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by Team 9C

The Benefits of Pumpkin, Pumpkin Puree, & Pumpkin Powder

How powerful is pumpkin as a healthy snack for your dog? Pumpkin has head-to-tail nutritional benefits for dogs from its depth of nutrients, including:

Beta-Carotene

Pumpkins have some of the highest levels of beta-carotene. This nutrient converts to Vitamin A to support your dog’s eye health and immune system.

Vitamin A

This vitamin is foundational for your dog’s organ function and development, including brain health, skin health, skeletal health, reproductive health, as well as eye development. It also plays a vital role in cellular differentiation [1]. 

Vitamin C

Known as the free-radical scavenger, this antioxidant can reduce inflammation and supports healthy cognitive function and aging [2]. While your dog’s body naturally produces its own Vitamin C, the supplemental boost from a source like pumpkin is a welcomed addition to your dog’s diet.

Vitamin E

The “E” in Vitamin E could easily stand for “excellent!” This antioxidant keeps your dog’s immune system at peak performance and supports healthy skin and coat.

Iron

Iron is essential for carrying oxygen throughout the body–this allows the cell to produce energy.

Potassium

This electrolyte supports heart, nerve, and muscle function. It also helps the body digest and absorbs other nutrients while preventing dehydration.

High soluble fiber

Fiber’s primary function is to aid in digestion–while it helps regulate bowel movements, it also keeps bad bacteria at bay while promoting good bacteria for better overall gut health. It can also help dogs maintain a healthy body weight [3].

Insoluble fiber

This form of fiber has an opposite but equally beneficial effect on your dog’s digestive system. Insoluble fiber encourages the digestive tract to draw in moisture. This helps bulkier stools pass more easily.

A bowl of pumpkin seeds for dog treats


How Can Pumpkin Seeds Help Your Dog?

For centuries, people fed their dogs pumpkin seeds for their natural health benefits, which may include:

  • Acting as an excellent source of calcium for skeletal support
  • Providing ample fiber to aid in digestion
  • Supporting skin and coat health along with cognitive function with omega-3 fatty acids
  • Acting as a natural dewormer to help fight intestinal parasites
  • Neutralizing free radicals and preventing oxidative cell damage
  • Minimizing kidney stones and helping existing stones pass
  • Supporting the urinary tract
  • Providing plenty of iron for healthy red blood cells

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of baked pumpkin or plain canned pumpkin
  • 2 cups of whole grain flour (or another healthy flour)
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup roasted of unseasoned pumpkin seeds

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 F.
  2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together your pumpkin and egg until fully combined.
  3. Next, add your flour and stir well.
  4. Place the cookie dough between two sheets of baking paper then roll out to about ½” thickness. If your mixture is extra sticky, you can dust flour over the baking paper before adding the dough.
  5. Remove the top sheet of paper and slide the slab of dough on a cutting board.
  6. Use your cookie cutter to create cookies, removing the excess dough from between.
  7. Decorate the cookies with the pumpkin seeds, gently pressing them into the dough.
  8. Place the parchment and cookies onto a baking sheet with about 1 to 2 inches of space between the cookies.
  9. Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are brown.
  10. Let cool and serve!
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