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Fall is a great time of year for your dog. You can romp in the leaves, do fun photo shoots in adorable Halloween costumes, and go for longer walks without having to worry anymore about the heat. Fall is also pumpkin season and though it sounds a little odd, dogs love pumpkin! Pumpkin is a great, healthy treat for dogs. It provides tons of soluble fiber, beta carotene, potassium, vitamin B6, and vitamin C to support healthy dog nutrition. Pumpkin also helps support digestion, a shiny coat, and may even manage your dog’s weight. So in honor of Fall, we thought we’d share some great pumpkin treats for your dog.
Raw Pumpkin
You can feed your dog raw pumpkin if they are on a raw foods diet or if you are just looking for a way to keep them entertained for a while. Just make sure that you remove the skin and the seeds before feeding them.
Dehydrated Pumpkin
Another simple way to treat your dog to pumpkin this fall is by making dehydrated chews. You can make these simply by thinly slicing your pumpkin and either placing them in your dehydrator for a couple of hours or baking them at 125°F in the oven until dry. However you decide to make them, dehydrated pumpkin make a great chew to keep your dog occupied and help clean their teeth.
Pumpkin Puree
You can also feed your dog pumpkin puree. You can also add pumpkin puree to your dog’s regular food for an extra treat or to help supplement their nutrition. Make sure that you are feeding them a puree with no added sugars or spices that can harm your dog’s sensitive digestion. If you are worried about picking the right pumpkin puree, you can make it at home by simply baking the pumpkin at 350°F until soft, then place in a blender or food processor to puree. There are also some manufacturers that make pumpkin puree specifically for dogs such as:
- Nummy Tum Tum Pure Pumpkin For Pets
- Weruva Pureed Pumpkin Pet Food
- NuPath Pumpkin Supplement Squeeze Pouches For Dogs
You can also use these dog-friendly pumpkin purees in your pumpkin dog treat recipes if you are nervous about using raw pumpkin.
How To Make Frozen Pumpkin An Yogurt Dog Treats At Home!
These frozen pupsicles are great for early Fall while the weather is still warm outside. These are a very healthy treat to make because the yogurt adds energy-packed protein and probiotics that can aid with digestion. You can also add some ground flax seed to give your dog an extra boost of heart-healthy omega fatty acids if you’d like. Plus, it’s always fun to watch dogs react to frozen treats.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 cup lowfat yogurt
- (optional) 2 tbsp ground flax seeds
Instructions:
- Mix the yogurt and pumpkin puree together in a bowl
- If so desired, add the ground flax seeds
- Pour into an ice cream tray and freeze until set
How To Make Gluten Free Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Biscuits For Your Dog!
These gluten-free biscuits are easy for you to make and your dog to digest. Plus, with the delicious taste and healthy protein of peanut butter, these are an ideal snack to supplement your dog’s diet.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups rice flour
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 eggs
- (optional) 1 tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter, pumpkin puree, and 2 eggs until blended
- Add rice flour and cinnamon if using until fully incorporated into a thick dough
- Roll out dough on a flour surface and cut out shapes with your favorite cookie cutter
- Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes or until the edges begin to brown
How To Make NO-BAKE(!!) Pumpkin Dog Treats!
If you are looking for a quick pumpkin dog treat, these no-bake pumpkin oat balls are ideal. They are super simple to make and will give your dog tons of energy to get them through their busy day. Plus, they are hypoallergenic so even dogs with the most sensitive digestion should be able to eat these.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup water
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats
Instructions:
- In a large bowl mix together the pumpkin puree and the water until smooth
- Add the oat and mix until incorporated
- Then take small handfuls of the dough and roll into a ball
- Place the balls on waxed or parchment paper and serve immediately
How To Make Pumpkin Apple Pup Cakes!
These cakes are little more involved than some of the other recipes, so you should consider only making them for a special occasion like a fall birthday or Halloween party. However, the work is worth it because it is a really indulgent treat for your pup.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- ¾ cup oats
- ¾ cup plus 2-3 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
- ½ can pumpkin puree
- 1 medium apple peeled and diced
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 3 eggs
- 1 8 oz pkg cream cheese
- (optional) training treats for sprinkling
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F and grease the sides and bottom of a muffin tin
- In a large bowl, mix all the dry ingredients
- In a second bowl, whisk the pumpkin, ¾ cup of applesauce, eggs, and diced apple
- Slowly whisk the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until smooth
- Scoop mixture into muffin tray, filling each slot to the top
- Bake for 30 mins
- While the pupcakes are baking, beat together the cream cheese and 2-3 tbsp of applesauce together until smooth for the frosting
- When the pupcakes are done baking, let cool for ½-1 hour
- Then spread the frosting on the pupcakes and decorate with the training treats
Homemade pumpkin treats are a healthy way to give your dog an extra special treat this Fall. Not only do they taste great, but they support healthy dog nutrition. So help your dog get into the season with these fun recipes!