It’s fall here in Connecticut, and there is a pumpkin at every corner. I usually buy a few throughout the season, first enjoying their decorative presence, and then cooking them. Pumpkin is a nutritious, dog-friendly food so it’s one of the many ingredients I share with my dog.
I usually like to get the smaller “sugar pumpkins” because they are easy to work with and fit in the oven. Here is a short video clip of me cooking one of these little gems.
Cooking A Sugar Pumpkin
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Rinse the pumpkin as you would with any vegetable.
- Place the pumpkin in a baking dish.
- Poke a few holes in the pumpkin to allow air to escape during baking.
- Add about 4 ounces of water to the pan.
- Bake for about an hour or until the pumpkin feels soft when you stick a butter knife into it.
- Add more water during cooking if needed.
- Allow to cool, and serve to your dog in amounts appropriate for your dog’s weight and nutritional needs.
Giving Canned Pumpkin To Your Dog
If you can’t find fresh pumpkins, or don’t feel like cooking one, canned pumpkin is an excellent option for your dog any time of year. Buy only plain pumpkin with no other ingredients or spices. Remove from the can and place in fridge. As with many fresh foods, use fresh or canned pumpkin within 3-4 days.
Whether you use it on its own as a treat, add it as a topper to your dog’s usual meals, or include it in a healthy recipe, pumpkin is a healthy addition to your dog’s diet. It’s also an example of how simple it is to improve your dog’s diet using everyday ingredients found in most grocery stores.
Visit my Services page to learn how to feed your dog a truly nourishing diet.
Also, please enjoy my free recipe for homemade dog treats using pumpkin and other healthy ingredients.
~ Sarah
About My Support Services
I am on a mission to help you feed your dogs a healthier diet using simple, everyday foods found in most grocery stores, farm stands or elsewhere. I offer several options, which you can see on my Services page.
My Goals:
- Empower you
- Guide you toward healthy, easy to make foods
- Help you realize you can improve your dog’s diet without too much trouble or confusion
- Support you along the way
- Work with you to create a truly supportive, nourishing diet for your dog
If you are interested in a different setup, I will try to customize to your individual needs as much as possible. Either way, visit my Services page to get started.
~ Sarah
PS – Do you have a golden retriever? Visit my other website, GoldenRetrieverDiet.com