Current:Home > ContactIs pumpkin good for dogs? What to know about whether your pup can eat the vegetable -DollarDynamic
Is pumpkin good for dogs? What to know about whether your pup can eat the vegetable
View
Date:2025-04-17 04:16:56
Despite all the festive fun, Halloween can be a hectic time for families. As October comes to a close, many parents are trying to cram in costume prep, trick-or-treat planning and pumpkin carving into an already too-busy schedule.
And when you finally get the family to sit down and carve some pumpkins, things get even messier. Forget trying to corral everyone for a picture – you've got sticky pumpkin seeds and pulp to clean up off the floor!
But what if your dog gets to it first? Some human foods are safe for dogs (like carrots) while others, like chocolate, are toxic. Here’s what to know.
Can dogs eat pumpkin?
Yes! Pumpkin in its purest form is veterinarian-backed because it's a good source of fiber.
Try adding a tablespoon of canned pumpkin to your dog’s food twice a day if they have digestive issues, says veterinarian Diana Watkins, who owns 143 Veterinary Services in Massachusetts. It’s also rarely an allergen, so most dogs can tolerate it without problems.
“It is a pretty easy thing you can add to almost any dog’s diet if they’ve got a little bit of diarrhea just to see if it helps bulk up the stool,” she says.
Just make sure it’s regular canned pumpkin – not pumpkin pie filling, which has added sugar and other ingredients that may not be safe for dogs. Don't feed your dog whole chunks of pumpkin, which take longer to break down and can cause even more digestive issues, Watkins says.
Pet Halloween costumes 2024:Try these 6 cute, funny and spooky get-ups
Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?
Don’t worry if your dog has gotten into your stash of pumpkin seeds – they aren’t toxic, Watkins says. But that doesn’t mean they should eat them, either.
“(Dogs) don’t break down the shells in pumpkin seeds very well,” Watkins says. “They usually just pass through the GI tract undigested.”
This means the seeds may cause an upset stomach, constipation or diarrhea if your dog eats too many. But in moderation, there's no real cause for concern.
Are pumpkin seeds good for dogs?
Pumpkin seeds have no nutritional benefit for dogs, Watkins says.
There’s a myth that pumpkin seeds act as a natural dewormer for dogs with parasites, but Watkins says that’s not the case.
“It doesn’t actually work,” Watkins says. “If your pet has worms … you really just need to go to the vet and get a de-wormer.”
Can my dog eat that?Human foods that are safe (and toxic) for your pup
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Do dogs smile?" to "What is the hottest planet?" to "Can cats eat chocolate?" − we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
veryGood! (68)
Related
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Stock market today: Wall Street slips and breaks an 8-day winning streak
- Young mother killed in gunfire during brawl at Alabama apartment complex, authorities say
- Cardi B Shares Painful Effects of Pregnancy With Baby No. 3
- Warm inflation data keep S&P 500, Dow, Nasdaq under wraps before Fed meeting next week
- Here’s the schedule for the DNC’s third night in Chicago featuring Walz, Clinton and Amanda Gorman
- Throwing the book: Democrats enlarge a copy of the ‘Project 2025' blueprint as an anti-GOP prop
- Michael Strahan's Daughter Isabella Strahan Takes Major Life Step After Finishing Cancer Treatments
- Jorge Ramos reveals his final day with 'Noticiero Univision': 'It's been quite a ride'
- Who was the DJ at DNC? Meet DJ Cassidy, the 'music maestro' who led the roll call
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- Man shot by 2-year-old at Virginia home in what police call an accidental shooting
- James Taylor addresses scrapped performance at DNC 2024: 'Sorry to disappoint'
- 30 quotes about kindness to uplift and spread positivity
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Rapper NBA Youngboy to plead guilty to Louisiana gun charge
- Who Are Madonna's 6 Kids: A Guide to the Singer's Big Family
- Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Split: Look Back at Their Great Love Story
Recommendation
Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
Jennifer Lopez files to divorce Ben Affleck on second wedding anniversary
Montana asbestos clinic seeks to reverse $6M in fines, penalties over false claims
Chris Pratt's Stunt Double Tony McFarr's Cause of Death Revealed
What to watch: O Jolie night
Warner Bros. pledges massive Nevada expansion if lawmakers expand film tax credit
5 takeaways from Day 3 of the DNC
Utah lawsuit seeks state control over vast areas of federal land