Pumpkin is a delicious and versatile food that people love to eat in fall and winter—and humans aren’t alone! Dogs love pumpkin as well, and there are lots of reasons to incorporate it into your pup’s diet year-round.
Pumpkin is a type of winter squash that’s chock-full of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that benefit health. Along with being nutritious and tasty, pumpkin can also help settle your dog’s stomach and help with weight management. If you’re thinking about giving your pup this festive orange fruit, let’s look at why dogs love pumpkin and how you can add it to their diet.
Revealed: Why Dogs Love Pumpkin!
It probably won’t come as much of a surprise, but the main reason dogs like pumpkin is because it tastes great! Whether on its own or baked into a dog-safe treat, pumpkin has a rich, earthy, mildly sweet flavor that’s yummy for tummies!
Beyond that, dogs also enjoy pumpkin because it’s satisfying. Pumpkins are 90% water and packed with fiber, so they’re a refreshing and filling treat when pups are thirsty or hungry. This is especially great for dogs on a diet—pumpkin can help control their appetite and help them manage their weight.
Finally, dogs feel good when they eat pumpkin. It’s loaded with nutrients that support their overall health, and the fiber can help with regularity, easing diarrhea, constipation, and upset stomachs.
Pumpkin Is a Nutritious Addition to a Dog’s Diet
Dogs love pumpkin, and it’s great for their health. It contains micronutrients like vitamins C and E, and it’s high in vitamin A. This supports the mucous barriers in the stomach, eyes, and lungs, parts of the innate immune system that protect your pup from pathogens. It also contains antioxidants for additional immune support.
Pumpkin can help with skin & coat health too thanks to the vitamin A, zinc, and the additional moisture it adds to your dog’s diet.
For minerals, pumpkin has iron for growth and energy, potassium for blood pressure regulation, and phosphorus & magnesium for healthy muscles. Finally, pumpkin has amino acids that help your dog’s body absorb all these great nutrients!
Ways to Add Pumpkin to Your Dog’s Diet
Pumpkin gives a nutrient boost, and it’s also good in a pinch if your dog has an upset tummy, constipation, or diarrhea. There are lots of ways to incorporate pumpkin into their diet, including:
- Top their kibble with pureed pumpkin
- Bake canned pumpkin into special dog treats
- Fill a Kong with pumpkin and freeze it
- Cook fresh pumpkin and mix a small amount into their food
Hip & Joint Support in a Delicious Pumpkin Treat
Dogs love pumpkin in all its forms, including when it’s used to flavor health-promoting supplements! If your pup needs extra hip & joint support, try PointPet® Hip & Joint – Peanut Butter & Pumpkin. Made with premium ingredients, it contains glucosamine, chondroitin, and MSM to help hips, joints, cartilage, and mobility. There’s no corn, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors: just delicious real food ingredients that dogs love—like pumpkin!
Animal Wellness is North America’s top natural health and lifestyle magazine for dogs and cats, with a readership of over one million every year. AW features articles by some of the most renowned experts in the pet industry, with topics ranging from diet and health related issues, to articles on training, fitness and emotional well being.
