Dogs love their pet parents more than themselves, they love to admire and copy their pet parents. Apart from copying body language and habits, they are also interested in what his parents are eating. You cannot feed him every dish, but what about fruits? Can dogs have pumpkin? Is it safe for them?
Key Takeaways
- Well, pumpkin is not toxic or poisonous for dogs, they can safely have a few bites of them.
- However, if your pup overeats pumpkin, it can lead to health issues, such as stomach upset, vomiting sensation, diarrhoea, dehydration, and other stomach-related issues.
- The simple way of feeding pumpkin to your canine, mix cooked pumpkin with his regular meal or can be added to homemade baked treats.
- Pumpkin is not an essential ingredient, so do not replace it with your pup’s regular meal. Plus, do not make it a habit, feed him as a treat, not a meal.
Before adding anything new to your dog’s diet, talk to the vet to get a better idea of how your dog will react. Here, we have jotted down fruitful knowledge that will help you gain more knowledge regarding your pup’s health.
Can Dogs Have Pumpkin?
Yes, dogs can safely eat pumpkin, but don’t overuse them. In fact, Pumpkin is not toxic or poisonous to dogs. They can safely eat a few bites. However, If dogs overeat pumpkin, they may experience an upset stomach simply because the pumpkin may be higher in fibre, vitamin A, which is not good for a dog if taken in large quantities.[1]
Before adding anything new to your fido’s diet, it is recommended to consult the vet, as they have better knowledge, and as per your pup’s health, they will guide you.
Fruits like pumpkin and pineapple are generally safe for dogs in moderation. Other human foods like cheese may also be fed to dogs on occasion. For example, you may wonder, is Babybel cheese healthy for dogs?
Ways to Feed Pumpkin to My Dog!
Here are a few tips which will help you to feed pumpkin to your canine in moderate amounts, and won’t affect his digestive system. Remember, it should be fed as a treat and not as a balanced meal, on an occasional basis.
- You can mix the cooked pumpkin crush with your dog’s regular meal.
- For training purposes, you can also use crushed pumpkin as a treat to motivate his positive response to the training.
- Fill one teaspoon crush pumpkin in a Kong toy and give it to your canine, he will not get bored and will keep his tummy full.
- You can even feed pumpkin seeds to your canine. All you need to do is roast it and give it to him as a treat.
- It can also be added to homemade treats.
Let your fido enjoy the taste of pumpkin.
Before feeding pumpkin or other human food to your canine, it’s better to have knowledge about the side effects also. So, that you can feed him to the limit, and not land up impacting his health. For example, while pumpkin is generally safe, some dog may wonder – can dogs have cheese?
How Much Pumpkin Is Enough for My Dog?
During our research, we came across the blog of AKC that states, “Pumpkin is a fibre-rich food that also contains important vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, E, and C, and potassium and iron.”
Well, the quantity of feeding pumpkin to your canine solely depends on the way you are feeding him. For instance, if you are mixing it with his meal, then one-two crushed pumpkin is more than enough.
In addition, the quantity also depends upon your pup’s size, for a small size one teaspoon is enough, on the other hand for a large size, one-two tablespoon will easily work and won’t impact his health.
Side Effects of Consuming Pumpkin!
Maintaining a balanced nutritional diet is very important. And as we know, pumpkin is not an essential ingredient, which needs to be taken on a regular basis. So, if you start feeding him on a regular basis, and replace it with a balanced meal, it will affect your dog’s health.
Experts states, “Adding extra fibre to the diet can help dogs with chronic, low-grade diarrhoea. However, too much fibre can also cause diarrhoea, so it’s worth being careful.”
Before feeding pumpkin to your canine, it’s better to have knowledge about the side effects also. So, that you can feed him to the limit, and not land up impacting his health.[2]
Keep reading to know the consequences in detail.
- Vomiting sensation
- Upset stomach
- Stomach ache
- Lack of appetite
- Dehydration
If you encounter any such symptoms, immediately stop feeding him pumpkin, and consult the vet to avoid any future severe health issues.
Before feeding pumpkin or other fruits like pineapple to your canine, it’s better to have knowledge about the side effects also. So, that you can feed him to the limit, and not land up impacting his health. For example, while pumpkin is generally safe, you may wonder – can dogs eat pineapple?
Can Puppies Have Pumpkin?
The answer is yes, you can easily feed pumpkin to your cute minion, it’s non-toxic fruit for him. Plus, it’s rich in fibre and adds nutrients level to your canine’s body, but in small proportion, so never replace it with your regular meal. Your growing canine needs a solid meal, which will help in better body development, so a regular balanced meal is important for them.
We recommend you remove the skin and crush the pumpkin so that your little one can easily have it without choking his throat. Or even, you can mix pumpkin crush with his meal for easy feeding. Plus, remember not to make it a habit of feeding pumpkin on a regular basis.
FAQs
What happens if a dog eats a whole pumpkin?
If your puppy eats an entire pumpkin, it can cause him vomiting sensation, diarrhoea, gastric issue, and lack of appetite. We understand that raw pumpkin is safe for dogs, but that doesn’t mean you should feed an entire pumpkin to your canine. Once in a while, a few chunks of pumpkin are more than enough to fulfil your pooch’s cravings.
Can pumpkin give dogs diarrhoea?
Its true pumpkin is a good source of fibre, which is good for easy digestion, and reduces constipation issues. However, too much fibre is also not good because it can affect the digestive tract. So, if you are feeding a few chunks of pumpkin on an occasional basis, then it won’t create any digestive issues for your pooch.
Will pumpkin help my dog poop?
Pumpkin is a great source of fibre, which helps in easy digestion. It has been observed that generally, a dog’s digestive system takes eight hours to digest food. So, if you are feeding a small proportion of pumpkin to your canine, then it will definitely help him a bit to get rid of the constipation issue.
Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?
Pumpkin seeds are non-toxic for dogs, on the other hand, they won’t add any nutritional benefits to your dog’s body. So, ingesting a few pumpkin seeds won’t hurt his tummy. It is important that he doesn’t gulp a lot of seed because it can lead to throat pain and choke issues.
Can a dog eat pumpkin pie?
No, you cannot feed pumpkin pie to your canine. It is rich in sugar, fat, and other seasonings are also added, which is not good for your pup’s health. Not even a bite of pumpkin pie is recommended to feed your dog, it can lead to stomach issues such as upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
References:
- Staff, A. (2022, March 24). Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat – American Kennel Club.
- Freeman, L. D. M., PhD. (2017, August 22). The Problem with Pumpkin. Clinical Nutrition Service at Cummings School. Retrieved October 21, 2022, from TUFTS University
