The Health Benefits of Pumpkin and Cinnamon for Dogs
The Health Benefits of Pumpkin and Cinnamon for Dogs
It’s pumpkin spice season, and that means your dog is probably smelling all the cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove of your pumpkin pie and begging for a bite no doubt. It’s so hard to resist, especially when our holiday treats are so delicious and our sweet pup wants a taste.
Although nutmeg and cloves are not safe or beneficial for your dog, the good news is that pumpkin and cinnamon are!
Your pup doesn’t have to miss out on all the pumpkin spice fun because these two ingredients actually have wonderful health benefits for dogs.
Let’s discuss how you can treat your dog to these holiday flavors!
Health Benefits of Pumpkin for Dogs
Pumpkin in its natural state—not pumpkin pie filling you get at the store—has a great source of vitamins and fiber.
It also has iron and potassium, which are essential for organ and muscle health. Pumpkin holds antioxidants which help to slow the aging process and allow your pup to fight off infections and bacteria better. For these reasons, pumpkin is a fantastic immune booster.
Because of these antioxidants and other elements, your pup will have:
- A healthy skin and coat
- Less risk of long-term health problems
- Improved brain and motor function
- More energy when aging
- Better vision
- A boosted immune system
One of the best benefits of pumpkin for dogs is that it helps with digestion. Anytime there’s an issue with your dog’s digestive system, it’s likely that pumpkin is the best remedy.
Perhaps your pup has diarrhea or a sensitive stomach with certain foods. Give them pumpkin!
It can even help with constipation. The fiber properties in pumpkin targets the issue, so whether their stool needs to be more solid or needs to loosen up, pumpkin is the way to go.
How Much Pumpkin Should You Give Your Dog?
A general rule of thumb is to give your dog 1 to 3 tablespoons of canned raw pumpkin if they are small. For a medium to large dog, 1 to 4 tablespoons are appropriate.
Simply mix it in with their dog food at mealtimes until their digestive system gets back on track, or add it to their meal every so often just to help regulate their system.
A dose of pumpkin daily (1/3 to 1/2 cup) will provide a great source of nutrients, especially for dogs who are picky eaters and who might not receive as many nutrients from the food they do eat.
Be sure that you use canned raw pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling, as this is not the same as natural pumpkin.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon for Dogs
Let’s talk cinnamon! There are two types of cinnamon that you’ll find in the store.
- Ceylon cinnamon
- Cassia cinnamon
The main difference between these two types is that Ceylon is harder to find, but it’s lighter in color and it’s best for your dog. Cassia cinnamon is still a great choice—it’s just darker in color and it’s not quite as beneficial for your pup; however, it still holds nutritional value if given the right dosage.
Cinnamon Helps With:
- Weight management
- Diabetes
- Regulation of digestive tract
- Arthritis
There’s a surprising number of dogs that struggle with obesity, especially in their older age. Along with obesity, diabetes is also a major issue for dogs, but with the help of cinnamon, a dog with either of these issues will be healthier and safer.
Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar, so it’s a natural remedy for diabetes and helps cleanse your pup’s digestive tract.
Arthritis can be a painful problem as our dogs age. It’s an inevitable part of growing old; however, cinnamon can significantly help soothe joint pain and swelling.
You’ll see a big difference in the mobility of your dog after feeding them cinnamon and possibly even in their personality since they won’t experience as much pain.
How Much Cinnamon Should You Give Your Dog?
It’s very important that you don’t give your dog too much cinnamon, as this can cause stomach issues.
Adding 1/8 to a full teaspoon of cinnamon to your pup’s food is appropriate. For every 15 pounds of body weight, add 1/8 of a tsp. Too much of a good thing can be harmful, but measuring out the amount will ensure you give the right dose to your dog.
Don’t feed cinnamon to your dog if they are pregnant as this can cause pre-mature labor due to the stimulating effects of cinnamon.
Also, be sure that you only use all-natural ground cinnamon instead of cinnamon sticks. If your dog won’t eat the spice sprinkled on their food, try mixing it with honey or a bit of peanut butter.
Pups Can Enjoy the Pumpkin Spice Season
When given the right amount of pumpkin and cinnamon, your pup can enjoy the pumpkin spice season, too!
If you want the best of both worlds, there are also pumpkin and cinnamon treats that have great nutritional value, and those are often easier to give your pup rather than mixing the ingredients in with their food.
Whatever way you choose to serve pumpkin and cinnamon to your dog, they will be healthier and happier for it!
- Kirsten Starling