Fall is finally here, and with it comes all things pumpkin. We love a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, but did you know that pumpkin as an ingredient has great nutritional value for dogs? As a pet owner, one of your top priorities is making sure your dog is happy, healthy, and only eating food with ingredients that will help them stay active and energetic.
At Plato Pet Treats, we put ingredients first because your dog’s health comes first.
Understanding the ingredients and benefits of the food your pet is consuming is just one way to do this. Keep reading to learn how pumpkin can help your dog’s gut health, supports healthy digestion, and contains Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Is Pumpkin Good for Dogs?
Pumpkin is a great ingredient to incorporate into your dog’s diet. Packed with vitamins A, C, and E, as well as iron and potassium, it supports healthy digestion and can help with different conditions like acid reflux, constipation, anemia, and more.
Here are a few ways pumpkin can improve your dog’s health:
Pumpkin for acid reflux in dogs: Pumpkin is a high-fiber food. It absorbs liquid and prevents the displacement of stomach acid, which can help dogs that have acid reflux issues.
Pumpkin for dogs with constipation: Another benefit of the high amount of fiber in pumpkin is that it can help dogs with diarrhea or constipation. How much pumpkin you give your dog will depend on their breed and size, but generally a healthy adult dog needs between 2.5%-4.5% crude fiber to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Pumpkin for dogs with skin allergies: Pumpkin has nutrients like vitamin A and zinc, which can improve your dog’s skin and coat health. The moisture can help heal damaged skin and relieve problems like inflammation.
How to Give Pumpkin to Your Dog
What are the best ways to give pumpkin to your dog? Here are a few methods:
- Feed them healthy treats that contain pumpkin.
- Unsweetened pumpkin puree mixed into their wet or dry food (do not use pumpkin pie mix or pumpkin spice. Those can contain nutmeg, which is toxic to dogs.)
- Freeze the pumpkin puree and let your dog enjoy it like ice cream!
If your dog has a difficult time getting used to new foods or textures, try incorporating the pumpkin into their food a little bit at a time. Dogs generally love the taste of pumpkin, but if your dog is a picky eater, it could be helpful to ease them into it.
Best Pumpkin Treats for Dogs - Our Pick
Chicken Jerky with Pumpkin
Our newest release, Chicken Jerky with Pumpkin, is a delicious option for your dog. Here are some benefits:
- Single source meat protein which includes chicken hearts and livers as a healthy source of vitamins and minerals.
- Made with USA, antibiotic-free, cage-free chicken.
- Limited ingredients you can trust.
- No artificial flavors.
- Naturally preserved.
- Plato Pet Treats only uses pumpkin that is locally sourced less than 300 miles from our home base in Fresno, California!
Feeding your dog treats is a great way to reward good behavior and create special moments together. At Plato Pet Treats we want to make sure every treat adds nutrition and supports your dog’s health. Our Chicken Jerky with Pumpkin treats offer healthy proteins and high-quality ingredients so you can feel confident about the treats you are feeding your pet.
*EXTRA READING – Check out our blog, Featured Pumpkin Treats for Dogs
Plato Puts Ingredients First
At Plato Pet Treats, we want the best for our dogs too – so we use limited ingredients, take the time to air-dry, and closely inspect every ingredient that goes in and out of our doors at our facility in Fresno, CA. We love our pets and want to provide the best we can for them, and when we bless them in this way, they continue to bless us with a better quality of life and longer lifespan. This is a beautiful thing, and this is what we call the Cycle of Virtue.
