Pumpkins for Pets: What’s Safe and What’s Not

As the air turns crisp and the leaves carpet the driveway, the rich scent of cinnamon and nutmeg often drift through our homes. Fall has officially arrived, bringing along the sweaters, warm drinks, and the arrival of all things pumpkin! However, as we whip up those seasonal treats or scoop out jack-o’-lanterns, our four-legged family members always seem to be close by laying their puppy eyes on thick. Sniffing the air or wagging their tails practically begging as their mouths water endlessly.

While Pumpkin can often be a nutrient-packed superfood for our pets, serving it safely requires a bit of seasonal knowledge. Before sharing a quick bite of that fall goodness, here is what you need to know about your furry companion’s belly to keep it healthy all season long.

The Digestive Perks

Pumpkin can be a popular food supplement in vet-recommended diets because it is low in calories, but exceptionally high in fiber, water, and essential nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium.

It is a soluble fiber which can help absorb extra water in our pets’ upset tummy to firm up loose stools. The moisture in it can help soften stools if we find constipation has struck our loveable friends. Pumpkin is also a prebiotic so it’s a low cost option to feed the good bacteria in our pets gut! Keep in mind that not every pumpkin based item in your pantry or on your porch belongs in your pet’s bowl.

100% Canned Pumpkin Puree: 100% Canned Pumpkin Puree is the creme de la creme of pet food toppers. Just ensure the label lists pumpkin as the only ingredient…without any added salt, nutmeg, sugars, or other spices we normally use in our autumn baking.

• Cats and small dogs (under 15lbs) – ½ to 1 tsp per day
• Medium dogs (15-50lbs) – 1tbsp per day
• Large dogs (50lbs+) – 1 to 2 tbsp per day

Fresh Cooked Pumpkin: Are you looking for a tasty seasonal reward? I would highly recommend fresh roasted pumpkin- without oils, butter, or any seasonings, as this makes a stupendous low-calorie training treat when roasted and cubed. You will need to scoop the flesh from the pumpkin as the rind can be too hard for our pets to digest. Though this will allow your furry companion to satisfy their fall cravings alongside you.

Stems, Rinds, and Raw Seeds: While raw pumpkin flesh isn’t necessarily toxic it is easier for them to digest when cooked fully, the tough outer rind, fibrous stringy pulp, and hard stems are incredibly difficult for our pets to digest and should be avoided. Feeding this can lead to severely upset stomachs and dangerous intestinal blockages leading you to the veterinarians office. If you were debating throwing a few of your baked pumpkin seeds their way, ensure that they are hulled, unsalted, and finely ground or roasted before placing them in their bowls. Whole seeds can pose a choking risk and seeds should be served incredibly sparingly if at all.

Canned Pumpkin Pie Mix: This is NOT a safe choice under any circumstances. Pumpkin pie mix is often heavily loaded with syrups, sugars, and aromatic spices like nutmeg, which can be highly toxic to your pet if they consume it in large amounts.

Autumn is the season that makes for cozy memories with the ones we love-including your four-legged family members. Keeping a few safety guidelines in mind like sticking to plain, simple pumpkin puree, allows you to safely share the flavors of the season with your favorite companion-while sipping coffee on the sofa watching those leaves slowly drift to the ground. Go ahead and dish out a little pumpkin into their bowl at the heart of “all things pumpkin” season, and enjoy the cozy days together!

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