Pumpkins and Pumpkin seeds are considered a superfood for humans. This vegetable is known to have numerous health benefits for us. The pumpkin is also suitable for your pet dog as well. Full of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, this vegetable offers a mighty punch of nutritional value to your dog in cooked or pureed form. But what about pumpkin seeds? Are they suitable for the health of your pet?
Yes, dogs can safely eat pumpkin seeds in moderation. Pumpkin seeds are high in antioxidants and can improve a dog’s digestive system. Pumpkin seeds can be given in seed form, roasted or grounded up and sprinkled over their food.
Now that you know pumpkin seeds are safe for dogs to consume let’s delve into them a little deeper and understand how good they are and how best to serve them.
Pumpkin Seeds
The popularity of pumpkin seeds and pumpkin flesh as a snack or added to homemade treats for their dogs has increased incredibly among pet owners. As the name suggests, these are edible seeds that you can find inside a pumpkin. The seeds you find while carving a pumpkin are hard-shelled. However, you can discover shell-free Pumpkin seeds at grocery stores. These seeds contain many vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, which help you keep your dog in good health.
Nutritional Benefits
The Pumpkin seeds are full of fibre. That is why it improves the function of the digestive system of dogs, which, in turn, helps to initiate weight loss. It also provides better overall health for your dog.
The high magnesium content of the pumpkin seeds helps boost bone health in dogs. Besides that, magnesium also helps control blood pressure and sugar and reduces the risk of heart diseases in dogs.
Studies have shown that pumpkin seed helps reduce the risk of specific health issues like cancer and heart diseases.
Health Benefits
Urinary Health
The fatty acids and antioxidants present in pumpkin seeds help improve dogs’ urinary health. It also helps alleviate pain caused by urinary tract infections and prevent it. Regular consumption of pumpkin seeds can help older dogs suffering from overactive bladder disorders. Also, the seeds can help avoid kidney stone formation and even dislodging them.
Parasites
Pumpkin seed contains an amino acid named cucurbitacin. This amino acid is known as one of the most effective deworming agents. Cucurbitacin in pumpkin seeds paralyses the tapeworms and roundworms and effectively removes them from your dog’s intestine. That means regular Pumpkin seeds’ regular consumption helps the dogs get rid of worms and parasites.
Anti-inflammatory
As these seeds are high in Omega 3 fatty acids, they can reduce inflammatory pain significantly. That makes pumpkin seeds one of the best introductions that can help you fight age-related problems, like elbow, hip dysplasia, and arthritis in dogs.
Prostatic Hyperplasia
Many male dogs suffer from problems related to an enlarged prostate gland. Regular consumption of pumpkin seeds can help the dogs to fight this problem. Not only that, these seeds can reduce the discomfort of the dogs suffering from this issue.
Good Fats
Even though we tend to think fat is bad for health, good fats are an essential factor that helps us survive. The same thing is true for the dogs as well. The pumpkin seeds contain both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats enable the dogs to keep their blood cholesterol level lower.
High in Vitamins and Antioxidants.
Pumpkin seeds contain a wide range of antioxidants that helps to slow down the ageing process of your dog. The antioxidants help your pet fight inflammation, improve eye health, and prevent other diseases. Along with the antioxidants, pumpkin seeds also contain high vitamins and minerals, like vitamin A, C, magnesium, and zinc.
- Vitamin A improves the eye health of your dog.
- Vitamin C is known for its immunity-boosting benefits.
- Zinc in the Pumpkin seeds can help your dog maintain a healthy coat and skin.
- Magnesium supports the functions of the nervous system.
Best Served
Pumpkin seeds are best served plain roasted. Never add any salt, garlic, or oil, as these ingredients harm your dog’s health. You have to clean, peel and roast them before handing them to your pet.
It would help if you did not feed your dog raw pumpkin seeds because they quickly get rancid. On the other hand, you can store roasted Pumpkin seeds for a long time. You can add the roasted pumpkin seeds to several homemade dog food recipes, ensuring good health for your dog.
Provide pumpkin seeds to your dog depending on their preferences. You can roast the seeds and use them as treats or powder the roasted seeds and mix them into their daily dog food. You can also use freshly cut pumpkin seeds to feed your dog. Just make sure that the seeds you are offering have not gone rancid.
Also, you need to be careful about the type of pumpkin seeds you are feeding your dog. If you are getting packed seeds from the supermarket, check the ingredient list first. Only buy the seeds that do not contain any salt or other seasonings. When it comes to the health of your dogs, natural and organic seeds are the way to go.
How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
1. Remove the seeds from a pumpkin, and wash them thoroughly with water.
2. Place the seeds in an oven-safe dish or baking sheet evenly spread out. Do not drizzle oil or add any spices, herbs, or salt.
3. Bake at 165 degrees C for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown – flipping halfway through cooking
4. Enjoy! (Store in an airtight container!)
Portion Size
While there is no doubt that Pumpkin seeds are suitable for your dog, you should not go overboard with them. Even though the tiny seeds are packed with goodness, too much can lead to stomach upset. It can also lead to weight gain in your dogs.
| Size of Dog | Amount | How Often |
| Small/Med | Level Teaspoon | Daily |
| Large | Level Table Spoon | Daily |
Can I feed my dog pumpkin seeds daily?
Yes, you can feed pumpkin seeds daily to a dog. However, you must be within the recommended portion size. Like any food, too much of one thing will cause problems—a small teaspoon size for a small dog and a tablespoon size for a giant dog.
Can pumpkin seeds cause my dog to have diarrhoea?
Yes, too many consumed seeds can give your dog diarrhoea. This is because pumpkin seeds are rich in fibre. Only feed your dog the recommended amount—a small teaspoon size for a small dog and a tablespoon size for the larger dogs.
Recap
Pumpkin seeds are safe for dogs to consume, best served roasted or ground and sprinkled over their dinner. It is always a good idea to keep your veterinarian in the loop about the dietary choices you are making for your dog. It will help you stay ahead of any health problems that crop up.
