PUMPKIN, PLEASE!
A Nutritious Autumn Treat for Cats and Dogs
If you love your pumpkin pie or pumpkin spice latté this Halloween, consider this: Pumpkin is also a low-calorie super-food for many dogs or cats, full of great nutrients and fun for them to eat.
With those cautions in mind, you and your pet can enjoy a pumpkin-filled Halloween. You can steam or roast pumpkin flesh for your pet, or take the easy route and buy canned, pureed pumpkin. Start by adding a little puree to your dog’s food to help prevent constipation and improve anal gland health.
This popular autumn gourd is a gastrointestinal wonder food. It is rich in fiber, aiding digestion. Pureed pumpkin contains vitamins A, C, and K and beta carotene, which benefit vision, the urinary tract, and immune system functions. It also has potassium for healthy muscles and nerves. Because pumpkins are filling and naturally low in calories, they can help obese pets shed weight.
Plain pumpkin can be good for cats, and is actually used to treat feline gastrointestinal problems. Add it to their wet food or let them lick it straight from the spoon, in small amounts of a teaspoon daily for adult cats, and a half-teaspoon for kittens 16 weeks old and over. Pumpkin’s high fiber and water content can ease constipation and help with hairballs. Cats’ systems are made to digest meat; pumpkin should be fed sparingly and avoided for kitties with kidney problems or diabetes.
First, however, a few precautions:
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Always check with your veterinarian before changing your pet’s diet. Don’t feed your pet pumpkin seeds, stem, skin, or fiber-rich pulp.
Some great DIY pumpkin treat recipes for cats and dogs can be found online. For dogs, simple baked treats may include pumpkin puree, rolled oats, and eggs. For cats, some recipes involve blending puree with oat flour and other ingredients,
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Avoid canned pumpkin pie filling, which contains sugar and potentially hazardous spices or sweeteners.
such as tuna in water, and baking the batter into treat-shaped snacks.
• Don’t let your pets snack on your jack-o-lanterns, which can quickly turn rancid. • If your pet’s stool turns orange, they’ve had enough!
With these ideas in mind, you can make your favorite furball a part of your pumpkin-filled fun on Halloween!
UnNtiloFtiucrether
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Kendra Wilkins Ilavee Jones Steffani Lehr Sid & Michelle Haskins Clients Spreading the Word
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