Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds and Raw Pumpkin? (2024)

what to expect

Feeding pumpkin seeds to your dog

Answering the most frequently asked questions from our customers, here’s everything you need to know about dogs eating pumpkin seeds.

Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?

Yes, your dog can eat pumpkin seeds as an occasional treat. So, there’s no need to panic if your dog sneakily eats one or two while you’re preparing your Halloween pumpkin or scoping out the flesh to make pumpkin pie. However, pumpkin seeds are hard, and dogs’ digestive systems aren’t set up to digest seeds, so feeding too many may upset their stomach.

If you want to give your dog pumpkin seeds, make sure they are roasted first and sliced into manageable sizes/ ground into a powder so it’s easier to digest.

Are pumpkin seeds good for dogs?

Pumpkin seeds are full of vitamins and minerals that have nutritional value to dogs. For instance:

• Fibre: Great for digestion, maintaining a healthy weight, and calming upset stomachs
• Vitamin K: Helps to prevent heart disease, the buildup of calcium in the arteries, and helps blood to clot – which is very important if get a cut or injury
• Iron: Key for creating red blood cells and haemoglobin and the creation of enzymes that regulate digestion and metabolism
• Magnesium: Helps the body to absorb other important vitamins and minerals
• Manganese: Important for nerve and brain function and energy production
• Zinc: Essential for healthy skin, eye, and brain function

What are the risks of feeding pumpkin seeds to dogs?

Because dogs’ digestive systems aren’t designed to digest seeds the way humans are, feeding them too many could lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

Plus, pumpkin seeds have a high fat content, and eating too many puts your dog at risk of developing pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). This is a serious condition and causes severe abdominal pain and vomiting.

Do you need to peel the pumpkin seeds before giving them to your dog?

Yes, you must remove the shell of the seeds before giving them to your dog, as they can be a choking hazard and may cause blockages. Boiling the seeds or rolling them on a hard surface makes it easier to remove the shell.

Do pumpkin seeds deworm dogs?

It’s believed that pumpkin seeds are a natural dewormer for dogs. Some variants of pumpkin seeds contain an amino acid called Cucurbitin, which causes degenerative changes in the reproductive organs of parasitic worms. However, there is conflicting information on this, so it’s difficult to say with certainty if pumpkin seeds do kill intestinal worms.

If you do want to use pumpkin seeds as a dewormer, here is one way you can do it:

1. Remove the shell of the seeds
2. Roast them on their own (don’t add oil or seasonings, particularly onion, as it’s toxic to dogs)
3. Once roasted, leave the seeds to cool
4. Grind them to a fine powder
5. Sprinkle a small amount onto your dog’s regular food

How much pumpkin seed can I give my dog, and how to feed them?

It’s important that you feed pumpkin seeds to your dog in moderation. How much this is depends on your dog’s dietary needs and its size. For example:

• Small breeds (like Dachshunds, Jack Russells, Pomerians…) can safely eat 3-5 seeds a day
• Medium breeds (like Border Collies, Beagles, Dalmatian…) can safely eat 5-10 seeds a day
• Large breeds (like German Shepherds, Newfoundlands, Grant Danes…) can safely eat 10-20 seeds a day

This is a guide only, and it’s important to remember that pumpkin seeds should be fed in moderation. If your dog has special dietary requirements, please consult your vet before giving them new food.

Feeding pumpkin to your dog

This section covers everything you need to know about dogs eating pumpkin.

Is pumpkin good for dogs?

For humans, pumpkins are a superfood, and the numerous vitamins and minerals they contain have several health benefits for dogs too. The main ones being:

• Fibre: Great for digestion, calming upset stomachs and maintaining a healthy weight
• Vitamin C: Fantastic for your dog’s immune health
• Vitamin A: Boosting healthy skin and coat and supporting your dog’s vision
• Vitamin E: An essential vitamin for dogs, it supports a healthy heart, immune system, muscles, liver, and skin and coat

As with pumpkin seeds, pumpkins also contain magnesium, manganese, zinc, and iron.

Can dogs eat raw pumpkin?Which is better: raw or cooked?

Yes, raw pumpkin in small amounts is safe for dogs to eat, but as it has a hard texture, your dog will find it difficult to chew and digest. If eaten in large quantities, your dog may experience an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

Cooked pumpkin is better for you pooch as it’s easier for them to chew and digest, so many prefer it over raw pumpkin, which is tough.

Can I give my dog a whole pumpkin to chew on?

Swallowing large pieces of pumpkin also poses a choking hazard and may cause intestinal blockages. For these reasons, we advise against giving your dog a whole raw pumpkin to chew on.

If you’re a Halloween fan, it’s not a celebration without a carved pumpkin. However, you should be extra vigilant in case your dog takes a fancy to it, and snuffles a bit off or runs off with the whole thing to chew on.

Is any part of a pumpkin toxic to dogs?

No, which is great news, but you should cook both the pumpkin and pumpkin seeds before giving them to your dog. Feeding your dog too much pumpkin and seeds may cause an upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

Is pumpkin rind (skin) safe for dogs?

Pumpkin rind, whether raw or cooked, is a choking hazard, and there’s a possibility that it may cause intestinal blockages. So it’s best to avoid feeding this to your dog.

Can dogs eat pumpkin guts?

Yes, your dog can eat the guts (inside) of the pumpkin, but again in moderation. Also, make sure what you are giving your dog is fresh. Pumpkin rots very quickly, and even the guts that are a day old may upset your dog’s stomach.

Can dogs eat canned pumpkin?

Yes, as long as it’s plain pumpkin i.e., it doesn’t contain any added sugars or seasonings. Be careful not to pick up pumpkin pie filling by mistake, as this has lots of added sugar and salt, and it may also contain nutmeg and xylitol, which are both toxic to dogs.

What’s better: fresh or tinned pumpkin?

If you can, buy fresh pumpkin, and it’s even better if you can get a pumpkin that’s grown organically. Or, you may want to try growing our own. If you’re struggling to get a fresh one, maybe because it’s out of season, tinned pumpkin is fine, as long as it doesn’t contain any additives or seasoning.

Is pumpkin good for dogs with diarrhoea?

Some dog owners use pumpkin as a natural remedy for diarrhoea. While more research is needed into this, it’s believed the soluble and insoluble fibre in the vegetable helps to soak up water in the gut, returning your dog’s poo to its normal consistency.

If you want to give your dog pumpkin to help with its diarrhoea, add one or two teaspoons of canned or cooked and pureed pumpkin to its regular food.If your dog suffers from loose poos, our Diarrhoea in dogsguidehas lots of helpful advice.

However, it’s always best to consult your vet and visit them if your dog is having serious episodes of diarrhoea.

Can pumpkin help dog constipation?

Pumpkin, fresh or tinned, is used by some dog parents as an ‘at-home’ remedy for constipation. Pumpkin is high in fibre, which helps bulk up your dog’s poo. While moisture in the pumpkin helps soften the poo, making it easier for your dog to poop it out. So far, little scientific research has been done into whether pumpkin relieves constipation, but some dog parents have had results with it.

If you want to give your dog pumpkin to help with its constipation, add one or two teaspoons of canned or cooked and pureed pumpkin to its regular food. You can find more advice inour constipation in dogsguide.

How to cook pumpkin for dogs?

The most popular ways to cook a pumpkin to feed to your dog are boiled or baked.

To boil a pumpkin:

1. Wash the pumpkin rind
2. Cut into small pieces
3. Remove the skin and the seeds
4. Place the cut-up pumpkin into a pan of water and boil until the pieces are soft (15-20 minutes)
5. Once cooked, remove the pumpkin pieces, and wait until they’ve cooled a little
6. Mash or puree in a food processor

To bake a pumpkin:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C/350 F
2. Wash the pumpkin
3. Cut into quarters
4. Peel the pumpkin and remove the seeds
5. Place the pumpkin quarters onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 40 minutes (or until the pieces are soft)
6. Once cooked, mash or puree in a food processor

How else can I feed pumpkin to my dog?

Pumpkin is a versatile vegetable, and once cooked, it can be fed to your dog in numerous ways. Here are some ideas you may want to try:

• Spoon-feeding: Some dogs love pumpkin so much that they’ll happily eat it straight off the spoon
• Enrichment activity: Spread pureed pumpkin on your dog’s snuffle mat or in the dips of a muffin tray
• Frozen treat: Place pureed pumpkin into ice cube trays and freeze. On hot dogs, your dog will be glad of this cold sweet, tasting treat

Can I add pumpkin to my dog’s raw food?

provides all the nutrients your dog needs to live a healthy, happy, and active life. But, if you want to give them something ‘extra’ you can add pureed pumpkin to your dog’s raw food by mixing the pumpkin into their portion of raw food or placing it on top as a tasty meal topper.

How much pumpkin can I give to my dog?

The general rule is to give 1 teaspoon of pureed pumpkin per 10 pounds of your dog’s weight. For example, if your they weigh 30 pounds, you could give it 3 teaspoons.

This is just a guide, and you know your dog better than anyone, so you can judge how much pumpkin your dog will comfortably eat. If your dog has special dietary requirements, speak to your vet before introducing pumpkin into its diet.