How Much Pumpkin Should You Give A Dog For Constipation?
Pumpkin is known to be good for dogs’ digestion. They love it because it has high fiber content. Pumpkin seeds are rich in nutrients such as zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, biotin, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium.
Pumpkins contain a large amount of water, which makes them very filling. Yet it also contains high amounts of fiber which helps with constipation. Thus, it may be worth adding some pumpkin to your pooch’s food.
In this article, we will be discovering how much pumpkin you can give your dog for constipation.
Dogs And Constipation
As a dog owner, you understand and are aware of your dog’s bathroom habits. This is due to having to clean up after them constantly. As a result, it is very easy to notice when your dog is not feeling very well and their normal bathroom routine changes.
There are some stomach problems that are common in dogs. However, constipation isn’t a very common problem. However, in the majority of cases, constipation is very mild, and normally it will solve itself or after giving your dog a couple of home remedies.
Although, there are some situations when constipation can become serious. This can be due to an underlying health condition that you may or not be aware of. However, if your dog has a mild case of constipation, then you should be able to give them some pumpkin to help solve this issue.
In particular, canned pumpkin is a great natural remedy for constipation and diarrhea in dogs. However, there is a limit on how much pumpkin you should be giving your dog.
Why Does Pumpkin Help Dogs With Constipation?
You may be wondering why pumpkin is such a great natural remedy for your dog with constipation. This is because pumpkin is naturally high in fiber and water.
Therefore, this helps to soften but also bulk up your dog’s stool. As a result, pumpkin will act as a laxative in your dog’s digestive system, therefore making their stool easier for them to pass.
Alongside helping to relieve your dog of constipation, and keeping them as regular as possible. It is known that pumpkin is naturally a great addition that you should consider for your dog’s diet.
This is due to the pumpkin being naturally rich in various vitamins and minerals. Vitamins such as vitamin A and C and potassium are all found in high amounts in pumpkin.
If that wasn’t enough, as we have said above, pumpkin is naturally high in fiber as well. Hence, fiber not only helps with the digestive system, it is also known to work like a prebiotic.
This will then promote the growth of good bacteria that is found in your dog’s small and large intestines. It then stops the growth of any bad bacteria, which could make your dog ill.
Pumpkin Can Solve Constipation And Diarrhea In Dogs
A common question among dog owners is how can pumpkin help your dog with constipation and diarrhea, when both are very different ailments.
The reason that pumpkin can help with constipation and diarrhea in your dogs is the fact it has insoluble and soluble fibers. These fibers will both interact differently with your dog’s gut.
When it comes to the soluble fibers found in pumpkin. They behave like a sponge and soak up any moisture, which may be causing diarrhea in your dog.
While the insoluble fibers found in pumpkin draw out moisture and help make the dry and hard stool softer. This moisture also helps to bulk out the stool to make it easier for your dog to pass.
As a result, the soluble fibers slow down the bowel movements and soak up moisture. While the insoluble fibers quicken the bowel movements up and adding more moisture at the same time.
Constipation: How Much Pumpkin Can You Give Your Dog?
The amount of pumpkin that you can give your dog when they have constipation, does depend largely on the size of your dog.
It is recommended that for a small dog, 1/2 a teaspoon will be more than enough. However, you can increase the amount to 1 to 2 teaspoons when you feel it is necessary. Yet, you shouldn’t be giving a small dog more than 2 teaspoons of pumpkin.
Compared with a larger dog, where you can start off with 1 to 2 teaspoons straight away. The same applies, you can slowly increase this amount if it is needed. Although, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, then we would suggest you give your dog the smallest amount possible to begin with. Then you should wait to see how their body reacts to this small amount.
Your overall goal when giving your dog pumpkin, is for the pumpkin to make your dog’s stool looser and softer. However, if your large dog is still straining and especially after certain surgeries, you can give your large dog up to 4 teaspoons of pumpkin for every meal.
You may be wondering how much pumpkin you can give a medium-sized dog. In this case, we would suggest that you follow this rule. You should give your dog 1 teaspoon of pumpkin for every 10 pounds of your dog’s body weight.
However, if you are still concerned about how much pumpkin you should be giving your dog due to other factors like their age or other health conditions. Then you should always consult your vet first for more professional guidance.
Moderate The Pumpkin Intake
Pumpkin is a very safe and natural thing for dogs to eat. However, you shouldn’t overfeed your dog with pumpkin, because if they consume too much, this could have a bad effect on your dog’s health.
If your dog eats too much pumpkin, then they will have too much fiber in their diet. This can lead to other digestive issues and stress. In some cases, this excess fiber can lead to absorption of important nutrients that your dog needs. Alongside, causing toxic levels of vitamin A and E in your dog’s diet as well.
There is no harm in adding pumpkin to your dog’s meals. However, you should be aware of how much pumpkin you are giving them and moderate their pumpkin intake. Adding small or low amounts of pumpkin to your dog’s meals won’t have any harmful effects.
However, you may have noticed that pumpkin is already an ingredient in most dog foods. However, the extra fiber from pumpkin can help your dog receive the health benefits from pumpkin. Some owners have even said that the extra pumpkin has helped their dogs with weight loss.
Things To Consider
You want to make sure that your dogs feel the full benefits of this simple home remedy for constipation. However, you should keep the following points in mind when giving your dog pumpkin.
Only give your dog plain and canned pumpkin, because it contains much higher quantities of nutrients and fiber compared to fresh pumpkin. Alongside this, you shouldn’t give your dog canned pumpkin pie filling or mix. This is because they both contain xylitol; this is extremely harmful and toxic to your dog and pets.
When choosing what kind of plain canned pumpkin to give your dog. Try to avoid the ones that have any added artificial flavoring, additives, or added sugar, spices, or salt. You want the pumpkin to be as plain as possible. Otherwise, these added ingredients could make your dog’s constipation worse.
When your dog is constipated, their food should be as simple as possible. Thus, no treats, so the best way to give them pumpkin is by adding it to their main meal.
If you want to give your dog fresh pumpkin, make sure you have removed all the seeds and innards. This is because they can be extremely toxic to your pet. Ideally, you should avoid giving any fresh pumpkin to your dog, as even the stems or leaves can irritate your dog.
Finally, your dog may become dehydrated due to constipation. So alongside giving them pumpkins, make sure that your dog is drinking plenty. You want to make sure they are drinking plenty, as this will help the pumpkin and their stool to be released more easily.
Final Thoughts
If you notice that your dog isn’t behaving themselves, then they may be ill. Constipation isn’t very common in dogs, so if your dog is suffering, this could be a sign of another health issue occurring with your dog.
The pumpkin should help resolve most constipation issues, but if the pumpkin doesn’t work, then you should speak with your vet as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to discover what is causing the constipation and help figure out if your dog needs any supplements or medication instead to resolve the issues.
We hope that this article has given you an insight to how much pumpkin you should be giving your dog. Alongside other considerations to think about to try to get the most out of this natural home remedy.
