Name a better duo than dogs and food, we’ll wait. Oh wait, it doesn’t exist. If you have been a dog pet parent for long enough, we’re sure you would know how adventurous dogs are as far as their appetite is considered. They are beyond glad to try cuisines and treats, keeping their parents busy all day long. But we know, like all other dog owners, you too would never complain. You probably enjoy surfing for new healthful food items to feed your dog. Ah, the things we do out of love! We’re certain something of that sort is what brought you all the way here too, to see if your dog can safely consume pumpkin seed. Let us tell you, you’ve arrived at the right place. We’re going to educate you with all that you need to know and a lot more (you can never know too much, right?)
What Is The Ideal Diet Of A Dog?
To better understand what your furry friend can and can’t eat, you must be well aware of its naturally occurring dietary requirements and what its menu card should look like. By a long shot or a short one, whatever your dog strengthens its jaws on or is fed as a treat, should be near its basic diet and what benefits the food is capable of bringing.
By nature, dogs are omnivores, they gain most of their necessary nutrients from both; meat as well as green leafy vegetables. Having said that, a good number of dog parents prefer to feed their pets a pure kibble diet. This is owing up to the reason that the kibble diet is known to contain almost everything that a dog needs or could ask for. Sure you can treat it with some other (safe) human food every once in a while, perhaps on occasions when you feel it has been the best for boys?
Moreover, be mindful of the fact that the treats and snacks you feed your beloved four-legged friend do not end up being a replacement for its usual meals. This unhealthy practice is sure to leave your doggo weakened and deficient in its supplement needs in the long run. Considering how unpleasant that can be, try and avoid feeding your dog its treats in excess, no matter how irresistible its puppy dog eyes are.
What Are Pumpkin Seeds?
To put it simply, pumpkin seeds are seeds that are found inside a pumpkin once you cut it open. Unlike other fruit seeds, they’re edible and come jam-packed with a good number of advantages that both humans and animals, i.e. your dog, can largely benefit from.
Raw pumpkin seeds are naturally not the best of preferences because they’re quite hard-shelled and not easy to break or digest (especially for an animal). On the contrary, if you want to get some edible pumpkin seeds, we would suggest you pay a visit to your nearest grocery store. Processed pumpkin seeds are perfect for consumption as they are flat and unshelled.
Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Without beating around the bush, let’s get down to addressing the real question; is it safe for a dog to eat pumpkin seeds? Yes, there is no harm in feeding your dog pumpkin seeds, they’re free from all sorts of toxins and health risks. They can be quite nourishing for a dog to consume as treats.
But WAIT, before you take away that ‘yes’ as a definite answer, we suggest you stick around and get to know not only the positive side of pumpkin seeds in detail but also the other side of the picture. No matter how strong or undefeatable your dog may seem, it is in actuality, a fragile creature that may not have the capacity to deal with internal health-related issues. For this reason, it is of extreme significance that you are well educated and therefore, in a better position to make decisions for it.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Pumpkin Seeds?
As we discussed above, raw pumpkin seeds should not directly be fed to dogs. Instead what you should do is gather the raw seeds, clean and peel them. Once you are done doing that, roast the seeds and Bon appetit! Raw seeds are at a higher risk of being quickly spoiled, making them unfit for your furry fellow. Whereas roasted pumpkin seeds can be stored for a comparatively longer period, but in addition to that, roasted pumpkin seeds taste a lot better. And we all know how huge of an attraction the taste is to dogs!
Ps. if you are planning to store the bite-sized goodies for your pet, make sure you do so in air-tight or sealed packages. If spoiled, the seeds can grow toxic and sicken your doggo upon consumption.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Seeds?
By now, you are well aware of the fact that pumpkin seeds can be a wholesome addition to your pet’s menu card, let us see if they’re worth the hype.
First and foremostly, pumpkin seeds contain the following vitamins and supplements, most of these directly aid the quality of your pet’s day to day life;
- Vitamin K
- Copper
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Manganese
Having put that out there, as if all of these weren’t enough, pumpkin seeds are rich in antioxidants that improve the bladder health of a dog. If you are the pet parent to an old or weakened little fellow who has urinary health-related issues, you know what exactly to feed it.
Over and above that, vitamin E and K, which are considered to be necessary vitamins are found in the fruit’s seeds as well (not too surprisingly!). Vitamin E is credited for helping your pet fight against free radicals and save itself from multiple health problems. Whereas, Vitamin K aids the process of bone growth and skin healing through the formation of blood clots.
On that final note, we wish you and your dog a healthy life ahead. Don’t forget to share this read with other pet parents who may benefit from it.