Oh My Gourd – Understanding the Risks and Benefits of the Highly Underrated Pumpkin

It’s that time of year again. Before Bublé comes out of his cave and Mariah’s bank balance gets its annual influx, we find ourselves surrounded by candy, costumes, and a plethora of giant orange cucurbits.   

Carved into ghoulish jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween or baked into a delicious Thanksgiving pie, pumpkins have myriad uses, both decorative and delicious, and unlike many festive foods, they’re also something our dogs can enjoy.

Pumpkins Deserve More Recognition

A member of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), the pumpkin is a cultivated squash, technically a fruit, with both savory and sweet culinary applications. While some countries wouldn’t dare serve a roast dinner without a generous helping beside their potatoes, in the US, the nutritious pumpkin is usually relegated to seasonal decorations or the key ingredient in the eponymous pie.

There are more than 100 varieties of pumpkin with slightly different textures, flavors, and recipe applications. What they all have in common is that they are low in calories, high in antioxidants, rich in vitamins & minerals, and, when prepared correctly, safe for dogs to eat.

Not just safe, but beneficial.

The Power of Pumpkin

Compared with the potato, a vegetable commonly used in both human and canine recipes, the pumpkin is higher in fiber, much lower in carbohydrates, and is far more digestible. It is often included in diets for cats and dogs with digestive problems due to its beneficial impact on intestinal health and function.

Even the seeds of certain pumpkin varieties, when properly prepared, have been found to help eliminate intestinal parasites.¹

And the cherry atop this pumpkin pie? Most dogs find the taste of pumpkin irresistible.

Dogs Are Not Dustbins

Though there are certainly some dogs that challenge this notion, we shouldn’t use our dogs as an eco-friendly alternative waste disposal unit. While the occasional table scrap – provided the food is safe for dogs – is unlikely to cause any major catastrophes, offloading ex-display jack-o’-lanterns and leftover pie is not a good idea.

Yes, pumpkin is a safe and healthy food we can share with dogs, but there are some dos, don’ts, and precautions to be aware of.

• Feed pumpkin in moderation – it’s a healthy addition, not a complete meal.
• Offer bite-sized pieces of plain, gently cooked/boiled pumpkin.
• Raw pumpkin is not toxic, but it could cause choking, stomach pain, or intestinal obstruction.
• Pumpkin seeds are high in fat, so only offer a small amount – treat them like a treat.
• Pumpkin skin is tough and difficult to digest, so remove it before feeding the flesh to dogs.
• Fresh pumpkin is best; canned pumpkin is fine provided there are no additives.
• Pumpkin pie is packed with sugar, spices, pastry, and cream – this is NOT a safe or healthy way to add pumpkin to a dog’s diet. 
• Don’t offer mouldy old pumpkin that’s been sitting out on display for months. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t feed it to the dog.

Normalize Pumpkin

Pumpkin is a delicious, healthy, and nutritious food that deserves to be seen as more than just a Halloween decoration or pie ingredient. Dogs love the taste, and their digestive systems will thank you.

Featured Image Credit: Kasefoto, Shutterstock

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