Pumpkin, Spice and All Things Nice

Pumpkin isn’t just delicious — it’s seriously nutritious.

Packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, this autumn favourite brings a whole host of benefits to your dog’s bowl. Here’s why pumpkin deserves a place in your pup’s diet all year round.

Pumpkin Flesh Benefits

• Rich in vitamins and minerals: Pumpkin is bursting with nutrients that support immune health, brain function, eye health and skin condition.

• Great source of fibre: Whether your dog’s stools are loose or too firm, pumpkin helps regulate digestion and promotes healthy anal gland function.

• Powerful antioxidants: These help protect the body from oxidative stress and free radical damage that can harm cells over time.

• Natural prebiotic: Pumpkin feeds the beneficial bacteria in your dog’s gut, helping to balance and maintain a healthy microbiome.

Did you know that pure canned pumpkin actually contains more fibre than fresh pumpkin, as fresh pumpkins have a higher water content? If you are using pumpkin to help with digestive issues, canned puree is your best option.

Pumpkin Seed Benefits

Don’t toss the seeds. They are just as valuable as the flesh and offer unique benefits of their own.

• Supports urinary health: The natural oils in pumpkin seeds can help reduce incontinence.

• Natural parasite control: The amino acid cucurbitacin in the seeds can help expel worms by paralyzing them so they detach from the intestinal wall.

• Kidney health: May help dislodge kidney stones and reduce the risk of new ones forming.

• Digestive aid: High fibre supports gut regularity.

• Bone and muscle support: Naturally high in calcium.

Feeding Pumpkin

As with all foods, moderation is key. Too much pumpkin can upset your dog’s stomach or interfere with nutrient balance.

Preparing Pumpkin Flesh

You can feed pumpkin lightly steamed and blitzed or roasted, as both methods make the nutrients more bioavailable by breaking down the cell walls.

• Steaming: Remove skin and seeds, chop, steam until soft, and blitz.

• Roasting: Halve the pumpkin, scoop out the seeds, roast until tender, then scoop out the flesh and discard the skin.

Keep the seeds, dry them off and use them as a healthy snack or part of a layered natural worm prevention routine. You can feed them raw, air-dried, dehydrated or oven-roasted.

If preparing fresh seeds, remember they still have their shells, whereas store-bought seeds are hulled. Both work just as well, although they will look a little different. You can peel the shells if you prefer.

Flesh feeding guide:

2 teaspoons per 10 kilograms of body weight.

Preparing Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds make a nutritious snack, but if given whole, they will likely pass through undigested. Chop or grind them to unlock their benefits.

If using as part of a natural worm prevention plan:

• Grind seeds to release cucurbitacin, which paralyzes worms for expulsion.

• Grind enough for a week at a time and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

• Avoid pre-ground seeds, as they are prone to aflatoxins and mould, and the cucurbitacin loses potency over time.

Seed feeding guide:

Half a teaspoon per 10 kilograms of body weight.

Try pairing pumpkin seeds with furry chews for a powerful natural worm prevention combination.

Pumpkin Treat Recipes

Get creative in the kitchen with these tasty, nutrient-packed recipes that are perfect for autumn or any time of year.

Pumpkin Spice Bites

Ingredients:

• 100 g roasted plain almonds

• 1 cup pumpkin flesh

• 1/3 cup hemp hearts

• 2 teaspoons Ceylon cinnamon

• 1 tablespoon raw honey

Method:

1. Blitz almonds into a coarse flour.

2. Add cinnamon and hemp hearts, then mix.

3. Stir in pumpkin flesh and honey.

4. Roll into bite-sized balls and place on non-stick paper.

5. Refrigerate for a few hours until firm, then store in an airtight container for up to five days or freeze for up to six months.

If your pup is under one year old, replace honey with half a ripe banana.

Pumpkin Nut Bites

Ingredients:

• 100 g roasted plain hazelnuts

• 1 cup pumpkin flesh

• 1/2 cup sesame seeds, raw or toasted

• 1/2 apple, no seeds

Method:

1. Blitz hazelnuts into a coarse flour.

2. Add grated apple and blend again.

3. Stir in pumpkin flesh and sesame seeds.

4. Roll into small balls and refrigerate until firm.

5. Store in an airtight container for up to five days or freeze for up to six months.

Important:

Pumpkin flesh is high in histamine, so it may worsen symptoms in itchy or allergy-prone dogs. Avoid or use sparingly in these cases.

© Kayleigh Adams, written for NO BULL Just Natural Health for Dogs.