Halloween is here! And whether or not your dog loves those trick-or-treaters coming to the door, we can bet they love celebrating with some tasty treats of their own.
Of course, we’re not talking about the ones in the bowl by the door – we’re talking about the ones we’re going to make especially for them!
Today’s post is all about Halloween treats for dogs, and the star of the show is pumpkin!
We love pumpkin for dogs for many reasons…
Why We Love Pumpkin
The main reason we love pumpkin so much is its soluble fibre content. The soluble fibre content in pumpkin adds bulk to your dog’s stool by absorbing excess water. That’s ideal when it’s, well, runnier than normal. But not only that, fibre fermentation produces beneficial fatty acids that supply energy to cells, stimulate intestinal sodium and water absorption, and lower the pH level of the large intestines.
Ironically, the same way pumpkin helps with diarrhea, it can also help with constipation. For a pet who seems to be having a little trouble doing her business, the high water and fibre content in the pumpkin helps bulk up and soften the stool, acting as a natural laxative and making it easier for your pup to poop.
And, even if your pet isn’t dealing with either of these issues, adding a bit of pumpkin to her diet on a regular basis can help keep things moving smoothly inside that digestive tract.
Pumpkin is also high in:
- Prebiotics – stimulate the growth or activity of probiotics (beneficial bacteria) in the intestines and inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria
- Vitamin A (beta-carotene) – great for eye health
- Potassium – helps regulate blood pressure, improve muscle health, and assists in metabolism
- Vitamin C – integral for immune health
- Iron – assists with the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin
- Zinc – great for skin and coat health
- Phosphorus – important for bone health
- Magnesium – helps with hormone functions, maintaining electrical balance across the membranes, and maintaining calcium movement into the muscles
Plus, it’s low in fat, so you don’t have to worry about it interfering with your dog’s diet or about the sugar content!
But this is important. You can use homemade pumpkin puree or buy canned pumpkin – just be sure it isn’t pumpkin pie filling! Pumpkin pie filling has added ingredients, including sugar and other (potentially toxic) sweeteners like xylitol, so you want to make sure you’re not using that!
[RELATED] Want more treats? Here are some of our favourite probiotic treat recipes!
Halloween Treats for Dogs
1. Tasty Pumpkin Patch Treats
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin
- 1/2 cup plain kefir
- 1/2 cup blueberries
Mix the pumpkin and kefir together, then gently fold in the blueberries. We use frozen blueberries because they tend to hold up better. Put the mixture in ice cube trays, then freeze for a few hours and serve.
2. Apple Pumpkin Pie Iced Cream
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup plain goat’s milk
- 1 cup pumpkin
- 1 apple, peeled and cored
Toss all the ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a freezer-safe container and freeze. Once solid, scoop out some ‘ice cream’ and serve it on top of dinner or as a special treat.
3. Peachy Pumpkin Pots
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin
- 1/2 cup peaches, peeled and cored
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
Stir together all of the ingredients, then pour into molds and freeze. Pop out and serve.
Just for Fun: Feeling extra Halloween-y? Use little Halloween molds!
These treats are sure to please! Trick-or-Treat!
