Canned Pumpkin - A "Must Have" For Sick Dogs & Cats

Canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) is a great home remedy for treating constipation, diarrhea, upset stomach, indigestion and vomiting in both cats and dogs.  It’s also good for hairballs—much more healthy than the oil-based hairball formulas.  I always keep a good stock of canned pumpkin in the pantry.  It has saved me lots of money on vet bills!

Besides being high in fiber, pumpkin is a low calorie source of valuable vitamins and minerals.  The calcium and magnesium are very soothing on an upset stomach, plus pumpkin is a healthy source of Vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium.

Most dogs will eat pumpkin without hesitation.  Cats—well, it depends upon how finicky they are. Dogs and cats that eat only dry food can often become constipated.  The high water content and fiber in pumpkin should get things moving.  ;-)

Just mix the pumpkin with wet or dry food.  For a large dog, mix about 1/4 cup of pumpkin with dog food.  Small dogs—just a few tablespoons.  Cats— a teaspoon or 2 should do it. I buy organic pumpkin from Amazon.com or the baking section in your local grocery store.

Warning:  Do not give your pets pumpkin pie mix.  Some of the added spices can be toxic to dogs and cats.

Be aware that both diarrhea and constipation that continues for more than 24 hours can be very dangerous.  If adding pumpkin to the cat or dog food does not solve the problem, take your pet to the veterinarian ASAP.

About these ads

Benefits of Pumpkin for dogs

Pumpkin for cats – pumpkin for dogs – Pumpkin for diarrhea or constipation

If your dog or cat is having the occasional case of constipation or diarrhea, one of the things that might help is canned pumpkin. Yes canned pumpkin in its pureed form (NOT pumpkin pie filling) is a fantastic stool softener which makes it a good natural remedy for constipation. It often helps with upset stomach or indigestion for both cats and dogs. It is very rich in fibre and adding just one or two teaspoonfuls to your pet’s food often gets the system moving in no time. Dogs will occasionally want to eat it directly and that’s fine too. Sometimes though, finicky cats and dogs won’t touch it no matter what you do.

On the opposite end of things is diarrhea. Since the dietary fibre in canned pumpkin absorbs water, it can be a great help to a cat or dog that has diarrhea. Some pet owners report that it firms up their pet’s loose stools or diarrhea within a few hours. Again one to two teaspoonfuls is all that is needed.

N.B. It should be noted that both diarrhea and constipation can both be very serious and require immediate veterinary care depending on the cause. Whatever the cause, diarrhea or constipation lasting more than 24-36 hours requires vet care.

© Pets.ca 2007
www.pets.ca