Autumn is just around the corner, and love it or hate it, that means pumpkin season is coming! Pumpkin spice, pumpkin lattes, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin everything! With the right foods and treats, even your dog can get in on the pumpkin action.
Not only is this tasty winter squash safe and delicious for pups, but it’s also wholesome, loaded with vitamins and nutrients, and can even promote digestion. There are lots of ways to incorporate pumpkin into your dog’s diet, so let’s look at some of the reasons you might want to try pumpkin for dogs.
Is Pumpkin Good for Dogs? Yes! It’s Packed with Nutrients
For lots of people, pumpkin might be nothing more than the orange stuff that comes in a can and goes into pies. But pumpkin is a vine-growing fruit that’s actually loaded with vitamins and minerals that are essential to your pup’s health. Pumpkin and dogs are a match made in heaven because pumpkin contains:
- Vitamin A for healthy eyes
- Zinc for moisturized skin and a shiny coat
- Amino acids that help the body absorb other nutrients
- Vitamins C and E to promote overall well-being
- Antioxidants for a robust immune system
- Potassium to regulate blood pressure and help the metabolism
- Iron to keep energy levels high
- Phosphorus and magnesium for healthy muscles and tissue repair
What Does Pumpkin Do for Dogs? It Can Also Help with Digestion and Ease Upset Tummies
Pumpkin is also high in fiber, and there are several reasons why this is good for your dog. Fiber helps to regulate blood sugar, ease bowel movements, balance cholesterol levels, maintain body weight, and aid digestion.
What’s more, the fiber in pumpkin can work as a prebiotic, meaning it promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut. A healthy gut microbiome produces some vitamins, promotes a healthy immune system, and plays a role in digestion.
Finally, pumpkin’s high fiber content can also help to stop diarrhea (depending on the cause) and make your pup’s stomach feel better when it’s upset.
Canned Pumpkin for Dogs and the Easiest Ways to Add It to Your Pup’s Diet
Canned pumpkin for dogs is safe, and it makes adding this nutritional powerhouse to your pup’s diet a breeze. Just make sure you buy plain canned pumpkin with no added sugar, salt, or spices.
So how do you get your pup to eat pumpkin? Most dogs love the flavor, so it shouldn’t be too hard!
You can add canned pumpkin to your dog’s food, stuff it into a Kong, freeze it on a lick mat, or even bake it into special dog treats.
There are also supplements like PointPet’s Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Hip & Joint supplement. These soft chews support healthy joints, flexibility, bones, and cartilage development. They’re made in the USA and contain beneficial ingredients like glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, MSM, yucca schidigera, and flaxseed.
Visit PointPet today to see their full line of supplements and learn more about their Peanut Butter and Pumpkin Hip & Joint soft chews.
Animal Wellness
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