In autumn there is pumpkin in every kitchen, and the dog is usually sitting right next to you, staring at the chopping board. Can dogs eat pumpkin? Yes: most dogs can eat culinary pumpkin in small amounts, ideally cooked and unseasoned. Ornamental pumpkins, pumpkin soup and the Halloween pumpkin, on the other hand, should not end up in their bowl. Here we explain which varieties are suitable, how to prepare it and how much to give.
Can dogs eat pumpkin? The right varieties
- Butternut squash: the easiest one to find in Spain. It is sweet, smooth and easy to peel.
- Large roasting pumpkin: the big, hard-skinned one that is sold in pieces. Once cooked, it turns very soft.
- Hokkaido pumpkin: more and more common in supermarkets. We can eat the skin, but it is better to give it to your dog peeled, because the skin is harder for them to digest.
- Spaghetti squash: cooked and in small amounts, it works too.
Always remove the stalk and the stringy fibres inside. We cover the seeds further down.
Ornamental pumpkins: no bitter pumpkins
Ornamental pumpkins look lovely in the hallway, but they are not for eating. They can contain cucurbitacins, bitter substances that, even in small amounts, can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in both people and dogs. Put them somewhere your dog cannot reach.
It is less common, but an edible pumpkin from your own vegetable patch can also turn out bitter, especially if it was grown from seeds saved from pumpkins that cross-pollinated with ornamental ones. Before cooking it, taste a tiny piece raw. If it is bitter, spit it out and throw the whole pumpkin away: it is not for the dog, and not for you either.
What your dog should not eat
- Pumpkin soup and roasted vegetables: they almost always contain onion or garlic, and both are toxic to dogs. Plus salt, spices and cream.
- Pumpkin cake and sweet treats: sugar, nutmeg and other spices are not for dogs. Watch out for sugar-free baking: xylitol is very dangerous for them.
- The carved Halloween pumpkin: it spends days outdoors, goes mouldy quickly and often has candle wax residue on it. Mould can be dangerous for dogs.
- Ready-made pumpkin purée: only if it is just pumpkin, with no sugar, salt or spices.
How to prepare pumpkin for your dog
- Wash the pumpkin, cut it open and scoop out the seeds and fibres with a spoon.
- Peel it and cut it into small cubes.
- Steam it or cook it in very little water for 10 to 15 minutes, until soft. No salt, no oil and no spices.
- Let it cool and mash it with a fork.
- Freeze whatever is left over in an ice cube tray, in small portions, so you always have some to hand.
Raw pumpkin is not toxic, but it is hard and many dogs find it more difficult to digest. If you give it raw, grate it very finely.
How much pumpkin can a dog eat?
Pumpkin is a supplement; it does not replace a balanced diet. As a general rule, treats and extras together should not make up more than 10% of the day's calories. As a guide, per day:
- Small dogs: one or two teaspoons of purée.
- Medium dogs: one or two tablespoons.
- Large dogs: two or three tablespoons.
The first time, start with less and see how it agrees with them. Pumpkin is high in fibre, so too much can soften their stools or give them wind. If your dog has a medical condition or eats a veterinary diet, check with your vet first. And if they have diarrhoea or constipation that lasts more than a day, take them to the vet instead of trying home remedies.
What about pumpkin seeds?
Pumpkin seeds without salt or seasoning are not toxic. Whole, however, they are hard to digest and often come out exactly as they went in. If you give them, make sure they are ground and give only a very small amount: a pinch over their food. Packaged seeds, salted or spiced: never.
Ideas for giving it as a treat
- On top of their food: a teaspoon or a tablespoon of purée, depending on their size, over their usual portion.
- For slow licking: spread a thin layer of purée in a slow feeder. It will take them longer to eat and keep them busy for a while. Our silicone slow feeder with bowl and 5 zones works well for this.
- Cold treat: a cube of frozen purée, slightly thawed, after the walk.
- Homemade biscuits: mix pumpkin purée with an egg and rolled oats until you have a dough you can shape, form small biscuits and bake them at 180 °C for about 20 minutes.
On autumn walks there are also chestnuts everywhere: find out why horse chestnuts are dangerous for dogs.
In short
Cooked culinary pumpkin, unseasoned and in small amounts: yes. Ornamental pumpkin, bitter pumpkin, pumpkin soup, sweet treats and a mouldy Halloween pumpkin: no. That way your dog can enjoy pumpkin season too.