Can Pumpkin Help Dogs With Constipation
On the other end of the spectrum, pumpkin can also help with constipation in dogs. The Merck Veterinary Manual states that adding 1 to 4 tablespoons of squash per meal to a constipated dogs diet can help relieve mild constipation. Its important to ensure dogs are well hydrated any time you increase the fiber content of their food, as dehydration can make constipation worse.
Its also important to find out why your dog is constipated. Check with your veterinarian to make sure your dog doesnt have an enlarged prostate, a foreign object or bone in the colon, or any other problem that could be an emergency if not treated properly.
Pumpkin is a useful and affordable way to combat your dogs diarrhea. If your dog is suffering from diarrhea or constipation, a tablespoon of pumpkin can alleviate their distress. Talk to your vet if pumpkin doesnt help relieve your dogs diarrhea and see if there are other supplements or medications you can try instead.
AKC participates in affiliate advertising programs designed to enable websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this item, we may receive a portion of the sale price.
See more new articles in category: Health & Science
What Other Vegetables Could Help Cure Dog Diarrhea
Your dog might become bored with rice and pumpkin, so you can offer other human foods that also help with diarrhea.
Try giving mashed boiled carrots or mashed sweet potatoes to your ailing pet. Another good option for an upset stomach is a mashed banana.
To make the veggies more palatable to your pet you can add some bone or chicken broth, which not only add flavor, but also help combat electrolyte imbalance, which is common in cases of diarrhea.
Also, you can mix some boiled chicken breast to your dogs diet, but make sure it is skinless and unsalted.
How Much Pumpkin Should I Give My Dog For Constipation
Multiple online sources say that you should give your dog a tablespoon of pumpkin for every 10 pounds the dog weighs. So, for a 20-pound dog, that 2 tablespoons of pumpkin, cooked or in a puree format.
You can give a dog canned pumpkin to make them poop more but check the label and avoid anything with sugar or additive. You want pumpkin in the pure form if possible.
Disclaimer: The notes on this page are not intended to replace professional veterinary advice and is from my own online research. Always talk with your own vet before feeding pumpkin to your constipated dog.
Read Also: Stomach Flu And Bloating
Pumpkin And Soluble Fiber
Pumpkins are also low FODMAP . In the winter I love buying little pumpkins and squashes . I just carve them into halves and quarters and bake them in the oven in a greased pan or baking sheet. I also make lots of squash and pumpkin soup . Pumpkin is a real great *safe* food .
My partner’s cat was recently diagnosed with IBD, and we will now be trying pumpkin with him as well, as he has been having a lot of bloating, gas and diarrhea. Our hope is that, along with other dietary changes and medications, it will help manage his sensitive GI issues.
Is pumpkin a part of your diet and does it help your IBS? Share your experiences in the comments below!
Milk And Other Dairy Products
If you find that you have loose stool after drinking milk or eating dairy products, you may have lactose intolerance.
Many people dont know they have lactose intolerance. It tends to run in families and can develop later in life.
Lactose intolerance means that your body doesnt have the enzymes to break down certain sugars in dairy.
Instead of breaking it down, your body disposes of these sugars very quickly, often in the form of diarrhea.
There are plenty of substitutes for cows milk on the market, including:
- lactose-free dairy milk
- cashew milk
Summary
Lactose intolerance is a common cause of chronic diarrhea. If you have this condition, avoiding dairy products should clear up diarrhea.
Recommended Reading: Stomach Flu Bloating
Is Pumpkin A Laxative
Both fresh and canned pumpkin are high in fiber, as we mentioned above, which can help with constipation.
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, adults should get between 25 and 38 grams of fiber each day to stay healthy and prevent constipation, a condition marked by fewer than three bowel movements per week or BMs that are small, dry, hard and painful to pass, per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Fiber, aka roughage or bulk, isn’t digested by your body, per the Mayo Clinic. It goes in, and it goes out .
“Pumpkin is an excellent laxative for two reasons,” says Niket Sonpal, MD, internist and gastroenterologist in New York City. “The first is that it’s high in fiber, and fiber is your colon’s best friend. The second reason is that pumpkins are high in magnesium, and we know that people who suffer from constipation can sometimes be low in this naturally occurring nutrient. Therefore, the combined effects lead to softer and better daily bowel movements.”
Magnesium is an essential nutrient, as it regulates muscle and nerve function, controls blood sugar levels and blood pressure, and makes bone, protein and DNA, according to the National Institutes of Health. It’s also an ingredient in some laxatives, but if you want to add some naturally occurring magnesium to your diet, pumpkin is the way to go.
Related Reading
How Fast Does Pumpkin Ease Your Dogs Diarrhea
Pumpkin is a natural cure for diarrhea, but it is not a miracle cure. Dont expect your dog to bounce back to his normal happy and healthy self within the hour.
Keep in mind that while your dogs stomach will break down the pumpkin in roughly 60 minutes, it can take up to 24 hours to be fully digested and ready to be eliminated.
If your dogs diarrhea is nothing serious, you should see an improvement in his bowel movements in four to six hours, but it can take up to 24 hours to get rid of the diarrhea problem altogether.
Even if your dog feels better by the next day, its best to keep him on a bland diet for a couple of days more, just to make sure.
Don’t Miss: Does Aspirin Cause Heartburn
May Help Induce Sleep
One of the more peculiar properties of pumpkin juice is its possible function as a sedative. This is due to some of the active ingredients, namely magnesium and tryptophan, which release neurotransmitters in the body that induce sleep. This is great for people suffering from insomnia or who regularly have interrupted sleep a glass before bed can work wonders.
Is Pumpkin Good For Constipation Or Diarrhea
As you can see, pumpkin is both anti-diarrheal and anti-constipating. The content of mannitol, a carbohydrate with laxative properties, avoids the aggression of the intestines.
Potentiated by its richness in these famous fibers, pumpkin fights against intestinal laziness being the main cause of constipation.
In other words, a pumpkin is a kind of vegetable that balances the functioning of the digestive system.
Don’t Miss: Calprotectin Vs Lactoferrin
Keep Your Pumpkin Plain
Pumpkin is best served plain to canines, so skip the pie filling, spices, and seasonings that we often associate with yummy human treats.
- Canned pumpkin actually has more nutrients than fresh pumpkin. This is because fresh pumpkin has a higher water content than canned pumpkin.
- Spices like nutmeg and cinnamon, plus additives, fillers, and added sugars in many pumpkin products and recipes can actually make your dog very sick. Cinnamon can cause vomiting and diarrhea, Dr. Sievert says. Large amounts can cause low blood sugar and issues of the liver. Nutmeg contains the toxin myristicin, which can cause disorientation, high blood pressure, and seizures in your dog. Ginger can cause stomach upset.
- Be absolutely sure to check the ingredients list and read labels very carefully: Only buy canned pumpkin pie filling without xylitol, which can be deadly for dogs.
Plain canned pumpkin without added sugars, ingredients, or fillers, as well as plain fresh pumpkin and pumpkin flesh, are safe bets for your dog.
One thing to be sure to avoid is sugar-free canned pumpkin, Dr. Woodnutt warns. The main concern is with sugar-free canned pumpkin, which may contain xylitol, she told us. Since the ingredients in all of these change over time , the safest bet is to avoid everything but 100% pumpkin.
Feeding Your Cat A Balanced Meal Plan
If you discover your cat craves a spoonful of the colorful vegetable, just remember it’s a treat, not a meal. Try freezing the squash in small ice cube trays to create a frosty occasional snack. Or, add a dollop of cooked pumpkin to the top of their kibble as a meal-time appetizer. Then, monitor your pet. If your cat is having tummy issues such as flatulence, rumbles or issues defecating, it’s best to skip the pumpkin. On the other hand, if pumpkin seems to alleviate irregular bowel movements, make pumpkin part of routine feedings. Can cats have pumpkin daily? If your pet seems to benefit from it, the answer is yes!
Although they may beg for them, cats can’t live on treats alone! They require the properly balanced nutrition of a high-quality cat food. A few pet foods contain pumpkin, which might mean your squash-loving cat will find them extra delicious! Ask your veterinarian if a food product containing pumpkin might be beneficial for your pet.
We all love spoiling our furry friends, but sharing a spiced or sweetened pumpkin treat isn’t the best option. Instead, try a playful cat treat-toy combo, like a ball filled with crunchy morsels that fall out as your pet plays. Or, if your cat is crazy for pumpkin, make it a special indulgence during your Friday night snuggle fest. Buying a can of plain pumpkin is a great treat to share with your cat and a lovely excuse to make a pumpkin smoothie for yourself!
You May Like: Oral Microbiome Bacteria
Can You Give Pumpkin Seeds To Your Dog
Yes, you can, but preferably not when he has tummy issues. Pumpkin seeds are choke-full of magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc and manganese, as well as antioxidants, vitamins and fiber.
However, you should not feed your dog raw seeds as they spoil easily. The best way is to shell the seeds, roast them in the oven and ground them before serving them to your dog. One thing to keep in mind is that pumpkin seeds are full of fats, which is why your dog can only have a limited amount. You can sprinkle just a bit of ground seeds over your dogs regular meal.
Regularly feeding your dog pumpkin seeds improves heart health and sleep, combats inflammation, lowers blood sugar and promotes urinary tract health.
Many dog owners also give their pets pumpkin seeds to combat intestinal parasites, especially tapeworm. The issue has been hotly debated for years, but a recent study shows that, indeed, pumpkin seeds can be used as dewormers. The reason is that pumpkin seeds contain cucurbitin, an amino acid that has been proven effective in paralyzing and eliminating parasites from the GI tract.
If you want to try natural deworming, give your dog a quarter of a teaspoon of ground seeds per 10 lbs of body weight twice a day. You should examine the dogs stool to see if he does eliminate squiggly little monsters. Continue the treatment until there is no evidence of parasites left in his stool.
Can Pumpkin Help Dog Diarrhea
Pumpkin is a high-fiber food that also contains important vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, E, and C, as well as potassium and iron. Canned plain pumpkin is available year-round and can make a great addition to your dog first aid kit.
Pumpkin can ease digestion in a number of ways. The soluble fiber content in pumpkin adds bulk to your dogs stool by absorbing water, and fiber fermentation produces beneficial fatty acids that fuel cells, stimulate sodium and water absorption in the gut, and lower the pH of the colon.
Fiber also acts as a prebiotic. Prebiotics are different from probiotics. They stimulate the growth or activity of these beneficial bacteria in the gut and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Fiber does this by lowering pH and providing the necessary nutrients these bacteria need.
These properties can all help with some cases of canine diarrhea. Depending on the cause of your dogs diarrhea, veterinarians may recommend feeding them either a highly digestible diet or a diet high in prebiotics . In some cases, they may also recommend adding probiotics, which are dietary supplements that contain live beneficial bacteria. Pumpkin acts as a prebiotic booster for these probiotics.
You May Like: Align Probiotic Dose
Tips To Prevent Heartburn And Upset Stomach During The Holidays
“The key is to be self-aware,” says Tappenden. “You need to plan ahead and stay conscious of how you’re eating.”
The Health Benefits Of Pumpkin
Veggies are good for you and your pet! Pumpkin is filled with fiber, water, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and ample minerals and vitamins including A, C and K, according to the Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota. The orange-colored squash is also low in calories.
The fiber in pumpkin can both reduce excess moisture in your pet’s digestive tract and add bulk to stools, helping to remedy diarrhea. The water in pumpkin also helps to alleviate constipation. The secret: moderation and portion control. Too much pumpkin may trigger loose stools.
Recommended Reading: Can’t Digest Lettuce Gallbladder
Could Pumpkin Help With Ibs Symptoms
Recently I noticed some pet formulas for stomach issues contained pumpkin and it got me thinking. So, about seven months ago, I decided to start buying cans or small boxes of organic pre-mashed pumpkin and adding a little to my cat’s wet food at each serving. Within only days, I began to notice a difference, and within a week it was all significantly better. So now I give him a teaspoon of pumpkin with each wet food serving. This doesn’t mean he’s 100% cured he still gets flares, but they are pretty rare and less severe when he does get them.
Of course, not everything that works for an animal works for a human. But in this case, it looks like it can and often does work with humans too.
Pumpkin Food Poisoning Is Rare But Serious
Americans go wild for pumpkin-flavored products every fall, adding the gourd to a variety of foods. Can you get food poisoning from pumpkins? It is unlikely that adding pumpkin spice to your food will cause food poisoning, but pumpkin products can cause some nasty illnesses in rare situations. Understanding how pumpkins can become poisonous to humans may protect you from a food poisoning incident or help you identify pumpkins as the source of your illness.
Also Check: Ibs Mayoclinic
What Kind Of Pumpkin Should I Feed My Dog
Plain canned pumpkin is the healthiest choice for your dog. Both fresh and canned pumpkin are good sources of nutrients and fiber, but canned pumpkin contains a higher concentration of fiber and nutrients compared to fresh pumpkin. This is because fresh pumpkin has higher water content than canned pumpkin. However, canned pumpkin with added salt, spices, sugar, or other additives can irritate your dogs stomach further, counteracting the beneficial effects of the pumpkin.
If you cant get canned pumpkin, a good alternative is pumpkin powder, made specifically for pets.
Note that you should NEVER use canned pumpkin pie, as it may contain xylitol, which is toxic to dogs.
Is Pumpkin Poop Normal
If youve ever wondered: Is pumpkin poop normal? youre not alone! This vegetable contains a high amount of fiber and potassium, which stimulates bowel movements. The high fiber and potassium content of pumpkins can help regulate your bowel movement and relieve constipation. However, if you consume too much of this vegetable, you may experience diarrhea. This vegetable is not suitable for those with a sensitive digestive system.
To start, you can feed your dog a small amount of pumpkin each day. Small dogs can eat about half a teaspoon of pumpkin each day, while cats can have a spoonful. Large dogs can start with a tablespoonful, and then increase their portion gradually. You should see improvement in a few hours. If your dog has a bowel movement after pumpkin, however, you may need to see a veterinarian.
When feeding your dog pumpkin, make sure to watch the amount of pumpkin that they eat. A small amount should be sufficient for a dog of about 10 pounds. Its also best to start slowly and gradually increase the amount of pumpkin. You can feed your dog pumpkin one or two times per day or mix it into their regular food. If they eat too much pumpkin, it could cause diarrhea. As such, be sure to give your dog the exact amount of pumpkin recommended by your vet.
Don’t Miss: Colitis And Probiotics