Power of Pumpkin

When thinking about your dog’s diet, there’s more than just meat and kibble to consider. Nature has provided us with a variety of wholesome ingredients, and one of the many superstars is about to be in abundance… pumpkin. Not just a festive Halloween treat, pumpkin is a fantastic addition to your dog’s diet, offering numerous health benefits that can support your pet’s well-being throughout their life.

So when you're carving the pumpkins with the kids this weekend, keep back all the useful cuttings!

Let’s dive into what makes pumpkin such a nutritional powerhouse for dogs.

A Nutrient-Rich Superfood

Pumpkin is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It contains high levels of vitamin A, which is crucial for eye health, as well as vitamin C and E, which contribute to a healthy immune system. Moreover, pumpkin is rich in minerals such as potassium, which aids in regulating blood pressure and maintaining healthy muscle function, and iron, important for red blood cell production.

But pumpkin’s benefits go beyond basic nutrition. One of its standout qualities is its role as a prebiotic.

Pumpkin as a Prebiotic for Gut Health

Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres that help feed the beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut. These friendly bacteria play a vital role in maintaining a healthy digestive system and immune response. Pumpkin, particularly its soluble fibre content (such as pectin), acts as an effective prebiotic. By promoting the growth of good bacteria, pumpkin helps keep your dog’s gut flora balanced, leading to better digestion and overall health.

Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs

1. Improved Digestive Health Pumpkin’s fibre content aids in regulating bowel movements. Whether your dog is suffering from loose stools or constipation, pumpkin can help bring balance. The soluble fibre absorbs water in the intestines, which helps bulk up stools in cases of diarrhoea, while also softening stools when needed.
2. Supports Weight Management Because pumpkin is low in calories but high in fibre, it can help your dog feel full while consuming fewer calories. This makes it an excellent option for dogs needing to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. Simply adding pumpkin to their regular meals can provide satiety without extra calories.
3. Firm Stools for Sensitive Stomachs Pumpkin can be particularly beneficial for dogs with sensitive stomachs or prone to occasional digestive issues. The fibre in pumpkin helps regulate digestion, making stools firmer and reducing instances of gastrointestinal distress.
4. Natural Dewormer There is some evidence to suggest that pumpkin seeds can act as a natural remedy to help maintain gut health to prevent intestinal parasites. The seeds contain an amino acid called cucurbitacin, which can help expel worms from the digestive tract in a healthy dog. Crushed and sprinkled on your dog’s food, pumpkin seeds can support a healthy digestive system.
5. Weaning Woes! We all know the poo storm that comes along when weaning and worming puppies. Many breeders panic, and rush to to medicated options - but did you know giving them freshly cooked pumpkin (as a prebiotic and great source of fibre), along with natural slippery elm is the perfect, natural solution to diarrhoea. We have a special discount code for you at the bottom of this blog!

How to Incorporate Pumpkin into Your Dog's Diet

Adding pumpkin to your dog’s meals is easy! You can mix cooked, plain pumpkin (with no added sugar or spices) into their food. Here’s a simple method:

• Peel that pumpkin! For dogs that are not raw fed and already having fruits and vegetables, you should always peel the pumpkin first. The skin is hard for the gut to breakdown and can cause blockages. 
• Cook the pumpkin: After peeling off the skin, remove the seeds (and put them to one sie) simply boil in a pan of water or bake the flesh in the oven until tender. Wait for it to cool, then chop it into pieces or mash it, and freeze portions for future use.
• Keep the seeds! You can roast the seeds in the oven until golden to make them more digestible. Then crush and cut them into little pieces. They can be added to your dog’s meals as a great, natural gut spring-clean. Ensure they are not cut to the size they can be a choking hazard, and don’t over feed them as the fat content can cause soft stools or diarrhoea if fed in large quantities. Small dogs can have up to 3-5 seeds; medium dogs 5-10 seeds; and large dogs 10-20 seeds within one day.
• Canned pumpkin: It goes without saying, canned pumpkin is great as well! It’s likely to be in abundance in the supermarkets at this time of the year as well. Ensure it’s 100% pure pumpkin with no additives. This is a quick and easy option for mixing into your dog’s food (year round).
• Magnificent diarrhoea relief! Mix a cherry-tomato-sized amount of cooked, mashed pumpkin with 10ml of water and with CanineNutritionCoach’s Slippery Elm Bark (number of capsules depending on the size of the dog and included on the packaging), to create tasty diarrhoea relief paste that is suitable for ALL aged dogs from puppies, right up to our doddery old boys. Medicine, synthetic, and filler free gut boosting goodness! All for a load less than a single vet consultation fee. 

Pro Tip: Freeze Leftovers

Freeze spoonfuls of pumpkin in an ice cube tray for easy portioning throughout the year, reducing food waste and keeping pumpkin on hand when needed!

How Much Pumpkin Should You Give?

As a general guideline, 1–4 tablespoons of pumpkin per day (depending on your dog’s size) is enough to see the benefits without overloading their system. Start small and adjust based on their size, and always observe how your dog responds.

Pumpkin for Dogs of All Ages

Whether you’re supporting the gut health of a growing puppy, helping a senior dog with weight management, or firming up stools for a dog with digestive sensitivities, pumpkin is a fantastic, nutrient-dense addition to their diet at any stage of life.

Pumpkin isn’t just a seasonal favourite – it’s a superfood that can benefit your dog year-round. From its role as a prebiotic to its natural digestive-balancing properties, pumpkin provides valuable support to your dog’s health and well-being. By incorporating it into their diet, you’re providing more than just a tasty treat – you’re nourishing their body from the inside out.

Have you tried adding pumpkin to your dog’s meals yet? Let us know how it works for you and if you have any great pumpkin recipes to share!

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If you’re wanting to purchase the best quality Slippery Elm Bark to make the magnificent diarrhoea relief paste, you can get this here, use discount code NWBSSE https://www.caninenutritioncoach.co.uk/store/p9/naturalslipperyelm.html#/ 

Bibliography

Smith, R. L., & Gibson, G. R. (1999). Prebiotics and their effects on the gut microbiota. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 58(1), 807-817.Middelbos, I. S., Vester Boler, B. M., Qu, A., White, B. A., Swanson, K. S., & Fahey, G. C. (2010). Phylogenetic characterization of fecal microbial communities of dogs fed diets with or without supplemental dietary fiber using 454 pyrosequencing. PLoS One, 5(3), e9768.