Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds? A Guide To Safe Holiday Treats For Your Furry Friend

Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?

With the holiday season fast approaching, asking “can dogs eat pumpkin seeds” is an especially great question.

Many of us are gearing up this season for tons of festive and tasty treats. And since dogs are family too, many of us find we want to share the holiday goodies with our four-legged friends.

Unfortunately, not all holiday treats are safe for our dogs, so it’s important to go about sharing human foods with Fido carefully.

Recently, we noticed many of our clients asking “can dogs eat pumpkin seeds”? So, in the spirit of holiday fun, we’ve decided to give a step-by-step guide on safe and healthy holiday snacks you can share with your fur friend all season long.

But First, Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?

Pumpkin seeds are not only safe for most dogs, but healthy too!

If your dog has just gotten into a batch of pumpkin seeds, don’t worry. The answer to can dogs eat pumpkin seeds is a big, resounding YES! In fact, pumpkin seeds are not only safe for most dogs, but they also have a number of health benefits.

Of course, while the answer to can dogs eat pumpkin seeds is yes, it’s important to make sure your dog isn’t eating seasoned pumpkin seeds, and it’s also best not to give your dog raw pumpkin seeds.

For the most part, if your dog does accidentally consume a few raw pumpkin seeds he should be fine, though eating raw pumpkin seeds can increase your dog’s risk of coming down with digestive issues or foodborne illnesses like E-coli or salmonella.

With that noted, let’s cover a quick list of dos and don’ts when diving into can dogs eat pumpkin seeds.

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds? The Do’s

• Do Wash Pumpkin Seeds Before Cooking Them

• When asking can dog eat pumpkin seeds, you should consider the types of pumpkin seeds you’re feeding your dog. It’s always a good idea to wash raw pumpkin seeds, especially if you are pulling them from a fresh pumpkin. Rinsing them will also help when it comes to cooking them thoroughly.

• Do Give Your Dog Cooked Pumpkin Seeds

• Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds? Yes, but when they are cooked. You have a few different options when it comes to the way you cook the seeds, which we will talk about further down.

• Do Feel Free To Give Your Dog Some Pumpkin, too!

• Did you know that along with pumpkin seeds, pumpkin is also a safe and healthy holiday snack for dogs? So, when wondering “can dogs eat pumpkin seeds”, feel free to also throw a bit of raw pumpkin into the mix as well

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds? The Don’ts

• Don’t Give Your Dog Raw Pumpkin Seeds Straight From The Pumpkin

• Although the answer to “can dogs eat pumpkin seeds” is yes, it’s best not to feed your dog raw pumpkin seeds. Raw foods like pumpkin seeds are more likely to harbor bacteria that can make your dog sick including salmonella and E-Coli.

• Don’t Give Your Dog Seasoned Pumpkin Seeds

• Seasoned pumpkin seeds are a super tasty snack for us humans, but if you’re looking at can dog eat pumpkin seeds, giving your dog seasoned treats is not the best idea. Seasonings and additives can actually be harmful to dogs and can lead to digestive upset in your dog, or cause vomiting and diarrhea. Seasonings may also counteract all the health benefits of pumpkin seeds, so it’s best to just steer clear.

• Don’t Give Your Dog Pumpkin Seeds In Abundance

• Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds? Yes. But giving your dogs too many pumpkin seeds can cause digestive upset. Pumpkin seeds may contain a number of vitamins and nutrients, but they also have a high-fat content. As with all human foods, it’s best to share pumpkin seeds with your four-legged friend in moderation only.

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds? The Health Benefits Of Pumpkin Seeds For Fido

Pumpkin seeds are healthy for your dog.

Although we do know the answer is yes when asking can dog eat pumpkin seeds, that question is still a bit broad. Not all dogs can eat pumpkin seeds, and not all pumpkin seeds are safe for dogs if they are not prepared correctly.

However, when properly prepared, pumpkin seeds are a healthy, easy treat you can offer your dog (and yourself).

These tasty treats are especially popular during the holiday season, so this is the perfect time to break down the health benefits of pumpkin seeds when asking yourself can dogs eat pumpkin seeds or not?

Plain Pumpkin Seeds Health Stats You Should Know:

• Calories: 125 Per Ounce
• 5 Grams of Fat Per Serving
• 5 Grams of Protein Per Serving
• 5 Grams of Fiber Per Serving
• 15 Grams of Carbohydrates Per Serving

Not only are the above numbers pretty stellar for both you and your dog’s overall health, we still have more great news to share!

Pumpkin seeds are also chock-full of antioxidants, copper, calcium, zinc, iron, Omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, and phosphorus. So, what does this mean for your pup?

When giving Fido properly prepared pumpkin seeds, you’re providing him with a number of nutritional health benefits. Some of the health benefits of pumpkin seeds for dogs are listed below.

Pumpkin Seeds Can Help Repel Parasites Naturally

When given in moderation or in appropriate amounts, pumpkin seeds can actually help fight off parasites like internal worms in your dog’s digestive tract. This is due to the compound Cucurbitacin, which has anti-parasitic properties and is able to paralyze and kill these nasty parasites without harming your dog.

Pumpkin Seeds Can Help Improve Your Dog’s Skin And Coat Health

Pumpkin seeds have a good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids, which can help promote healthy skin and coat. If your dog sheds excessively, has skin issues, or struggles with skin allergies, try adding some pumpkin seeds to his daily diet. You may be surprised at how quickly his skin and coat health improve!

Pumpkin Seeds Can Help Prevent Kidney Stones

Another benefit of all those Omega-3 Fatty acids in pumpkin seeds is that they contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties can help dislodge any current kidney stones in your pup and even help prevent future ones.

Pumpkin Seeds Can Help Regulate Digestion

If your dog is having digestive issues and you’re wondering “can dogs eat pumpkin seeds” you’re in luck. Pumpkin seeds are loaded with soluble fiber which can help add volume to the stool while also promoting healthy digestion and regulating your dog’s bowels.

Pumpkin Seeds Promote Brain Health

Circling back to those fatty acids, did you know that Omega-3 fatty acids are also good for your dog’s brain? In fact, a healthy dose of pumpkin seeds in your dog’s diet can help regulate brain function and even reduce cognitive decline, which is especially beneficial in aging dogs.

Pumpkin Seeds Support Immune Health

The amount of antioxidants in pumpkin seeds qualifies it to be included as a superfood, especially for your dog. Now that we’ve answered, can dogs eat pumpkin seeds, it’s exciting to also point out that pumpkin seeds can boost your dog’s immune system and help to keep him from catching contagious colds or illnesses.

Pumpkin Seeds Help Promote Red Blood Cell Health and Combat Anemia

These wonder-seeds are rich in iron, which helps promote your dog’s red blood cell health, reduce anemia, and improve your dog’s overall physical health, quality of life, and wellbeing.

Pumpkin Seeds Can Aid In Bone Health

Move over, milk. Pumpkin seeds are nice and high in calcium and can help aid in bone health. This is excellent news for those of us with aging pets or pets who need a bit more support for their bones and joints.

Pumpkin Seeds Can Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections In Dogs

Just like people, dogs can be prone to suffering from urinary tract infections which can be painful and even dangerous. Pumpkin seeds contain a good amount of natural oils which can help prevent UTIs and even improve bladder health.

How Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds? Tips On DIY Pumpkin Seed Treats For Your Dog

Making your own pumpkin seed treats is easy and fun!

Now that we’ve answered your question about can dogs eat pumpkin seeds, your next question is probably how to prepare pumpkin seeds for Fido.

There are a few ways you can go about making tasty pumpkin seed treats for your dog, and some of these ways are very simple.

Cook and Grind Plain Pumpkin Seeds For A Daily Dose Of Nutrients

Are you wondering how can dogs eat pumpkin seeds? One of the easiest ways to insert pumpkin seeds into your dog’s daily diet is to roast them in the oven at 350 degrees F with a drizzle of olive oil for about one hour. Then remove the seeds and allow them to cool.

Put them in a bowl and smash them with the back of a spoon. If you have a mortar and pestle, you can use this as well. Save the seed grindings in a plastic bag or freeze them for longer storage, and sprinkle them over your dog’s food for an extra boost of nutrients in his daily meals.

DIY Meat and Pumpkin Seed Treats For Special Occasions

Ingredients:

• Pumpkin Innards (From 2 small pumpkins or 1 large pumpkin)
• Freeze Dried Liver or Meat Dog Treats (Crushed into Dust)
• Olive Oil
• Parchment Paper or Aluminum Foil
• 1 Cookie Sheet

Instructions:

Remove the seeds from the pumpkin innards and rinse them clean in a strainer. Add a pot of water to the stove and boil the seeds for 10 to 15 minutes. While you’re waiting, preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.

Remove the seeds from the water and pat them dry with a paper towel or dishrag. Cover the cookie sheet with your aluminum foil or parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil. Spread the pumpkin seeds on the cookie sheet and drizzle them lightly with olive oil as well, then sprinkle them with the freeze-dried meat dust.

Roast these pumpkin seeds in the oven for about ten minutes or until golden and crispy. Then set out to cool. Give them to your dog in moderation as tasty and healthy treats!

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds Along With Other Holiday Treats?

Both pumpkin and pumpkin seeds can make a tasty and healthy snack for your dog.

If you’ve done a bit of research before landing on this article in your search for “can dogs eat pumpkin seeds”, then chances are you already know that there are several other tasty holiday treats you can share with your furry friend.

Unfortunately, there are also a number of holiday foods and snacks that can be very dangerous for your dog, so it’s important you’re aware of not only what is safe for Fido, but how much human foods you should share with him.

Now that we’ve answered your question to can dogs eat pumpkin seeds, let’s take a moment to look at other safe holiday treats you can share with him, as well as some of the holiday human foods you should keep far out of his reach.

SAFE HOLIDAY FOODS FOR DOGS INCLUDE:

Unsweetened Pumpkin Puree

Not to be confused with pumpkin pie filler, pumpkin puree is simply pureed pumpkin. In its natural and unseasoned form, pumpkin puree is safe to offer dogs in moderation. In fact, like pumpkin seeds, pumpkin actually has a number of health benefits for dogs.

Some of these benefits include improving digestion and helping to alleviate diarrhea or stomach problems.

Carrots

Cooked or raw, carrots are a super tasty treat for your four-legged friend! We like to give our pups carrot shavings when we are peeling raw carrots for dinner and salads, but they also like munching on bits of whole raw carrot or cooked carrot from time to time as well.

Avoid giving your dog seasoned carrots or carrots that are cooked in butter or grease. Instead, stick with clean, unseasoned carrot shavings or carrot pieces. Of course, as with all human foods you’re sharing with your pup, make sure you only give him carrots in moderation.

While this crunchy vegetable is healthy and packs a ton of benefits in a small, orange package, carrots are also high in sugar and can lead to health problems and digestive upset if given in abundance.

Cooked Sweet Potatoes

Cooked sweet potatoes are a safe and sweet holiday treat you can offer your pup alongside pumpkin seeds. Of course, make sure you haven’t added sweeteners or butter to the sweet potatoes.

One of our favorite recipes for cooked sweet potato is to peel the potato and dice it, then cook it on the stovetop on medium heat after drizzling olive oil in the pan. Your dog will go crazy for these tasty bites!

Steamed Green Beans

Steamed green beans are another vegetable you can share with your dog that are not only juicy and slightly sweet but packed with nutrients.

Green beans are loaded with calcium, iron, fiber, and tons of vitamins and minerals. Just be sure to clean and cook them thoroughly and then allow them to cool before sharing them with your four-legged friend.

Apples

Apple pie is a holiday staple in many households, and while apples are safe for your dog, apple pie is not. Instead of feeding Fido bites of pie, offer him some freshly cut apple slices. Avoid giving your dog the whole apple, of course, and only give your dog apple slices without the core.

Again, like all human foods on this list, apples should be given to your dog in moderation only.

Plain Yogurt

Instead of dishing out the desserts for your dogs like ice cream or whipped cream, spoon him up a bit of plain yogurt. Not only will your dog enjoy the healthy snack, but plain yogurt is full of probiotics that can help support a healthy digestive system in your pup.

Unseasoned Turkey or Chicken Meat

It’s likely that your dog’s most favorite holiday meal is going to be the meat you have on your plate, but before you share scraps with him remember that greasy meats, seasoned meats, and meats with skin can all lead to serious digestive issues.

Just as you are looking into can dog eat pumpkin seeds, it’s also important to look into the types of seasonings and prepared meats dogs can enjoy.

Most experts agree that the healthiest meat for dogs to munch on is going to be unseasoned meats or meats without skins. If you’ve already cooked your turkey or chicken, you can give your dog small amounts of the meat so long as you remove skin and try to pull from the inside where the seasonings haven’t yet saturated.

DANGEROUS HOLIDAY FOODS FOR DOGS INCLUDE:

Onions or Garlic

Onions and garlic can be toxic for dogs. Onions and garlic also happen to be some of the most common ingredients used in holiday foods. Be careful when cooking or chopping these foods around dogs and cats, and be sure not to feed your dog any food that has been seasoned with garlic or onions just to be safe.

Raisins or Grapes

Raisins and grapes are some of the most toxic foods to dogs and are known to cause kidney failure as well as a number of other health issues. According to the ASPCA, the actual reason grapes and raisins are toxic to dogs is still unknown.

Beer, Wine or Cider

Alcohol of any kind is never safe for your pet, and ciders can be sugary and contain other ingredients that can be toxic. The safest drink for your pet during the holidays, or any day for that matter, is going to be fresh, clean, and cool water.

Pie, Cakes, Ice Cream Or Other Sugary Treats

Sugary treats like pie, ice cream, cakes, and other desserts are dangerous for pets. Not only can they lead to obesity and worsen your dog’s risk for suffering from diabetes, but sugary treats can also lead to digestive problems. It’s especially important that you stay away from candies like chocolate and artificial sweeteners like xylitol.

Bones

It’s best not to give your dog any type of bone that is not specified for canine consumption or chewing, and this is especially true when it comes to cooked bones from chicken or turkey. These bones can splinter when dogs are chewing them and cause serious internal and digestive issues.

So, when looking into can dogs eat pumpkin seeds, say yes to the seeds and no to the bones!

The Best Products For Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds

If you don’t have time to make your own pumpkin seed treats for your dog, you can always buy some!

So it’s a yes for can dogs eat pumpkin seeds, but not all of us have time to cook pumpkin seeds or make pumpkin seed treats for our dogs.

No worries. There are plenty of products you can purchase that are perfect for your dog to eat. Take a look.

Native Pet Organic Pumpkin Fiber

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Grinding up your own pumpkin seeds for Fido can be a tedious job, but you do have the option of purchasing pre-made pumpkin seed dust from the Native Pet Store. The benefit of this pumpkin seed snack for your dog is that it’s so versatile.

Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds? Yes! And they can also eat apples and pumpkin puree, as we discussed above. This product contains all of these goodies which are loaded with fiber and can provide your dog with all the natural benefits of snacking on pumpkin seeds without any of the added work on your end.

You can simply sprinkle this mixture into your dog’s food or even mix it with a bit of water to make your own pumpkin puree.

The product comes in a can that seals closed for proper storage and helps not only prevent digestive issues but also helps promote heart health and a healthy immune system.

GERB Unsalted Whole Pumpkin Seeds

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Grinding your own pumpkin seeds can be tedious, but what about actually digging them out of a pumpkin and cleaning them off? After all this, you still have to cook the pumpkin seeds. Remember, although the answer to can dogs eat pumpkin seeds is yes, eating raw pumpkin seeds is not a good idea.

If you’re looking for an easier way to provide your dog with pumpkin seed treats, we recommend purchasing them pre-roasted. Just make sure you get products that are unsalted and unseasoned. We also recommend choosing quality products, which is why we like the GERB Pumpkin Seeds listed above by the GERBS store.

These pumpkin seeds are pre-roasted and come in a 32-ounce bag. They are also unseasoned, vegan, non-GMO, and allergy-free.

Anthony’s Organic Pumpkin Seeds

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Another option you have when looking into can dog eat pumpkin seeds is ordering organic pumpkin seeds. Like the GERB Pumpkin Seeds on this list, Anthony’s Organic Pumpkin seeds are unsalted and unseasoned.

We also like that they come without the shell and the order includes a one or two-pound bag that contains cooked pumpkin seeds safe to share with your four-legged friend.

Kin+Kind Organic Pumpkin Fiber For Dogs

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Although this product is not made of actual pumpkin seeds, it does contain real pumpkin in an organic blend of ginger, flax seeds, coconut, and banana. Other ingredients include turmeric and chicory root.

Combined, these ingredients add a healthy dose of fiber to your dog’s daily diet that can not only help improve digestive health but also add in all the benefits of pumpkin.

We like that this product is also vet formulated, and the ingredients are organic, meaning they are extra clean to feed your dog.

Nummy Tum Tum Pure Pumpkin Puree

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If you want to forgo the pumpkin seeds altogether you can easily add pumpkin puree to your dog’s diet for many of the same health benefits. This is an especially useful tip if you have a senior dog with dental issues or a dog with an especially sensitive stomach.

Unfortunately, finding unsweetened pumpkin puree in your local supermarket may prove difficult, especially during the holiday season. The good news is that there are plenty of pet supply stores that carry pumpkin puree specifically made for dogs.

You can also order it online. We like the above pumpkin puree for dogs by the Nummy Tum Tum Store because it’s safe for pets, free of added sweeteners, sugars, or other ingredients, and it is made from 100% pure and organic pumpkins.

So, can dogs eat pumpkin seeds? SHOULD dogs eat pumpkin seeds? Now that you know more about the answer to those questions, tell us what you think about can dogs eat pumpkin seeds in the comment section below.