PUMPKIN FOR DOGS |
Posted: January 14, 2019 |
The sight of pumpkins brings a warm smile to many faces. It means the temperature is just right, and there loads of holidays on the way. Come on, who doesn’t love carving pumpkins and going all out with pumpkin decor. But pumpkins don’t just make for great decorations as they contain a boatload of nutritional goodness. Pumpkins are high in alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin A, and zinc. In fact, all of these vitamins can really help give our dog’s diets a boost, especially if their food isn’t complete. The Benefits of Giving Your Dog PumpkinBecause of the vast array of nutrients in pumpkins, there is potential for it to provide your dog with numerous benefits, but let’s focus on the big two. Help Your Dog Lose Weight With PumpkinYes, you read that right. Pumpkin is high in fiber and heavily filling but doesn’t have a lot of calories or fat. You want to take your pet’s weight into consideration when supplementing in pumpkin into their diet. The average dog needs around 30 calories per pound of body weight. A half cup of canned pumpkin is only around 40 calories but will provide 3-4 grams of fiber. Digestive HealthIf you’ve ever noticed an odd smell coming from your dog’s back end, it might be their anal glands aren’t getting expressed when going number two. Dogs that aren’t getting a lot of fiber tend to either have soft stool or in the opposite direction stool that’s difficult to pass. A high fiber diet and increase water intake are two key ways of creating healthy bowel movements. The Best Way To Give Your Dog PumpkinPumpkin SeedsPumpkin seeds are an awesome way to provide your dog with extra fiber, protein, and other great vitamins. You don’t have to, but most people toast them first — and don’t worry about salting them. Your dog will probably like them just fine, and salt isn’t good for dogs. Seeds won’t have the benefit of providing extra water into your dog’s diet. Canned PumpkinCanned pumpkin is the easiest way to give your dog all the great benefits that come with pumpkin. Now you'll need to check the label and make sure you’re getting fresh canned pumpkin — not pumpkin pie mix. Canned pumpkin pie mix will have way too many calories and sugars, and that eliminates all the benefits. Pumpkin Pie and Other Pumpkin TreatsIf you read our canned pumpkin section, then you probably have a good idea what the answer to this one is going to be. There two big issues with pumpkin pie and the array of treats, latte, and breads. First, there isn’t enough pumpkin in there to provide enough beneficial nutrients. Second, they are loaded with calories, have an array of sugars, and other things that are not healthy for dogs. Final ThoughtsSo the next time you’re at the store, why not pick up some canned pumpkin for your dog? A lot of owners throw in a tablespoon or two into their dog’s food during their regular feeding time. For many dogs, this is a great way to give their diets a healthy boost.
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