Is it good to feed pumpkin to your dogs?

Jericho, a 4-month old sheepadoodle belonging to Gillian Sapp, looks through the pumpkins during a visit to Freeman's Farm Fall Festival on Sept. 17.
Jericho, a 4-month old sheepadoodle belonging to Gillian Sapp, looks through the pumpkins during a visit to Freeman's Farm Fall Festival on Sept. 17.

While Fall isn’t officially here yet, a lot of us are already celebrating by enjoying pumpkins in any variety. However, can you share your favorite fall flavor with your dogs?

Of course, I’m sure most of us are not looking to share our Pumpkin Spice Lattes with our pups yet sometimes, you’ll want to share some pumpkin from your jack-o-lantern or some from a recipe you’re cooking.

Regardless of how you’re using it, you might be thinking your dogs will want some fall flavor in their diets. I mean it’s a legitimate question as our dogs do tend to mirror us sometimes and they might want something new.

With that being said, can dogs eat pumpkin and if so, should they be eating it?

Is pumpkin safe to feed to your dogs or not?

This one goes beyond our normal realm and we’re consulting with WebMD for this one. The answer is simple and it’s a resounding yes. You can feed your dog pumpkin but the article warns about not going overboard. “Add one to four pumpkin tablespoons per meal to your dog’s diet. Always start with small quantities to avoid adding too much fiber. If you have doubts about the amount of pumpkin to add to your dog’s diet, always consult your veterinarian.”

As you can see, it all depends on how much you’re feeding your dog but overall it’s a great thing to add to their diet. The article also points out that you should be feeding your dogs plain canned pumpkin and not, pumpkin pie filling. The latter has a lot of sugar and spices that could be toxic for your furry friend.

All in all, pumpkin is good for your dog and is a fun treat for them. You can even roast pumpkin seeds as a treat for them, bake some fresh pumpkin or even, make some cool pumpkin puree. It all depends on you and what you think your dog will like, but at least you know they can enjoy the seasonal fall flavors, too.