inch pieces. Bake in a preheated oven until done, about 40 minutes.
Pumpkin Carrot Bites
Ingredients:
3/4 cup canned pumpkin (get the kind that has ONLY pumpkin in it)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/4 cup shredded carrots
1 cup whole wheat flour
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Stir pumpkin, egg, carrots and flour in a large bowl until moistened. Roll the batter into small balls and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes.
Recipe yields approximately four dozen Pumpkin Carrot Bites. Keep in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator for about two weeks, or freeze for two months.
Pumpkin Peanut Butter Puppy Bite Size Treats
Ingredients
2 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour
2 Large Eggs
2/3 Cup Pumpkin Purée`, Canned Or Fresh
3 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Add all the ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix until combined.
If it's a little dry, add some water. If the dough is too moist, add a little more flour.
Knead the dough together on a clean surface and roll it out really thin (between 1/8-1/4 inches thick).
Cut into squares and continue rolling/cutting until all the dough has been used.
Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes.
Refrigerate or freeze the treats.
These recipes were sent to Value Dog Training by our clients who love to bake for their dogs.
Value Dog Training - For more information, contact us at 916-201-7080.
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