Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs (+ Tasty Tart Recipe!)

November 26, 2020

Pumpkin puree (NOT pumpkin pie filling) is jam-packed full of delicious, healthy benefits for your dog. Not only is it low in calories for your chunky little monkey, but it also has loads of essential vitamins and minerals, including:

Vitamin A (beta-carotene)
Vitamin C
Iron
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Folate
Potassium

And that’s not all. Pumpkins pack even more of a punch for your pooch ...

Boosts Immune Health

When vitamins C, A and E combine with other antioxidants found in pumpkin, it may help to ward off certain cancers. That’s because antioxidants aid in the destruction of free radicals in your dog’s system.

Yours, too, btw!

And sure, some oxidants are normal in the immune system, but everything in moderation. Too many oxidants can be harmful to your furriend’s immune system. So go ahead, serve some pumpkin puree for an added boost.

Encourages Digestive Regularity

Food goes in one end, and … well ... you know what comes out the other end.

If your pup’s poop is too hard, it can be difficult to pass. It can also put pressure on his intestines. Fortunately, pumpkin is filled with fibre. And we all know what fibre is good for!

Pumpkin is an all-natural stool softener and it helps cure constipation.

What if my dog isn’t constipated. What if my dog has diarrhea?

Pumpkins are really good at solving the problem at hand. If constipation isn’t the issue, a little pumpkin can also help firm things up when your doggo has diarrhea.

Helps Manage Weight

We already mentioned that pumpkin is low-cal. That’s good for the waistline. And we talked about it being full of fibre, too. That makes him feel full. Satiating and slimming! Who knew?

Controls Parasites

Tapeworms and other nasty parasites can do a lot of damage to your dog’s digestive tract, causing unwanted weight loss, dry skin, lacklustre fur, and serious nutrient deficiency. Fortunately, pumpkin is rich with cucurbitacin, an amino acid that attacks and kills many dog parasites.

Hydrates

Hydration is particularly important for dogs who eat kibble. Dry dog food is just that -- dry. It lacks moisture, which can lead to chronic (albeit mild) dehydration.

You can lead your dog to water but you can’t make him drink.

What you can do is add pumpkin to his diet. It’s super high moisture content is an all-natural way to keep your pup healthy and hydrated.

It’s clear why pumpkin puree is such a regular staple in many puppy pantries. In fact, our very own Lindsay Saggu found this tasty pumpkin puree tart recipe we just had to share. The really cool thing about this recipe is that you can adjust one or two ingredients to make one batch for your doggo and one batch for yourself!

Give it a try then tell us how you liked it by dropping a comment below.

Pumpkin Puree Tarts for Dogs

We cut this recipe in half to make 6 tarts. For the full recipe, check out the Minimalist Baker!

Ingredients:

Filling:

1 ⅓ pumpkin puree
⅙ cup maple syrup
⅙ cup coconut milk
2 tsp olive or avocado oil
1 ¼ tsp arrowroot starch or cornstarch
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice OR ½ tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp each of nutmeg, cloves, and ginger
⅛ tsp sea salt

Crust:

1 cup flour
¼ tsp salt
⅓ cup coconut oil
1 ½ - 3 tbsp cold water