As humans, we love our pumpkin spice season in the fall when it seems every food category, from coffee to salted snacks, includes a pumpkin flavor. As the leaves turn color and the temperatures drop, we start seeing pumpkins of all sizes on neighborhood porches. In this article, we discover the healthful ways our dog companions can enjoy pumpkin, too.
What Is Pumpkin for Dogs?
But did you know there are pumpkin supplements specifically made for dogs? Let's dig into the details about this fall favorite.
Where do pumpkins come from? Pumpkins are part of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes 900 species such as squash, cucumbers, and watermelon. Native to Central and North America, pumpkin was an important food staple among Native Americans and has been eaten as fruit and vegetable for 9,000 years.
Do Dogs Need Pumpkin?
While dogs need a diet that is complete and balanced, there is a role for pumpkin in a dog's diet. Pumpkin is good for dogs with occasional digestive issues because it is rich in healthful micronutrients, including:
- Vitamins A, C, and E
- Iron
- Potassium
- Soluble fiber
With a high content of soluble, prebiotic fiber, pumpkin is a digestive aid for dogs. It feeds the good bacteria in your dog's gut. Pumpkin can aid dogs experiencing occasional diarrhea as well as constipation.
With a high content of soluble, prebiotic fiber, pumpkin is a digestive aid for dogs. It feeds the good bacteria in your dog's gut and may help with diarrhea as well as constipation. Using pumpkin for dog diarrhea may be a natural way to help with occasional loose stools. Be sure to check with your vet if your dog's diarrhea lasts longer than 48 hours or if your dog is straining to defecate.
Pumpkin's prebiotics for dogs can assist in maintaining your dog's healthy community of gut microbiomes, which can benefit your dog's immune health.
What Are the Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs?
Pumpkin provides the high-fiber prebiotic food for the beneficial bacteria in your dog's digestive system. Feeding the beneficial microbiome in your dog's intestinal tract may improve your dog's immune system. The benefits of pumpkin for dogs are numerous and include:
- Digestion
- Immunity
- Heart
- Eye
- Skin and coat
When pumpkin is combined with psyllium, as it is in EverRoot Digestion dog supplements, the pumpkin and psyllium work together to reduce the incidence of occasional diarrhea. The psyllium prebiotic fiber supports your dog's digestive health by absorbing excess water in the colon to firm up loose stools and, like pumpkin fiber, feeds the beneficial microbiome in your dog's gut.
Signs Your Dog May Benefit from Pumpkin
One key sign your pup may benefit from a pumpkin supplement for dogs is if he experiences occasional diarrhea from environmental or intestinal stresses.
Chronic diarrhea and constipation are signs of serious health concerns. If your dog experiences diarrhea or constipation for more than two days or either condition recurs on an ongoing basis, contact your vet.
What Is a Good Source of Pumpkin for Dogs?
Be sure your pumpkin supplement is sourced for quality with NASC certification like EverRoot Digestion dog supplements. EverRoot supplements are formulated specifically for dogs by Purina's expert animal nutritionists.
What about feeding pumpkin to dogs? Dogs can consume small amounts of steamed or roasted fresh pumpkin pulp or canned plain “pure” pumpkin. However, there are a few forms of pumpkin that will make dogs sick if they eat them. Avoid these sources of pumpkin:
- Leftover, carved Halloween jack-o-lanterns because they may contain candle wax, mold, insects, or bacteria
- Prepared pumpkin pie filling because it contains salt, sweeteners, spices, and other ingredients that are not safe for dogs
- Raw pumpkin pulp or raw pumpkin seeds
How Much Pumpkin Should You Give Your Dog?
What is the correct pumpkin dosage for dogs? To ensure you are giving your pooch the correct amount, choose EverRoot dog supplements that contain pumpkin because those products are properly formulated with the right balance of ingredients just for dogs.
The number of supplement servings will depend on the size and weight of your dog. Remember, EverRoot supplements are not treats. Don't give more than the amount recommended on the package for your dog's weight.
Side Effects of Pumpkin for Dogs
How much pumpkin for dogs is too much? Giving your dog too much pumpkin may result in gastrointestinal upset.
If your dog shows signs of an allergic reaction from pumpkin supplements, such as itching, hives or rash, discontinue use. If your dog's condition worsens or does not improve, contact your vet.
Before starting any supplement, talk to your vet about possible benefits, interactions, or side effects.
Choosing a Pumpkin Supplement for Dogs
EverRoot dog supplements offer several products in different formulations that contain pumpkin and psyllium.
For digestive health:
For multiple health benefits:
At EverRoot, every ingredient is carefully chosen for a purpose to provide what dogs need and nothing that they don't. Learn more about the ingredients in EverRoot dog supplements on our Ingredients page.