9 Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs

Autumn is just around the corner, bringing with it a wave of pumpkin EVERYTHING. From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin pie, the options are endless. However, pumpkin season isn’t just for us! Adding pumpkin to your dog’s diet is not only a delicious treat but also a great source of nutrition. Check out these 9 surprising health benefits of pumpkin for dogs.

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When we think of the autumn season, there are a few things that will instantly come to mind…

Cozy sweaters, colourful leaves, Halloween, and, of course, the return of pumpkin spice to all our favourite stores and cafes.

The pumpkin spice craze is everywhere, including lattes, candles, baked goods, bath products, and more.

Love it or hate it, you can’t deny that pumpkin is king this time of year!

What many people fail to realize is that this seasonal favourite can also be considered a ‘power food’ when considering your dog’s nutritional needs.

Packed with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, this is a special treat that both you and Fido will go crazy for!

In fact, after reading this list of health benefits, you’ll want to include pumpkin in your dog’s diet on a regular basis.

Don’t believe me? Read on…

Check Out These 9 Surprising Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs:

#1 – Digestion

Pumpkin is high in fibre and moisture content, making it a great digestive aid.

For this reason, many veterinarians will recommend adding a small amount of pureed pumpkin (without added sugar or spice) to your dog’s food if they are experiencing an upset stomach.

This will work to promote regular bowel movements, helping to relive both constipation and diarrhea.

Simply add some pumpkin puree to your dog’s regular food, and you’ll be surprised how quickly it can start to make a difference!

NOTE: Diarrhea, constipation and upset stomach can be a sign of a bigger health problem.

If your dog continues to show signs of not feeling well after the introduction of pumpkin to their diet, contact your veterinarian to discuss the next steps.

#2 – Improved Immunity

Packed with vitamins A and C, pumpkin is a great solution to help boost your dog’s immune system.

There has been a lot of discussions recently about the importance of good health and improving our immune systems in order to keep ourselves safe from illness.

Our pups are also susceptible to a number of viruses that can make them sick!  

The best thing that we can do for them is to provide the necessary nutrition to optimize their immune system, helping them to stay happy and healthy.

#3 – Shiny, Healthy Coat

We’ve all seen those dogs with their beautiful, shiny coats, looking as though they have just returned from a pamper session with the local groomer.

However, many dog owners overlook the impact of diet on the condition of their dog’s coat.

Pumpkin is a great option to help promote healthier skin and coat.

This works by boosting your dog’s water intake with its high moisture levels as well as with key nutrients, including both zinc and vitamin A.

As an added bonus, improved skin and coat health will help decrease shedding, cutting back on the amount of hair all over your clothes and your home!

#4 – Slow Aging and Protect Your Dog’s Joints

This is an important benefit for those of us with older dogs at home.

While there is no magical solution to prevent aging (we all wish that there was), the vitamins in pumpkin will help slow the impact of aging on your dog’s overall health and well-being.

Antioxidants in pumpkin will fight free radicals in your dog’s body.

Free radicals are molecules that damage the DNA within your dog’s body by stealing electrons, leading to premature aging and disease.

Vitamins A and C will also work to protect your dog’s joints at a time in their lives when many are struggling with stiffness or the onset of arthritis.

Related: ‘10 Must-Have Products for Senior Dogs‘

#5 – Urinary Health

Pumpkin is a significant source of Omega 3 fatty acids, which have been associated with improved urinary health.

This is one of the lesser known health benefits of pumpkin worth discussing!

With both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, pumpkin helps to prevent urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence.

It can even help to dislodge kidney stones!

For these reasons, pumpkin and pumpkin seeds are often seen as a great solution for older dogs that are suffering from an overactive bladder.

#6 – Intestinal Parasites

Whether your dog has been drinking from a puddle of contaminated water or eating something they shouldn’t, you may find yourself faced with the reality of intestinal parasites or worms.

These unwanted guests can lead to:

• Dry Skin
• Weight Loss
• Diarrhea
• Upset Stomach
• Loss of Appetite
• Lethargy

Along with many other signs of nutritional deficiency.

This is unpleasant and uncomfortable for your dog and can have serious side effects if left untreated.

NOTE: You should NOT rely on pumpkin as a substitute for your dog’s usual worm preventative.

That being said, it can work as a natural wormer to help both prevent and expel unwelcome parasites.

This is due to the presence of a compound called cucurbitacin.

Using this in conjunction with the recommended medication from your veterinarian can help to improve the final outcome.

However, you should ALWAYS consult your vet before making changes or additions to their recommended course of treatment.

#7 – Improve and Protect Vision

Vitamin A and beta-carotene are known for their ability to promote better eye health in humans, but did you know that this is also true for your dog?

Not only can adding pumpkin to your dog’s diet help to improve their vision now, but it can also work to prevent eye degeneration including conditions like night blindness.

After all, we all want to do everything possible to prevent our furry family members from any unnecessary complications as they get older!

#8 – Improved Hydration

With many dogs today living on a dry kibble diet, it is important to ensure that we are area of the risks of dehydration.

Dog don’t naturally drink water at the rate that we do.

Instead, dogs in the wild receive a significant amount of hydration through the moisture content in the foods that they eat.

This isn’t to say that dry kibble doesn’t provide the nutrition that our dogs require, however, we need to ensure that those on a kibble diet are staying hydrated in another way.

One of the great, yet often overlooked, health benefits of pumpkin is that it can provide the additional moisture necessary to help provide their hydration needs.

This can be accomplished either by adding pumpkin puree to your dog’s food or making homemade dog treats with pumpkin!

Related: ‘Easy 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Dog Treats‘

#9 – Weight Management

One of the major health concerns facing many dog owners today is obesity.

Experts warn that an increasing number of dogs are considered overweight or obese in today’s society.

Obesity has been connected with many serious health-related problems including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, and respiratory disease.

For this reason, veterinarians around the globe are encouraging owners to take the steps necessary to manage their dog’s weight.

This includes both encouraging a higher level of physical activity as well as making changes to meet their nutritional needs.

Most dogs enjoy the taste of pumpkin, but it is also low-calorie and low-fat. Being high in fibre and moisture, it will also help your dog to feel fuller longer.

Adding a little pumpkin to your dog’s food will add that special ‘treat’ while also helping him/her to lose excess weight.

For those dogs that are not overweight, pumpkin is a great option to help maintain a healthy weight.

How to Add Pumpkin to Your Dog’s Diet

There are many ways that you can look at adding pumpkin to your dog’s diet.

As mentioned above, you can simply add the canned puree to their current food, such as mixing it into a dog’s dry kibble.

If you do choose to go this route, be careful to select a puree that is free from added sugars and spices as these may upset their stomach.

There are, however, other options available!

You can purchase commercially made pumpkin-based treats such as the limited ingredient Pumpkin Pie treats from Northern Biscuit Bakery.

This is a Canadian company that we swear by in our household.

If you are unable to find a pumpkin-based treat that fits your dog’s nutritional needs or food-related restrictions (or if you enjoy baking) you can make your own treats at home.

Check out this recipe for Pumpkin Butter Oatmeal Dog Cookies!

Baking for your dogs is a great way to control what they are eating while also having fun!

Did you know that there were so many health benefits of pumpkin for dogs to consider?

Do you include pumpkin in your dog’s diet?

If you have any preferred products or recipes, we’d love to know! Feel free to share them with our pet-loving community in the comments!