Pumpkin is a real superfood for dogs. It's packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C and E, as well as potassium and iron. It's also low in calories, rich in soluble fibre, and can help soothe your dog's digestive system if they're suffering from either diarrhea or constipation.
You can feed your dog fresh or tinned pumpkin. If you're feeding it fresh, it's important to avoid the pulp in the centre and the skin as these can cause stomach upsets. You can feed fresh pumpkin raw, but baking until it's soft first can make it more digestable. Tinned pumpkin is easier to feed than fresh pumpkin, and is more nutritious as it has less water content, but it's important to make sure it's plain and free from xylitol or any extra flavourings such as cinnamon or nutmeg which are toxic to dogs.
How much to feed:
As with anything new, it's best to introduce pumpkin slowly to your dog's diet to avoid any digestive upsets. Depending on the size of your dog, you can feed anywhere from 1-2 teaspoons for a small / medium dog, to 1-2 tablespoons for large / giant breeds. While pumpkin is packed with nutrients and minerals, too much pumpkin can cause problems as it's rich in fibre, and high levels of certain vitamins can become harmful.
If you're looking for a filler for your Kong or other enrichment toys, try mixing some pumpkin with water. It's a great topper for Lickimats, or you can pop some in the freezer to make pumpkin ice cubes to stuff your Kongs!