The Benefits of Pumpkin for Your Dog or Cat
Looking to add a little oomph to your cat or dog’s diet? Pumpkin is a great source of nutrition and fiber to help keep digestion regular. Here’s how to add it to your pet’s diet!
The Nutritional Benefits of Pumpkin
Let’s get scientific and zoom in on the nutritional fine print that shows just how much pumpkin is good for dogs and cats! The nutritional powerhouses in pumpkin include:
Vitamin A
Beta carotene and other types of Vitamin A found in pumpkin are key for the health of your pet’s nerves and muscles! They also provide a major boost to skin and fur health.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an essential antioxidant that supports your pet’s immune system. Keep sneezes at bay and improve your pet’s long term health with a good dose of Vitamin C!
Vitamin E
Another key antioxidant, Vitamin E supports eye, muscle, and reproductive health. It’s especially important for aging pets as it helps to manage pain and inflammation!
Minerals
Pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamins AND minerals including calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and copper. These minerals support key body functions from bone development to cell health to red blood cell production.
Fiber
The big nutritional headliner of pumpkin is its high fiber content, which is what makes it so good for cat and dog digestive health. Fiber adds bulk to your pet’s digestive tract, helping to reduce diarrhea, constipation, and hairballs! On top of that, fiber acts as a prebiotic, adds valuable fatty acids, improves water absorption, and lowers the pH of the large intestine—all of which mean better digestion for your BFF.
Moisture
Canned pumpkin and especially fresh pumpkin for dogs and cats includes high water content, making it a great source of moisture for pets who could use a little extra hydration! Bountiful hydration is essential for overall body function and (you guessed it!) good digestion.
How to Add Pumpkin to Your Pet’s Diet
If you’re convinced of the benefits of pumpkin, how can you start feeding it to your dog or cat? There are some simple ways to add pumpkin to their diet!
The easiest way is to find an expertly formulated cat or dog food with pumpkin on the ingredient list! Pumpkin is a common ingredient in pet foods made for sensitive stomachs to aid in digestion.
Is your pet loving their current food? Whether you’re looking for a nutritional boost or adding pumpkin puree for your dog’s upset stomach, it’s easy to add a little pumpkin to their normal diet.
The simplest method is to mix a scoop of pumpkin puree into their meals. Picky eaters might dodge dollops or chunks of pumpkin, but incorporating it throughout their wet or dry food will help it blend in seamlessly. Better yet, most dogs are big fans of the naturally sweet flavor of pumpkin and it might actually make their meals more tempting!
You can buy pumpkin puree for dogs and cats at most grocery stores. Just be sure to look for plain canned pumpkin with no added salt, sugar, or spices. Don’t get pumpkin pie filling by mistake!
You can also find whole, organic pumpkins and make your own pumpkin puree for dogs with no recipe needed. Simply chop up and steam or bake your pumpkin until it’s tender, remove the peel, and blitz in a blender or food processor until it’s a smooth puree. (Added bonus: roasted pumpkin seeds are delicious for people and pets and can be a natural de-worming treatment for animals!)
Another great way to feed your pets pumpkin is with DIY pumpkin treats! You can freeze pumpkin puree in an ice cube tray for a convenient frozen snack on a hot summer day. If you’re looking to flex your chef skills, you can get a little fancier with these homemade pumpkin spice latte dog treats.
However you choose to add pumpkin to your pet’s diet, just make sure you’re feeding the right amount. You can give your dog pumpkin every day, but make sure that you’re feeding a proportional amount for their size! Cats and small dogs should receive a smaller amount of pumpkin than larger dogs.
A good guideline to follow is that at most 15% of your pet’s daily calories should come from added foods, while at least 85% should come from their staple diet. Find more details in our guide to adding fresh food to your pet’s meals!
Pumpkin makes a great addition to most dog and cat diets—and yours too. We love finding snacks we can share with our pets, and eating pumpkin together with your best friend is a win for both nutrition AND flavor!