.png)
Did you know that pumpkins are an excellent source of fibre and nutrients for our dog's health?
During the autumn months, we have copious amounts of pumpkins lying around, yet whilst many folks will make a pumpkin pie or pop them in the composter, we like to make the most of their natural goodness for our dogs. Pumpkins are low in calories, whilst high in vitamins and minerals including Vitamin A, C, E, Calcium, Potassium, Magnesium, Folic Acid, Zinc and Iron to name but a few. All of these goodies offer a wealth of benefits to our dog's overall health.
Let's take a look at some of them...
Vitamin A is essential for eye health, something that we wanted to encourage having a German Shepherd with Pannus eye, an immune-mediated condition commonly seen in the breed. It's believed that Vitamin A keeps the corneas lubricated and helps to prevent bacterial infections of the eye. Vitamin A also promotes healthy skin and coat.
Vitamin C is well known for strengthening immune systems and luckily for dogs, their bodies are able to produce their own supply of vitamin C, however, an occasional boost can be hugely beneficial, especially during periods of stress or illness.
Potassium is vital for dogs health. It aids muscle, nerve and heart function.
Omega 3 fatty acids found in pumpkin seeds are anti-inflammatory, support healthy skin and coat and promote joint health.
Other benefits of Pumpkin include the prevention of urinary incontinence, aid in weight loss and prevention of cancers and heart disease.
Plus, on top of all that, there's another two reasons why we choose to have a readily available stash of pumpkin in the doggy freezer and cupboard...
Pumpkin seeds are a wonderful natural de-wormer and the flesh makes a fantastic 'go to' when your pooch is suffering with a dodgy belly.
As dog owners, we personally prefer a holistic approach to our dog's healthcare needs whenever possible and this includes worming.
Each year, we remove all the pumpkin seeds, which contain large amounts of the amino acid, Cucurbitin, which is toxic to many intestinal parasites and make pumpkin seed powder.
We then add a small quantity of the powder to the dogs food, as and when needed. It is an excellent way to eradicate worms from the intestinal tract as it paralyses the worms, loosening them from the lining of the intestines and expelling them from the body. We are also able to use the powder throughout the year as a preventative measure. Over the years, we have found pumpkin to be a safe and effective, natural addition to our dogs diet alongside other great homeopathic treatments for worms, such as apple cider vinegar, garlic and carrots.
Method for making Pumpkin Seed Powder:
Wash the seeds
Spread them out on a baking tray
Pop in the oven on a low heat for about twenty minutes to dry them out.
Allow them to cool
Grind them down to an almost powder consistency using a pestle and mortar.
Store the powder in air tight jars
As a side note, please remember that if you don't have time to do this and choose to buy pumpkin seeds, it's best to purchase organic and unsalted.
As a guideline, you can use pumpkin seeds in the following quantities:
Pumpkin seed powder as a preventative measure:
¼ teaspoon per 10lb of a dog's body weight, 2-3 times a week.
If you were trying to treat worms (something we haven't needed to do thankfully):
¼ teaspoon per 10lb of a dog's body weight, daily.
Finally, what I believe to be the most fascinating bonus of using pumpkin within our dogs diet is the ability to relieve both constipation and diarrhoea. Yep! That's right! If your dog is suffering with constipation, the high fibre content of pumpkin will get things moving in no time. Yet, if diarrhoea is the issue, then pumpkin is great at firming things up a little bit too. Either way, those unsettled, upset bellies can quite often be cured with a little bit of pumpkin.
Method for pureed pumpkin:
Cut the pumpkin in half or quarters
Place the pieces on a baking tray and place in the oven (200C / gas mark 6)
Bake pumpkin for 30 - 45 minutes (or until tender)
Scoop the flesh into a bowl and puree using a blender.
You can place the puree in ice cube trays or silicone moulds and pop in the freezer until frozen and then tip the frozen cubes into a freezer bag or container for easy storage back in the freezer and ready for future use.
As a guideline, you can use pureed pumpkin in the following quantities:
Pureed pumpkin = 1 teaspoon daily per 10lb of a dog's body weight
Can I use canned pumpkin?
Quite often we assume that fresh is best and a canned version is a mere convenient substitute. However, this is not the case, when it comes to pumpkin. Whilst fresh has a higher water content, which is great for hydration, canned pumpkin has a higher concentration of fibre and nutrients. So in my humble opinion, use what you have! Either way, your dog will reap the benefits!
REMEMBER: Always seek veterinary advice if your dog has any health issues before introducing new additions to their diet.
The Don Dog blog is very much a bona fide journal of our life with our dogs and a chance for us to share that with you. I spend hours reading and researching, in order to decide what I think is best for our dogs. However, each dog is different and will have their own needs, therefore, what is right for one, may not be right for another. Research and seek advice from as many sources as you possibly can- we all should learn and grow as a dog owner.
Comments