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:

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.

"There are incredibly high levels of cucurbitacin found in pumpkin. Cucurbitacin is actually considered to be toxic to 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 your dog, it's important to remember you should always give your dog pumpkin in the appropriate amounts. This will greatly depend on your dog's age, weight, way of life, health condition, etc. Giving your dog too much pumpkin can actually lead to some harmful effects.

While fiber can help with your dog's stomach issues and dog indigestion, too much fiber may actually be dangerous. Adding too many, or too much, fiber-rich foods to your dog's diet could reduce their ability to properly absorb the nutrients in their food. This could lead your dog to nutritional deficiencies, or the inability to support your dog's lifestyle.

When incorporating any new food into your furbaby's diet, it is important to do your research. It is a good idea to consult your veterinarian if you are ever unsure on the amounts to feed your dog.

One easy way to add pumpkin to your dog's diet is through dog supplements. There are many supplements for dogs made with pumpkin available. These supplements serve as an easy way to add pumpkin to your dog's diet, without compromising their wellbeing. 

Pet Parents® Supplements for Dogs

Even if you don't have any pumpkin, or the time to go search for it at the supermarkets, it doesn't mean you have to squash the idea of supporting your dog's gut health. This is where our Probiotic SoftSupps® come handy.

The pumpkin in our supplements contains valuable nutrients to help support optimum health for your dog. It is loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals that support the digestive tract. It also helps relieve an upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation and other gastrointestinal disorders.

"The pumpkin in our dog supplements have valuable nutrients to help support optimum health for your dog."

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 form (like supplements). With the health benefits it brings, you and your furbaby are surely on the way to a happier and healthier life!