Fall has arrived and with it comes one of my favorite holidays, Halloween. Time to harvest the pumpkins and carve them for decoration. Even better, cook with them because of their many healing properties.

The benefits of pumpkin to your health listed below make perfect reasons to carve a pumpkin using these free pumpkin stencils especially if you are a dog lover. You can use the insides of the carved pumpkin or cut a whole pumpkin into chunks to add to recipes for both you and the dog.

Make Spicy Pumpkin Soup for a healthy lunch or dinner or to take to a gathering. You’ll be asked for the recipe for certain.

Pumpkins grow here in Hawaii year round, I’m stoked about that.  But know that the canned version provides health benefits and can be found all 12 months of the year as well.  Just note that you should use can whole canned pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling as it has sugar and other additives your dog doesn’t need.

Pumpkin for Dogs

Bake these Pumpkin Dog Biscuits for a tail wagging treat that’s actually good for your dog’s health.  They make great holiday gifts and are perfect dog training treats high on the healthy scale.

Pumpkin has been used for both weight loss and to help with an upset stomach or diarrhea in dogs. To assist in weight loss cut the appropriate amount of dry dog food by 1/3 and add pumpkin to it.

*make sure it is not pumpkin pie mix as it contains sugar and other ingredients not good for your dog.

The recommended kibble serving size on the bag may be too much for your dog. Check Pet Obesity Prevention for help with recommended serving sizes.

For dog upset stomach or diarrhea substitute pumpkin and feed 1/2 to 1/3 the amount of food you would normally provide and add 2 or 3 tablespoons of pumpkin depending on the size of your dog.  Start with 1 tablespoon for small dogs.  Canned pumpkin is the easiest to feed when treating for these issues.

Use pumpkin seeds to assist in eliminating parasites.  Use a food processor to grind them into small pieces or even a paste and add to meals regularly.

Treatments and Health Benefits of Pumpkin for People

Having a yellowish-orange color, pumpkin is rich in anti-oxidants and beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a vitamin that can be converted by the body into vitamin A. This helps the body in its process of regeneration, slowing down the aging process. Pumpkin pulp contains vitamins, especially pro-vitamin A, vitamins E and C, salts and minerals, carbon hydrates, and proteids. The seeds contain oil, proteids, resines and enzymes with antihelmintic properties. The pumpkin’s core contains lecithin, tyrosine, peporesine, phosphorus and vitamins B and A.

  • Pumpkin seeds contain the strongest therapeutic effects. These help in eliminating intestinal parasites, cleaning blood vessels, adjusting cholesterol level and stimulating kidney activity.
  • In treating cancer, leukemia, sclerosis, or various diseases which are hard to cure, pumpkin seeds have an energizing role.
  • Pumpkin oil extracted from the seeds is recommended for reducing excess cholesterol. Pumpkin offers protection against heart diseases by containing antioxidants.
  • The vegetable has a laxative action, being useful in case of dyspepsia and constipation. Fried pumpkin is healthy for those who suffer from heart diseases.
  • Pumpkin juice is indicated for ulcer and high acidity. It has to be drunk three times a day, half an hour before meals. It is also useful in cases of insomnia, having sedative properties.
  • Pumpkin is also indicated in cases of hormonal disorders or adolescent behavior, menopause disorder, intestinal parasites or sexual hyper-excitability.
  • In external use, pumpkin is recommended for treating burns, inflammations and abscesses. It softens the skin and diminishes the inflammatory processes of mucous.
  • A number of hydrating and anti-wrinkle creams contain pumpkin.

*credit Live and Feel for the reprinted medicinal information.

Though many of these symptoms and treatments are human related I believe the benefits to the health of dogs include many of the above properties as well.

Aloha Wags!

Thanks for reading. My hope is to give you inspirational ideas to live a life well played with your dog.

Jt Clough has worked with dogs in many capacities for the past 16 years, she is an author and an athlete.

Jt has helped dogs and their people from training to healthy living and her latest inspiration is with Wonder Dog Fund, created to help pay veterinary bills for dogs that are in need of health care. When her own dog was riddled with a neck injury that came with a $12,000 fee, she realized how many people are faced with difficult decisions when a sudden injury or illness strikes their dog. A portion of every purchase from WonderDogGear.org goes to Wonder Dog Fund, providing financial relief for dog veterinary fees.

 



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7 Comments on Healing Properties of Pumpkins for You and Your Dog

  1. Jo@simplybeingmum
    October 25, 2011 at 9:33 pm (12 years ago)

    Hey JT! Popped across from Be More With Less… loving all the pumpkin health benefits – I’m going to do a pumpkin soup post and will link back to your list – Jo

  2. Jt Clough
    October 26, 2011 at 9:04 am (12 years ago)

    Hi Jo,
    Mahalo for reading! I’ve been doing pumpkin everything this last week… and I feel great!
    Thanks for the link back and have a pumpkin filled week!

    Aloha Wags!

  3. Tess The Bold Life
    October 29, 2011 at 3:48 am (12 years ago)

    Hi Jt,
    Thanks for you wonderful comment and support! I appreciate you. I also love, love, love pumpkin in any way, shape or form!

    We have a dog park that always full of people and dogs socializing. When I run by I think of you. I wonder how you would get word out about your blog to dog parks…just thinkin.’ Happy Halloween!

  4. Kirsten
    October 31, 2011 at 6:09 am (12 years ago)

    Wow, what great information! I love squash and pumpkins but never experimented much with cooking them–maybe its time to start!

    • Jt Clough
      November 29, 2011 at 8:36 am (12 years ago)

      I found it to be super easy. Here’s a great tip on cutting the pumpkin apart to cook it:

      Put it in the over for 30 or 40 minutes on 325. Then take it out, let it cool and cut. Much easier. Add to all kinds of recipes. Plan to post more pumpkin and squash recipes for the December holidays.
      Aloha wags!

  5. Cathy
    November 28, 2011 at 7:28 pm (12 years ago)

    Thank you so much for the recipe for pumpkin biscuits for dogs. I have three rescue kids that are very picky eaters and they love these! Any more recipies? Thanks again! Cath

  6. Jt Clough
    November 29, 2011 at 8:39 am (12 years ago)

    So glad your dogs liked the Pumpkin Biscuit Treats. As you read it’s a healing thing for them to eat as well!

    Plan to add more recipes pumpkin and squash recipes for December holidays. Mahalo for subscribing.

    Aloha wags!

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