Most dogs are quite food-oriented and love to be given some "people food" from time to time. We must be cautious when giving human foods to our dogs because they can cause gastrointestinal irritation or even be toxic. However, one human food with surprising health benefits for dogs is pumpkin.
Fiber: One of the key nutritional qualities of pumpkins is that it is rich in fiber (the material from plants that cannot be broken down by enzymes in the body). It can have up to five grams of fiber per ½ cup serving (122 gm) and is also rich in moisture. Some of the ways fiber is beneficial to dogs are as follows:
Consult with your veterinarian if your dog has diarrhea for longer than 24 hours or immediately if it is accompanied by any other signs of illness.
Pumpkin seeds:
Most dogs find pumpkin highly palatable.
At every step of the process of introducing pumpkin into your dog's diet, be mindful of the activity of the GI tract and the firmness and frequency of the stools.
It is often thought that more of a good thing is better. In this case, that isn't true. Too much pumpkin can result in destabilization of the GI tract. Pumpkin is a natural laxative. Remember to check with your veterinarian and err on the side of caution: start with less, and work up the amount as needed. Ensure that your dog always has plenty of fresh, clean water.
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