There’s no secret that a pumpkin is a great option for dogs. If you’re looking for a healthy, inexpensive, and tasty addition to your dog’s diet, you don’t have to look much further than pumpkins.
So, how should you feed pumpkin to your dog? Is it all right to give them pumpkin from the can?
Well, that depends on the type of canned pumpkin you have. While many canned pumpkin options are great for dogs, others aren’t so great. In fact, there are certain canned pumpkin options that might actually be bad for your dog.
But don’t worry; you won’t have to wonder which canned pumpkin products are bad for your dog much longer.
In this article, we’re looking at what type of canned pumpkin is bad for dogs and other pumpkin dishes you can prepare for your pooch.
Can I Give My Dog Canned Pumpkin Filling?
As noted in this article, dogs can eat pumpkin, and it can be very beneficial for them.
Generally, there’s nothing wrong with giving your dog pumpkin from the can. However, keep in mind that only certain canned pumpkin products are good for dogs. These are the products that are as natural and plain as possible. So, before adding a couple of spoons of canned pumpkin to your dog’s dish, make sure that there are no added salt, sugar, or spices.
This is because certain spices and herbs that are good for humans aren’t good for dogs. For example, onions and garlic are packed with a toxin that harms dogs’ red blood cells, which can cause problems down the line.
If the canned pumpkin in your kitchen is plain and free of additives, there’s nothing with giving it to your dog. However, if you have pumpkin pie filled with sugar and other ingredients, it’s best to keep it away from your pet.
Remember, these ingredients can do a lot of damage to your pet, especially if you feed them to your dog’s regularly.
With that said, even if you have the right type of canned pumpkin, you still need to ensure that your dog is getting the right amount. Ideally, you’d want to feed your dog no more than a couple of teaspoons a day.
Of course, larger dogs can handle more pumpkin, and smaller dogs can handle less.
How Can I Feed Pumpkin to My Dog?
So, if the can of pumpkins in your kitchen isn’t ideal for your dog, how can you incorporate pumpkins into your dog’s diet?
Well, it’s actually very easy. The secret is to cook the pumpkin as plainly as possible. You don’t want to feed your dog raw pumpkins as these are tough and hard to digest, so cooking is essential. But regardless of the way you cook the pumpkin, you need to make sure that it doesn’t have any harmful spices and additives.
With that in mind, here are some ways you can feed pumpkins to your dog:
Puree
This is the easiest way to serve pumpkins to dogs. Since pumpkin puree is soft, the dogs will have a very easy time digesting it. On top of that, if your dog’s a picky eater, pumpkin puree is barely noticeable in their dish, so you can rest assured that they will eat the pumpkin and reap the health benefits.
You can make pumpkin puree any way you like, but we recommend using a food processor and cooking the pumpkins first. Additionally, you can freeze or store the pumpkin puree for a long time, making it a cost-effective method.
With that said, make sure to cool down the puree before feeding it to your dog.
Baked Pumpkin
When making pumpkin puree, we recommend cooking the pumpkin by baking it. This is a quick and efficient way of cooking the vegetable and ensuring it’s soft enough for the food processor. But if you don’t have the time or the equipment to make a puree, you can always serve your dog the baked pumpkin on its own.
All you have to do is make sure that the pumpkin seeds are removed and the pumpkin is cooked all the way through. That way, your dog won’t have a hard time digesting it.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Lastly, after taking out the seed from the pumpkin, you can roast them yourself until crunchy. That way, nothing goes to waste, and your dog has a light, crunchy, tasty, and healthy snack throughout the day.
Conclusion
Pumpkins are great food for dogs. However, you need to make sure that you’re feeding your pet the right type of pumpkin products. While canned pumpkin is usually fine for dogs, you need to make sure that the pumpkin has no additives to protect your pup’s health.
Additionally, before adding pumpkin to your dog’s diet, make sure that you talk to your vet about the proper dose and whether it’s the best option for your dog.
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