When it comes to pets, we usually want to make sure their food is healthy and nutritious. And if you’ve been researching what foods are healthy for dogs in your dog care, you probably already know that canned or cooked pumpkins are remarkable for their health. But did you know that the seeds boast a wide range of benefits too?
If you haven’t read up on the benefits of pumpkin for dogs, you can check out this article here: whatthepup.spotandtango.com/can-dogs-eat-pumpkin/
And if you’ve been wondering what pumpkin seeds can do for your dog, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we take a look at the top five benefits pumpkin seeds have for dogs.
Read on to learn more.
1. Great for Your Dog’s Urinary Health
Pumpkin seeds contain many antioxidants and fatty acids, all of which are great for a dog’s urinary health. Pumpkin seeds can help prevent urinary tract infections, and they can also alleviate the condition if needed.
On top of that, the seeds can be a massive help to older pets who have an overactive bladder. And if ever your dog develops kidney stones, pumpkin seeds can also help dislodge them.
2. Filled with Lipids
Lipids, simply put, are helpful and healthy fats that are essential for survival. The term encompasses a wide range of molecules, most of which are vital to the body.
Pumpkin seeds are naturally high in lipids and other fatty acids that help promote good cholesterol. So, if your pet is dealing with high cholesterol levels, pumpkin seeds are a great way to get their health back on track.
3. Loaded with Vital Minerals
Pumpkin seeds have high levels of zinc, potassium, iron, phosphorous, and calcium. Each has a range of health benefits that make pumpkin seeds a great way to enhance a dog’s health.
Potassium is excellent for muscle support, zinc is for immune functions and hormone regulations, enhancing brain activity. Iron and phosphorous are ideal for red blood cell functions, while calcium is healthy for the teeth and bone while also aiding in fighting cancer.
4. It Contains Vitamin E & K
Your dog’s cardiovascular health is critical, and vitamins E and K are great for promoting good cardiovascular health. Vitamin is fat-soluble, which means that it can protect cells while also regulating blood pressure.
On the other hand, Vitamin K promotes bone growth, bone maintenance, as well as helping the skin heal when injured. On top of this, it’s a vitamin that can prevent bleeding by causing blood cell aggregation.
5. Natural Parasite Fighter
Parasites are a massive problem with canines, and a great way to fight them off naturally is with pumpkin seeds. The seeds contain an amino acid known as cucurbitacin, which is used by a dog’s body to fight parasites like worms.
Cucurbitacin paralyzes intestinal bugs, which allows it to act as a sort of deworming agent. Check some other pumpkin benefits for dogs in PetMD website.
How Do I Feed My Dog Pumpkin Seeds?
Now that you understand some of the benefits that pumpkin seeds can have for your dog, you’re probably wondering how to feed it to them.
Well, there are many different ways that you can use to feed pumpkin seeds to your dog. However, arguably the best way to do this is by grinding them up and mixing them in with your dog’s meals.
An ounce of pumpkin seeds contains 125 calories, and the ideal serving size is a one-quarter teaspoon of ground and roasted/toasted pumpkin seeds per ten pounds of your dog’s weight.
So now that you understand the benefits that pumpkin seeds can have for your pet and know how to properly feed them the seeds, all that’s left to do is mix in some seeds in your pet’s next meal!