The previous owner of my retired show dog advised me to buy some canned pumpkin, in case Tina ever had an upset stomach. I had never heard of that before. I trusted her, so I went to Kroger and bought some canned pumpkin for just in case. Her wisdom proved to be true. When Tina was vomiting, I gave her a bit of pumpkin and it seemed to sooth her stomach. I am a believer in using pumpkin within the guidelines listed below of how much pumpkin to give a dog. Still the question remains. Why does feeding a dog pumpkin, when they have an upset stomach work? This post is about that subject.
What are the ingredients in Pumpkin that helps a dog’s stomach?
First, we have to ask what is in pumpkin that makes it so good. Pumpkin is good for a dog’s upset stomach because of its fiber content. The fiber also seems to sooth their upset stomachs. If you did not know this, a dog’s immune system is primarily in their gut. You want to have good bacteria in their gut to help them with digestion. Canned pumpkin that you get at the grocery store, not the kind for pies, but regular, canned pumpkin has many nutrious ingredients that will help your dog’s digestion in many ways.
Secondly, according to what I have read, pumpkin is high in Vitamins E, A, C and also has antioxidants. To get technical, according to www.study.com, antioxidants are defined as vitamins and elements that remove potentially damaging agents from the body. Dogs’ bodies, like us humans, are “in a constant battle against infection, diseases, and the formation of free radicals. They counteract the damage caused by free radicals and help protect your healthy cells.” Enough of the scientific research on free radicals. You get the picture. Pumpkin has good stuff in it to help your dog’s immune system which is located primarily in their gut.
How much pumpkin should I feed my dog, and how often?
According to research, one tea spoon, per 10 pounds of dog. I have a large dog, weighing 87 pounds. I could give her 8 tea spoons, but when I give her pumpkin, I only give her about two tablespoons. She does not need more than that. And, I don’t give her pumpkin that often. I guess I don’t think about it as a part of her regular meal. I think of using pumpkin as a back up to when and if she is sick, kind of like homemade chicken soup. Both seem to cure what ills you.
Too much pumpkin can make a dog toxic.
If you give a dog too much pumpkin, you could make them sick and toxic. Leesville Animal Hospital, in a web article called “Can My Dog Eat Pumpkin?,” states that one reason why you should limit your dog’s intake of pumpkin is because pumpkin has a lot of vitamin A. Too much Vitamin A accumulating in the liver can cause vitamin A toxicity. Just remember this when you are giving your dog canned pumpkin. Err on the conservative side and don’t give them too much. Some possible warning signs for Vitamin A toxicity are appetite loss, lethargy, stiffness, weakness, limping, bone spurs, and weight loss.
I just wanted to point out these symptoms so that you don’t go hog wild in feeding your dog too much canned pumpkin.
Too much of a good thing is not good for your dog. I keep pumpkin on hand so that when she has an upset stomach, which is not often, I can give her this natural remedy and possibly avoid a trip to the vet, if her stomach settles down. When I give Tina pumpkin, I give it to her just once a day, when needed.
What are other Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs?
A lot of the following information come from Ashley Davidson, in her post, “Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin? Everything You Need to Know.” Here are the takeaways or highlights.
- Pumpkin can be an effective remedy for both diarrhea and constipation. Its natural fiber can soothe the gut.
- Pumpkin can help prevent anal gland irritation. Nobody wants that. Save yourself a trip to the vet on this one.
- Adding a little pumpkin to your dog’s diet can also help your dog maintain a healthy weight. You know it is tempting to over feed your dog, just like we over feed ourselves, thinking that since it must be good food, more is better. Dogs, like humans need to monitor or be aware of how much caloric intake we are taking. Adding a bit of pumpkin gives that extra love that you want to give your dog. It’s like that little extra that is nice to have.
- When you give your dog small amounts of pumpkin, use the canned pumpkin only. Do not use the one to make a pie or give them any raw pumpkin. Only from a can like below.
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Conclusion
Who knew, that a canned pumpkin, like above, could come in handy and help you out with a sick dog? I never heard of it before Tina’s previous owner, who knows dogs extremely well, told me. We love our dogs and have to be prepared to take care of them when they get sick. And you know what? Your dog, if it gets sick, might get sick in the middle of the night when your normal vet is closed. You don’t want to have to pay a large vet bill for an Emergency Vet Clinic, do you? I would invest in a few cans of 100% pure canned pumpkin, and just keep them in the back of the pantry for that emergency. Or, you could buy enough to give your dog a small sample once a day, or once every other couple of days, just to mix things up. I know your dog will like the treat. After all, we all like pumpkin ourselves. Get a few cans today, if you don’t have any. You’ll be glad that you did. Thank you.