Dogs Eating Pumpkin Seeds: Safe, Dangerous, or Deadly?

Pumpkins are being sold everywhere this time of year, and making a homemade pumpkin pie from scratch can be inspiring. If you find yourself with extra seeds, you might wonder if you can just feed them to your dog. Dogs can eat pumpkin seeds, as they are not dangerous. They can have a long shelf life if you make them the right way.

This means that once you prepare them correctly, you can give them as treats throughout the day. While dogs can enjoy these, it’s always helpful to understand the risks of feeding dogs human food. You can find the best way to make seeds for your dog and all the benefits in this post. So grab your pumpkin carver, and let’s carve into this article. 

Benefits of Feeding Your Pup Pumpkin Seeds

The benefits of pumpkin seeds can help your dog’s fur and skin get healthier. Along with boosting the immune system of your dog, they can be easily added to your dog’s food as well. Aside from how easy it is to feed your dog, what else do they offer? Let’s see what your dog can gain from eating pumpkin seeds. 

Calcium

Calcium is a mineral that supports your dog’s growth, bone and tooth health, correct muscle development and function, heart health, and nervous system health. Since dogs (and people!) cannot generate this mineral naturally, they must get it from their diet. If fed commercial dog food, a healthy dog will consume the appropriate quantity of calcium. Your dog may require more calcium due to a few health conditions.

Fiber

Each serving contains fewer calories. And that can help you lose weight dramatically. Fiber grows when it takes up water, which makes a dog quit eating earlier. That’s because a full stomach in a dog denotes that it has satisfied its hunger. Dogs consume less energy and calories each meal due to feeling satiated sooner. According to a recent study, canines with a high-fiber diet lost more than five times as much fat mass as canines with a low-fiber diet. Attempting to achieve canine weight loss without adding dietary fiber only adds needless complexity to the procedure.

Iron

Your dog’s body needs iron to deliver oxygen in the hemoglobin of red blood cells throughout the body so that her cells can make energy, among other vital tasks. For a dog’s enzymes to operate normally, iron is also necessary. Anemia, or having fewer than normal red blood cells, can result from a dog’s iron deficiency. Iron oxide or iron carbonate are sometimes added to dog foods, but these are not the best options for your dog. It might be a terrific and simple alternative to include fresh foods with iron in them!

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are substances in the diet that assist the body fight off damage from free radicals. They are essential for maintaining your pet’s health. Vitamins C and E are examples of specific antioxidants. Various kinds of antioxidants are abundant in colorful fruits and vegetables. The correct antioxidant blend in a dog’s diet can positively impact health. A dog’s body may handle normal levels of free radicals, but if too many of them are present or there aren’t enough antioxidants to counteract them, your pet’s health may suffer.

Omega-3 

Omega-3 is touted as an anti-inflammatory that is good for dogs’ skin and coat and promotes mobility by easing the strain on their hurting, stiff joints. The benefits for dogs have been demonstrated through research to reduce inflammation and speed up wound healing, making them crucial for dogs that have sustained wounds. Your dog can develop a variety of degenerative disorders later in life. Inflammation is occasionally involved. When your dog’s immune system needs it the most, omega-3 may help naturally reduce some symptoms.

The Small Risks of Pumpkin Seeds

Are pumpkin seeds harmful to dogs under specific conditions? Not really, no. Giving pumpkin seeds to dogs has no adverse side effects in the immediate sense. When feeding them to your dog, remember a few things to avoid. Skip the salt. 

Dogs should only consume unseasoned pumpkin seeds; therefore, don’t add salt to them. Adding salt can put the dog’s health at risk, especially if there are problems with sodium levels in the body. Leave the seeds unseasoned. Cook them. Before giving pumpkin seeds to your dog, make sure to toast them. 

The shelf life of fresh, uncooked seeds is around a month; roasting the seeds increases that time. Pumpkin seeds must be kept in tight containers because they can rot. When they do, they become extremely dangerous. You can store cooked seeds for up to six months using sealed bags.

How to Feed Them Pumpkin Seeds

Tossing ground-up pumpkin seeds into your dog’s regular food is one of the simplest methods to get them into his or her diet. Always peel the seeds before you feed them to your dog. You can rinse off and dry the seeds before putting them in a food processor or grinder. If they are fresh ground and uncooked, they will go bad faster. 

Additionally, you must bake or roast the seeds before giving them to your dog. If you cook and then grind them, they will last up to six months in an air-tight container or bag. They shouldn’t have any seasoning added, including salt. 

Conclusion 

You can see from the benefits that pumpkin seeds can make a healthy addition to your dog’s daily diet. Along with healthy dog food, your pup will thank you for all the time and effort you put into making them healthy. Their fur will shine. 

Since calcium is found in the seeds, it can help boost the amount they regularly receive if a vet recommends increasing calcium in their diet. If your pup has joint problems, they may be relieved from some of the pain that comes with that. 

Looking at how great these are for dogs might encourage you to add them to your diet too! Please share this with other pup owners who are excited about carving pumpkins so their dogs get a boost too!

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