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Pumpkin is a beneficial fruit not only to humans but also to dogs. And the best part is, it is delicious!
There are so many nutritional and digestive benefits that pumpkin offers dogs. It is a nutrient-rich food that contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that can help your dog digestive health. It has abundant fiber that can help dogs regulate bowel movement or with diarrhea.
The low calories of pumpkin also make it a great food for weight management. So, if your furry friend is overweight and you are thinking of nutritious food to help with weight loss, pumpkin is a good choice.
In this article, we are going to explore all the nutritional and digestive benefits of pumpkins for dogs.
Digestive Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs
Pumpkin is a great choice if you are looking towards managing and improving dog digestive health. Below are some of the ways this fruit can help a dog’s digestive system.
To Prevent Urinary Incontinence
The flesh and seeds of pumpkins are filled with Omega 3 fatty acids which can help support the urinary tract of your dog. These anti-inflammatory properties of pumpkin can help with kidney stones in your dog’s system. If your dog is having issues holding in urine, you can give this fruit a try.
To Ease Constipation
Just as pumpkin works to soothe diarrhea in dogs, it can also do the opposite which is to ease constipation. If your dog is having difficulties going to the toilet, you can mix this nutrient-packed fruit in their regular mean and they will be able to pass stool with ease.
To Alleviate Diarrhea
As a good source of fiber, pumpkin can help your dog with runny stomachs and diarrhea. The fiber content in the fruit helps in absorbing water which in turn will solidify runny stool. If your dog is stooling, you can mix one to two tablespoons of pumpkin in their daily meal.
To Remove Parasites
Pumpkin seeds are filled with amino acids that can help fight parasites like tapeworms in dog’s digestive tract. You can use this fruit as a natural dewormer for your dog. Natural pumpkin seeds can help with eliminating intestinal worms from dogs.
To Help Manage Weight
The last digestive benefits of pumpkin we will discuss in this article are its weight management properties. As a fruit rich in fiber content, pumpkin can help your dog shed excess weight. It is low in calories and can help fill your dogs. The fruit is also filled with additional vitamins and minerals which will provide their body system with all the nutrients they need during the weight loss process.
With Pumpkin, you can help improve dog digestive health and maintain a healthy gut.
What are the Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs?
Just as pumpkin can help with dog digestive health, it also has other health benefits. Below are some of the other ways this fruit can help your dogs.
Improve Eye Health
Pumpkin is packed with lots of vitamins like Vitamin A which is essential for eye health in both humans and dogs. Your dog needs to consume a lot of this vitamin for optimal vision. Therefore, you can supply them with a good amount of pumpkin to help manage their eye health and also protect them from eye degenerative issues. Night blindness is a common issue that affects dogs. You can protect your furry friend from this by ensuring you start mixing pumpkin in their treats and meals.
Boost Skin and Coat Health
Pumpkins are packed with Omega 3 and 6 which are natural moisturizers to your dog’s coats and skins. Feeding your dogs these minerals and vitamins regularly will boost their skin and coat’s health. Pumpkin is an excellent fruit that will help prevent dry and flaky skin and contribute to an overall healthy skin and glossy coat for your dog.
Help with Hydrating
Dog foods are mostly dry with a major lack of moisture. This means that it is up to you to find ways to introduce as much moisture as possible to your dog’s system. Since they naturally do not have a high thirst drive, you have to find a way to add moisture to their diet to ensure hydration. Dehydration can lead to digestive issues like constipation. Adding pumpkin to your dog food is one way to keep them hydrated naturally.
Protects Immune Health
Last but the least, Pumpkin can be essential in boosting your dog’s immune health. This fruit is richly packed with anti-oxidants add nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E. These nutrients when combined can help destroy free radicals in their system to prevent certain diseases. Pumpkins can help reduce and eliminate the risk of cancer in your dog’s systems.
Conclusion
In this article, we discussed the various ways pumpkins can be beneficial to dogs. We explored the nutritional and digestive benefits of pumpkins for dogs. With all the benefits of pumpkins mentioned above, we hope you include this fruit in your dog’s diet to ensure that they are in optimal health.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the digestive benefits of pumpkin for dogs.
1. How much pumpkin can you give your dog?
The size of your dog can determine the amount for pumpkin they consume. It is recommended that dogs take about 4 to 6 tablespoons of pumpkins daily. However, it is advisable to speak to your vet before you include it in their meal.
2. Can I give my dog pumpkin every day?
Yes, you can give your dog pumpkin daily. You can give them pumpkin flesh to eat or pumpkin seed. However, it is unsafe to give them raw pumpkin. You should cook it before feeding it them. This is to avoid poisoning them with harmful bacteria.
3. What does pumpkin do for dog digestive health?
Pumpkin can help improve your dog digestive health. It can help with mild diarrhea, constipation, and urinary incontinence.
4. Does pumpkin help with constipation in dogs?
As a fruit rich in fiber, pumpkin can provide your dog with all they need to prevent constipation. It helps with hydration and can ease the passing of stool.
5. How long does it take for dogs to digest pumpkins?
When you feed your dog pumpkin, it can take about 10 hours before you start seeing the effect.
