Is Pumpkin Good for Dogs
Is pumpkin good for dogs? Well, we all know for sure that pumpkin is a nutritious food for humans, but can a pumpkin be a treat for your dog, too? To put it simply, yes. Pumpkin is a healthy food not only for you but for your furbaby as well.
Here’s what you should know about pumpkin for dogs.

How is pumpkin good for dogs?
Most dogs are food-oriented and are definitely people food lovers. But you should always be wary when providing human foods to your furbaby because these can be reasons for gastrointestinal irritation to occur. Some people food may even be toxic to your dog, as stated by Dog Health.
However, there is one human food with stunning and superb benefits for dogs. And it is pumpkin.
Pumpkins are definitely great for dogs for a lot of reasons. Some of these reasons are the following:
It's jampacked with nutrients. Pumpkin for dogs is full of vitamins and minerals that help your furbaby's bodily function. These includes:
- Vitamin A and Lutein: helps strengthen your dog's vision.
- Vitamin C: supports the collagen synthesis and enzymatic reactions of your furbaby.
- Vitamine E and Alpha-carotene: helps regulate and prevent damaged cells in your dog's body and protect it from free radicals.
- Iron: maintains proper hemoglobin count on your dog and promotes the proper flow of oxygen
- Calcium: provides strong, healthy teeth and bones.
- Fiber: helps your dog become full faster without taking in a lot of unnecessary calories
It helps lessen stomach issues. As mentioned, pumpkin is a great and powerful source of fiber and one thing fiber excels at doing is helping with the regularity of digestive activities and excretory processes. Pumpkin is able to calm down an upset GI tract and is also able to help manage constipation in dogs as high fiber content in pumpkins can serve as a laxative.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), “The soluble fiber content in pumpkin adds bulk to your dog’s stool by absorbing water, and fiber fermentation produces beneficial fatty acids that supply energy to cells, stimulates intestinal sodium and water absorption and lowers the pH level of the large intestines.”
It naturally repels parasites. If you think that's all, there's more. Pumpkins naturally control intestinal parasites in your dog's digestive tract. Studies have proven that there are incredibly high levels of amino acid cucurbitacin found in pumpkins and this is actually considered to be toxic to those pesky parasites in your dog's tummy.
It aids canine urinary health. According to studies, pumpkin oils help support the urinary health of dogs especially those suffering from urinary incontinence. This is so because the fatty acids present in pumpkin oils contain anti-inflammatory properties. This can also be of great help in dislodging bladder and kidney stones.
It boosts the immune system. One of the essential vitamins pumpkins have is Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to be an essential part of keeping the immune system in its optimum health. Vitamin C, together with Vitamins A, E and other antioxidants that are also found in pumpkins can help boost your dog's immune system by fighting off free radicals and can even help prevent certain types of cancer from developing.
It keeps skin and coat moisturized. Pumpkins have high water content and this contributes to keeping your dog's skin and coat moisturized. If this means that if your furbaby's skin is moisturized, it will be unlikely for him to flake and shed abnormally.
Too much of a good thing is bad
While pumpkin offers an array of wonderful benefits for you and your dog, it's important to remember that you should always give your dog pumpkin in the correct amounts. This will greatly depend on your dog's age, weight, way of life, health condition, etc.
Giving your dog too much pumpkin is toxic and cause an overdose (not on the pumpkin itself but on any of its natural nutrients). It can also pre-dispose and lead your dog to nutritional deficiency or to lower calories that are unable to support your dog's daily activities and lifestyle.
But as pet parents, we always find ways to add the pumpkin miracle in our furbaby's diet without having to compromise their safety - that's why there are dog supplements that serve as pumpkin treats available in the market today and these are the most recommended way to give pumpkin to your dog.
"There are incredibly high levels of amino acid cucurbitacin found in pumpkins and this is actually considered to be toxic to those pesky parasites in your dog's tummy."
The Pet Parents® Role
Even if you don't have a pumpkin nearby or you don’t have the time to go look for it in nearby supermarkets, it doesn't mean you have to squash the idea of supporting your dog's gut health. This is where our Pet Parents® Probiotics SoftSupps® come in.
Being the most recommended way to give pumpkin to your furbaby, this is why we, at Pet Parents®, have incorporated pumpkin in our Pet Parents® Probiotics SoftSupps®.
The pumpkin in our supplements has valuable nutrients that help support optimum health for your dog. It is loaded with fiber, vitamins, & minerals that support the digestive tract, helping relieve an upset stomach & treat diarrhea & constipation, and other gastrointestinal disorders.
Pumpkin also makes the supplement very appealing to dogs and it helps make your dog want to actually eat the supplement, rather than forcing it to them. It is a treat for your pup. Giving pumpkin in supplements is a great way to keep track of the right dosage for your dog, too.
Note: Please read the dosage amount on the bottle.
Is pumpkin good for dogs? You bet it is. Pumpkins are, indeed, one of the healthiest and most beneficial treats you can give your furbaby when used in moderation and in the correct way (like supplements). With the health benefits it brings, you and your furbaby are surely on the way to a happier and healthier life!
"The pumpkin in our supplements has valuable nutrients that help support optimum health for your dog."
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Probiotic SoftSupps®