Pumpkin is a popular seasonal vegetable to include in your diet (and your coffee) when autumn rolls around. From pumpkin-flavored lattes to pumpkin sauce pasta, there are tons of ways to include this ingredient in your diet. 

But, can you share your love of pumpkin with your pets, too? The answer is yes, you sure can! 

Pumpkin has a range of benefits for humans and dogs. From supporting digestion to offering a nice helping of vitamins and minerals, pumpkin is an excellent ingredient to look for on the dog food label. 

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of pumpkin for dogs and how you can include this unique ingredient in your dog’s diet. 

Pumpkin is popular for more than its flavor and versatility. Pumpkin is packed with a range of benefits, including vitamins and minerals. 

Here’s how pumpkin supports your dog’s health. 

Pumpkin is a rich source of vitamins, including vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, and B vitamins B1 and B6.

Vitamin A supports eye health, immune system health, growth, development, and cellular health, while vitamin C is essential for immune system health.

Pumpkin is also rich in magnesium antioxidants that combat free radicals, including lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that help address free radical damage in the eye area, especially as it relates to aging. 

Pumpkin also helps support urinary health. The pumpkin seeds contain nutrients that promote the function of the kidneys and renal health. 

Fiber is essential for your dog’s digestive health, and pumpkin is a rich source of soluble fiber. If your dog is constipated, having diarrhea, or experiencing discomfort during bowel movements, consider giving them a small amount of pumpkin as a natural remedy.

Pumpkin flesh helps absorb excess moisture in diarrhea, hardening stool and supporting regular movements. For constipation, pumpkin releases water into the drier stool to help it pass more easily. 

This versatile tool for digestive health is affordable, easy, and side-effect-free! Simply use a small amount of pumpkin and monitor your dog’s bowel movements from there. 

Because of the rich variety of antioxidants in pumpkin, this vegetable can help support heart health. Loaded with potassium, pumpkin helps fight the bad types of cholesterol and supports the good cholesterol that helps the heart. 

This is a powerful food to feed your pup to support cardiovascular health!

There are many parts of pumpkin that offer benefits for your dog, from the seeds to the flesh. How can you incorporate this ingredient into your dog’s diet? Let’s break it down. 

First, it’s critical to avoid canned pumpkin, like canned pumpkin pie filling or canned pumpkin puree. Canned fruits and vegetables may seem like a convenient way to add healthy ingredients to your dog food, but these are actually harmful. 

Canned foods can contain high levels of sodium, sugars or sugar substitute, spices, and other preservatives and chemicals. This can be dangerous for your pup to consume. 

In addition, canned foods are much more likely to be processed at high temperatures, lose nutritional content, and include artificial ingredients. 

Instead, use frozen organic pumpkin if you’re looking for a convenient form of this food. You can also use fresh pumpkin and make your own puree at home. 

It’s also important to keep it simple when preparing a pumpkin recipe. If you’re making your own pumpkin cubes, puree, or even roasted seeds, don’t add any seasonings, butter, or oil. 

Excess salt is unnecessary and can be harmful to your dog’s health. Plus, your dog will enjoy the flavor of pumpkin as it is without the excess seasonings. It’s also important to avoid some seasonings like garlic and onion as these are toxic for dogs. 

You can roast pumpkin seeds in the oven, feed your dog pumpkin raw, or thaw frozen pumpkin pieces as treats. 

Stick to small quantities to avoid giving your dog too much pumpkin, and sprinkle the pumpkin in with your dog’s food. You can also give your dog pumpkin as a healthy treat! 

It’s also important to introduce pumpkin into your dog’s diet slowly to monitor for any allergic reactions or sensitivities. If you notice any unusual behavior after introducing pumpkin into your dog’s diet, be sure to talk to a veterinarian right away. 

While homemade dog food is a great option, not all dog parents have the time and resources to make dog food each day. Instead, focus on spending more time with your furry BFF and let us do the hard work.

Here at Sundays, we make our dog food up to human-grade standards with all of the good stuff and none of the fake stuff. With ingredients like pumpkin, butternut squash, quinoa, USDA grade beef, wild salmon oil, zucchini, and more, our food offers a range of nutrients for your pup.

All our food is minimally processed, air-dried, and packed with flavor and nutrition. Our food is made by veterinarians who care about quality and ingredients. Help your furry friend get the most out of every bite. 

Want to learn more about which foods to feed your dog and which foods to avoid? Our resources break down everything you need to know about being the best dog parent you can be. 

SOURCES: 

Health Benefits of Pumpkin | Cleveland Clinic 

YOUR DOG'S NUTRITIONAL NEEDS | NAP 

​Can Pumpkin Help With Dog Diarrhea? | American Kennel Club