Did you know that pumpkin is awesome for a dog’s digestive system? It’s true! We’re not talking about feeding you pup a pumpkin pie (yum!), but there are ways of working this vegetable into your dog’s diet. The Great Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipe (our little ode to Peanuts and Snoopy) is a sweet and healthy treat that you can make at home. It’s pretty simple too, which we really appreciate (and we know you would as well) and since we had most of the ingredients kicking around the house, it didn’t cost us that much to make.
Why Pumpkin, Charlie Brown?
We continue to learn more about what keeps our dogs healthy and the key factors seem to be healthy guts. And what makes a dog’s gut healthy? Well, fiber, for one! High-quality, premium fiber can do wonders for your dog’s digestive system because it keeps food moving through the intestines at the appropriate speed for best nutrient absorption. Pumpkin is a great source of quality carbohydrates (not unnecessary sugars) and can give your dog the energy boosts he may need to keep his weight healthy too.
Pumpkin helps keep poop as it should be. Yes, there’s a way your dog’s poop should be as it comes out, and it doing so is a sign of good digestive and gut health. The fiber in pumpkin is responsible for this as it’s high in water content. This means that as it goes through your dog’s digestive tract, it adds bulk to your dog’s stool. This is what gives it that nice, swirly poop emoji shape and consistency, but fiber also keeps it going through at the right speed for fermentation to produce fatty acids to your dog’s system. And, at the end of the ride, poop encouraged to be the right consistency and firmness helps express your dog’s anal glands (so you don’t have to). Oh yes, pumpkin treats mean you may not have to get in and do that nasty work yourself.
Pumpkin is technically a fruit (it’s true) and the vitamins and minerals your dog will get from this round(ish) fruit are many. Pumpkins have lots of Vitamin E, Potassium, Iron and carotenoids. These carotenoids are especially great for your dog’s eye and skin health. Vitamin E fuels the immune system as an anti-inflammatory and it also keeps your dog’s heart functioning as it should. Iron is important for the hemoglobin production your dog needs for oxygenation and healthy blood flow and potassium means that your dog’s nerves and muscles will be in tip-top shape.
Convinced that pumpkin dog treats are now a must-have for your dog? We knew you would be. Conveniently, we’ve got this incredibly easy and delish dog treat recipe right here. You don’t have to wait until October to make this pumpkin treat – it’s great all year long!
The Great Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipe
Makes about 20 cookies
Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup of water
1/2 cup oats
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat or all-purpose flour
Directions:
If you tried The Great Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipe, we want to know how it turned out and how your dog liked them. Share pictures of your creation on our Facebook page or leave a comment below.
