Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds? Benefits of Pumpkin Seeds for Dogs

People nowadays feed their puppies with almost everything. But with every new item on the menu, you are rightfully asking “is that is safe for my dog”.

Today, the question is can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?

Of course, they can.

Even more, dogs should eat pumpkin seeds, as they help your dog get a good night sleep, clear their intestinal tract of worms, prevent stone formations, and much more.

With that in mind, we will look at the benefits of pumpkin seeds for dogs, how to feed your dog pumpkin seeds and a quick recipe for a treat.

Let’s go.

Nutrition value of pumpkin seeds

The nutritional value of pumpkin seeds is the same, no matter if you give them to your dog, or you consume them.

Here is what an ounce of peeled pumpkin seeds contains:

  • 126 calories
  • 1.7g of fiber
  • 5g of carbs
  • 7g of protein
  • 13g of fat
  • Vitamins and minerals like Vitamin K, manganese, iron, zinc, copper, phosphorus, and manganese

Benefits of pumpkin seeds for dog

Now that we answered the question can dogs eat pumpkin seeds, let’s take a look at all of the benefits they reap.

Digestive health

As you can see above, pumpkin seeds are very high in fiber, which helps with digestion, both in dogs and humans. For our furry friends, pumpkin seeds are one of the best sources of fiber.

Consuming them helps with constipation and diarrhea. You can even add a tablespoon or pureed pumpkin or melted pumpkin seeds to their regular meal to ensure regular bowel movement.

Pumpkin seed also helps with indigestion or upset stomach. Being that anything is edible for some dogs, they can eat toys from time to time.

Pumpkin seeds help them have regular digestion, despite eating anything they find.

Urinary health

Pumpkin seeds are also high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants. This combination improves the urinary health of your puppy.

In addition, they contain some vitamin A, which can reduce the likelihood of your pet developing cancer in his urinary tract.

Anti-inflammation

Another benefit of being rich in omega-3 fatty acids is that pumpkin seeds can alleviate inflammation. That makes the seeds crucial for fighting against conditions affecting aging dogs.

Those include arthritis, hip dysplasia, and elbow dysplasia. As your puppy gets older, he might experience joint pain due to inflammation. Pumpkin seeds are a natural way to ensure pain-free life, even at an older age.

Weight loss

Dogs love pumpkin, and if you want to help your puppy shed some pounds, look no further. Reduce the portion of their food, and replace it with the same amount of pureed pumpkin.

They will feel just as full and get a healthier alternative. Of course, this is not something you want to do for a prolonged period. Dogs do need their protein, so feeding them just pumpkin will not work.

Fight worms

Raw and organic pumpkin seeds can be used to treat a variety of parasitic and other ailments. They have been used to treat parasites since the colonists first came to the New World and discovered the benefits of the Native American crop.

Recently, herbalists have also discovered that these seeds can work as an effective deworming agent against tapeworms and other intestinal parasites in dogs.

Provide good fats

Pumpkin seeds have lipids, meaning they provide good fats for your dog and his body. Good fats are something humans crave for, but dogs as well.

Our body needs fat to survive, and they better be of the good quality, not bad quality. Pumpkin seeds are rich in beneficial monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, responsible for lowering bad cholesterol in dogs and humans.

How to feed your dog pumpkin seeds

What are the feeding directions for pumpkin seeds? We know that dogs can eat pumpkin seeds, but exactly how to feed them?

Should you give them raw, cooked, or canned pumpkin seeds? With that in mind, let’s talk about the feeding directions.

The good news is that pumpkin seeds can be fed whole as a treat to your dog. Just remember not to give him/her salted seeds from the grocery store.

Both raw and cooked pumpkin seeds are safe for dogs. The only difference is raw seeds have a shorter shelf life. With that in mind, here is also one treat you can prepare for your dog.

The ingredients include:

  • 2 cups of rice flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup of pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup of natural peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

The instructions are:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F
  2. Mix the ingredients, and put them in a blender. Blend until they are fully blended
  3. Spread the dough to ¼ inch thick and cut into desired cookie shapes
  4. Put into oven, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Let it cool before serving. Store them in the fridge for up to 7 days. After that, throw them away if your dogs haven’t eaten them

Precautions

Pumpkin seeds are generally considered safe for dogs. There are no direct side effects of giving pumpkin seeds to your dogs. However, there are a couple of things you have to keep in mind. There are also a few things you have to avoid when feeding your dog with pumpkin seeds.

Here is a quick breakdown:

  • Always avoid salt. Adding salt to the pumpkin seeds will carry health risks for your dog and his well-being. Salt means more sodium, and you want to avoid that
  • Roast pumpkin seeds before giving them to your puppy. Fresh and raw seeds can spoil quickly, while roasting extends their shelf life
  • Store the seeds in sealed packages. When they spoil, the seeds can become toxic for your dog

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