Can too much pumpkin be toxic to dogs

Too Much Pumpkin For Dogs?

I think that you can feed your dog too much pumpkin in two main ways.

Firstly, you can feed them too much pumpkin in one day.

Secondly a dog can eat too much pumpkin when that is the only vegetable that is added to their food day after day and week after week.

I would recommend that the amount of pumpkin that a dog should get given on any given day, should equal no more than 10% of their total food intake.

And feed it to them for no more than a couple of weeks at a time before moving adding another vegetable into their diet.

Pumpkin is a phenomenal fruit which provides a real boost to your dogs health- as long as you dont overdo it!

Why is pumpkin good for dogs?

In this section I want to highlight all the ways that pumpkin is good for your dog.

And to help with this, I have created a chart comparing the nutrition of fresh raw pumpkin and canned pumpkin

When looking at all of these numbers that give us an overview of how healthy a pumpkin might be, none of them are bad.

They all show how healthy pumpkin is.

It is low in calories, low in fat, carbohydrates and sugar- but very high in water content!

What always surprises me is that there is such a big difference between the amount of fibre in canned pumpkin as against fresh pumpkin (2.9% vs .5%)

Why might too much pumpkin might be bad for your dog?

Now in this section, Im going to surprise you.

And it is not just by stating that too much pumpkin might be bad for your dog.

It is by stating that too much pumpkin might be bad for your dog because they might have an overdose of vitamin A.

You dont believe me, eh?

Well check out the chart below.

The chart shows the main vitamins that are present in fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin.

All I want us to focus on is vitamin A and beta carotene.

The daily value column shows the amount of vitamins that a dog should get per 100 g of food that they eat.

And it can be seen that as far as vitamin A is concerned, it should be 333 IU.

Dont worry too much what an IU is- it is a unit of measurement.

What you should notice is that the concentration of vitamin A in fresh pumpkin is seventeen times the daily value (500 vs 8513.)

But that canned pumpkin has thirty one times the recommended dose (500 vs 15563.)

Now vitamin A plays an important role in a dogs body- most of its energy is spent on maintaining healthy eyesight.

Vitamin A poisoning

But there is too much of a good thing as far as vitamin A is concerned.

There is a condition called vitamin A toxicity, which is when a dog is poisoned by ingesting too much vitamin A.

Most of the cases that I have read about (such as here and here) involve dogs who have eaten too much fish oil or too much liver, such as raw chicken liver.

I cant find any reports of poisoning related to a dog who has eaten too much pumpkin!

And the amount of vitamin A that a dog would need to consume in order to be poisoned is incredible- even by a pumpkins standard.

Vitamin A becomes dangerous for a dog when they are consuming concentrations of it in excess of 333,000 IU/ kg (33,300 IU/ kg.)

This is more than double the concentration of vitamin A contained in a can of pumpkin.

It is just to make you aware that pumpkin contains vast amounts of vitamin A and that is something to take into account when calculating how much to feed them.

Should I feed my dog raw or cooked pumpkin?

Before I go on to discuss the ideal portion size of pumpkin to feed your dog, I want to explore this vexed question in a bit more detail.

This is because it seems to be a question that lots of people are asking.

Lets take a look at a comparison chart between raw and cooked.

And youre right if you are thinking that I could have just added the data for the cooked pumpkin onto my first chart.

But that would have made the chart harder to read on a small screen such as your smartphone

Cooked pumpkin has fewer calories, less carbs and less sugar.

But it has about double the fibre.

Now, lets quickly switch to the vitamins.

Cooking pumpkin reduces the amount of vitamin A by about a third (8513 vs 5755 IU) and beta carotene by the same amount (3100 mcg vs 2096 mcg).

Should you feed your dog raw or cooked pumpkin?

If I had to choose between the two forms of pumpkin, I would opt for cooked pumpkin- mostly because it has a reduced level of vitamin A in it.

Having analysed lots of information relating to nutrition it is now time to scratch our heads and work out how much pumpkin we should feed our dogs and how often?

Can I give my dog pumpkin everyday?

I think that concerned dog owners want an answer to this question after Halloween and Thanksgiving has left their house with an excess of pumpkin.

And like many leftovers, one of the first things that we think of is feeding them to our dog!

There will be no long term harm to your dog by feeding them lots of pumpkin everyday over a few weeks or a month.

As long as you arent feeding them large amounts everyday.

And a good way to work out how much to feed your dog everyday is to calculate how much food they eat (in grams or kilograms) and feed your dog 10% of that amount each day.

So for my dogs who are eating 500g of food per day, the maximum amount of pumpkin that I would feed them is 50 g.

But after a month, I would call it quits.

Move on to another vegetable if I were you or dont.

But just make sure that you dont give your dog any more pumpkin!

How does pumpkin help with diarrhea?

Pumpkin is a very popular home remedy for curing diarrhea.

It helps your dogs stomach recover in several ways.

You will have far greater success with canned pumpkin rather than fresh pumpkin.

And that is because canned pumpkin contains six times more fibre- which is the first way that pumpkin cures diarrhea.

Fibre helps to bind the contents of the stomach together.

Secondly, pumpkin by its very nature is very simple and bland- like many fruits and vegetables.

The next important quality that pumpkin has is that it is a rich source of vitamins and minerals, replacing those that the diarrhea flushed out of the system.

And, I think that another important diarrhea fighting quality that pumpkin has going for it, is that it is around 90% water.

Diarrhea robs the body of water and a portion of pumpkin helps to replenish it!

How much pumpkin should I feed my dog with diarrhea?

I would follow the same guidelines as I have outlined above.

Feed your dog the equivalent of 10% of their daily amount of food in pumpkin.

Now, whether you feed the pumpkin with a bit of their main food or just on its own depends on how severe the diarrhea is.

Remember if the diarrhea continues for more than a day you need to see a vet because of the risk of dehydration.

How fast does pumpkin work for dog diarrhea?

In most cases of diarrhea, pumpkin should have a soothing effect within eight to twelve hours.

You are not looking for a miracle cure but you are looking for real improvement.

Hopefully the poop will be more solid and the number of times that your dog will need to poop will drastically reduce.

But if you want to find out more, read this.

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin?

NOTE: Always check with your veterinarian before giving your dog any new foods, especially people foods. What might be okay for one dog might not be good for your dog, depending on their age, health history, health condition, and diet. Dogs on prescription diets should not be fed any food or treats outside the diet.

Pumpkin is an especially healthy treat for dogs to eat. In fact, vets will often recommend adding a little pumpkin into your dogs diet to help things flow properly if your pup has some mild constipation or diarrhea. But there are some specifics to keep in mind when feeding pumpkin to your dog in a healthy, safe way.

Is Pumpkin Good for Dogs?

Feeding pumpkin to your dog is a great way to help with both mild constipation and mild diarrhea because of its high fiber content. However, if your dog is suffering from severe constipation or diarrhea, you should take them to your veterinarian right away. These could be signs of a more serious underlying health issue.

In addition to promoting good bowel movements, a high-fiber diet will bulk up your dogs bowels, which helps them express their anal glands naturally. This can help them avoid anal gland issues in the future.

In addition to fiber, pumpkin is filled with other great nutrients, like:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Potassium
• Iron

What type of pumpkins can dogs eat?

There are numerous types of pumpkinssome are specifically used for baking, while others are best for carving because of their size, shape, and color. But both categories of pumpkin are full of fiber and healthy nutrients that your pup can benefit from.

While dogs can eat raw pumpkin, it might be harder to digest and can become a choking hazard. The rind is also a choking hazard and may cause an intestinal blockage.

You can feed cooked or canned pumpkin to your dogif its 100% pumpkin with no added ingredients. Make sure you dont accidentally grab the canned pumpkin pie filling. That contains sugar, which isnt healthy for your pup, and usually nutmeg, which is toxic to dogs. The filling may even contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.

Can a Dog Eat Pumpkin Seeds?

Pumpkin seeds are safe and nutritious for your dog to eatwith or without the shells. This includes pepitasa type of pumpkin seed found in certain types of pumpkin. The seeds contain zinc, magnesium, and copper.

Be careful to watch your pup as they eat the seeds, in case they become a choking hazardespecially in small dogs.

The safest way to feed pumpkin seeds to your pup is by roasting them in your oven, then grinding them up. This way, you can sprinkle them over your dogs usual food without worrying about any possible choking.

Is Pumpkin Good for Dog Diarrhea and Anal Glands?

Yes, the fiber in pumpkin is great for your dogs digestive health. It helps with mild diarrhea, supports weight management, and helps support healthy anal glands.

However, if your dog is suffering from anal gland problems or severe diarrhea, see your veterinarian right away instead of trying to give them pumpkin.

Is Pumpkin Good for Constipated Dogs?

Yes, the fiber in pumpkin is also great for helping dogs with mild constipation have regular bowel movements. The fiber helps bulk up their stools, which make them pass more easily. But remembermoderation is key. Too much pumpkin can cause diarrhea.

If your dog is having severe constipation, contact your veterinarian right away.

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Pie?

Pumpkin pie is not a healthy or safe treat for your dog. Not only does it contain way too much sugar and salt for your pup, but it may also contain nutmeg and xylitol, which are both toxic to dogs.

If your dog accidentally eats some pumpkin pie, contact your veterinarian.

How Much Pumpkin Can Dogs Eat?

Even though pumpkin is a very nutritious treat, in general, treats should only make up 10% of your dogs daily diet, and the other 90% should come from a well-balanced dog food diet.

For general guidelines on the safe amounts of pumpkin to feed your dog, check out the list below.

• Extra-small dog (2-20 lbs.) = 2-3 teaspoons of pumpkin (Examples: Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Pomeranians, Pugs, Shih Tzus)
• Small dog (21-30 lbs.) = 1-2 tablespoons of pumpkin (Examples: Basenjis, Beagles, Miniature Australian Shepherds)
• Medium dog (31-50 lbs.) = 2-3 tablespoons of pumpkin (Examples: Basset Hounds, Border Collies, Australian Cattle Dogs, Siberian Huskies)
• Large dog (51-90 lbs.) = 4-5 tablespoons of pumpkin (Examples: Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds)
• Extra-large dog (91+ lbs.) = cup of pumpkin (Examples: Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, St. Bernards, Great Pyrenees)

What if My Dog Eats Too Much Pumpkin?

Although pumpkin is healthy for your dog, too much can cause some diarrhea.

How to Safely Feed Your Dog Pumpkin

Pumpkin is one of the many safe human foods your dog can eat. Here are a few simple ways to feed pumpkin to your dog.

By the spoonful

The easiest way to feed pumpkin to your dog is straight from the spoon. They will love the taste and lick it right up.

Pumpkin food topper

Put that spoonful right on top of your dogs food or mix it in to use it as a food topper.

Pumpkin seed food topper

Roast some pumpkin seeds in your oven. Then grind them up into a powder and sprinkle them over your dogs food.

Stuffed in a KONG

Stuff pumpkin into your dogs KONG toy by itself, or mix it with other dog-safe fruits like banana and peanut butter. Freeze it overnight for a tasty treat.

Frozen pumpkin popsicles

Use the same mixture above of pumpkin, banana, and peanut butteror just pumpkin aloneand put it into a popsicle tray or ice cube tray. Freeze it overnight and watch your dog go crazy licking it up!

Pumpkin spice latte

You could go all out and mix up a dog-safe pumpkin spice latte thats made with canned pumpkin, yogurt, and chicken broth.

Featured Image: iStockPhoto.com/GoDogPhoto