Tag Archive for: pumpkin

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin And Do They Like It?_Header

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin And Do They Like It?

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Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin And Do They Like It?_Header

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin And Do They Like It?

Yes! Dogs can eat pumpkin. Many dog treat recipes include pumpkin but you do need to keep a few things in mind.

Is pumpkin pie filling the same thing as pumpkin?

Dogs cannot eat seasoned pumpkin pie filling. If you are going to buy canned pumpkin for your pup make sure it’s either made for dogs or is plain. Many of the seasonings in pumpkin pie filling are toxic to dogs and should not be consumed.

Can my dog have pumpkin seeds?

Your dog can have pumpkin seeds but they can pose a choking hazard. Pumpkin seeds can serve as a natural dewormer as they contain cucurbitin. Cucurbitin paralyzes parasites which helps remove them from your dogs digestive track. Always consult your veterinarian before administering a natural dewormer. Pumpkin seeds can help mild cases but more severe cases may be require a stronger dewormer that only can be prescribed.

Are there any other benefits to pumpkin?

Pumpkin is high in fiber which makes it a staple in my panty for when my dog is constipated or has diarrhea. Fiber helps to push things out and firm them up. Pumpkin is loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

  • Vitamin A
  • Vitamin C
  • Zinc
  • Magnesium

Are the highest vitamins and minerals pumpkin

Does my dog even like pumpkin?

We can’t ask our canine companions if they like pumpkin directly but if we could they would probably say yes! Dogs seem to enjoy pumpkin as they enjoy many treats made with it. They also will happily eat up pumpkin put over their foods or stuffed into a toy. Of course, your dog may not like pumpkin. That’s okay! There’s loads of other foods out there that provide many of the same benefits that pumpkin does.

When you give your dog pumpkin, start with a few teaspoons. Larger dogs may need a few tablespoons before you notice any benefits – especially true when using pumpkin for it’s soluble fiber.

What can I do with pumpkin?

We’ve mentioned treats and that is by far the most common way dogs consume pumpkin. Here are some of our favorites

You can also put pumpkin on top of your dogs food, mix it in with their wet food, or add goats milk to it. Pumpkin can also be stuffed into toys like KONG to make a tantalizing treat.

Does your dog like pumpkin? What is your dogs favorite way to eat pumpkin? Let us know in the comments or @WetNosesPetSitting.

Celebrate National Pumpkin Day Header

Celebrate National Pumpkin Day

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Celebrate National Pumpkin Day Header

Celebrate National Pumpkin Day

Looking for creative ways to celebrate National Pumpkin Day? Here are some fun, and healthy, dog treat recipes you can make to celebrate with your pup!

REMEMBER: When buying canned pumpkin, make sure it’s plain pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling contains spices that your dog shouldn’t have. If you feel more comfortable buying a brand that was made to be consumed by cats and dogs, here are a few brands:

1. Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites

Ingredients
16 oz. canned pumpkin (plain pumpkin– do not use pie filling)
½ banana
¾ cup flour
½ cup oatmeal
¼ – ½ cup water
¼ cup plain low-fat yogurt
Cupcake or muffin tin
Cupcake liners

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Mix oatmeal and flour together in a large bowl.
3. Add enough water to get the dough to form a ball. Add water slowly, too much will make it too sticky, not enough and it will crumble
4. Line cupcake tins. Take a chunk of dough and press into bottom of cupcake liner. Dough should go up sides a bit, about a 1/2″
5. Bake crust for 8 mins, until firm and slightly brown.
6. Carefully take crusts out of the tin, cool on the rack. When cool, remove liners.
7. Mix pumpkin, banana and half of the yogurt together
8. Fill each crust with pumpkin banana mixture
9. Freeze until firm. Serve Frozen

Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites Recipe Card2. Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats

Ingredients
2 Large Bananas (spotted/brown are best)
3tblsp Xylitol-Free Peanut Butter
3tblsp Coconut Oil

Directions
1. Mix bananas in a stand mixer until they are broken down but not a purée. You can also use a hand mixer or a masher.
2. Slowly combine peanut butter and coconut oil until texture is smooth. A few chunks are ok!
3. Pour into your favorite silicone mold.
4. Freeze for 3-4 hours or until firm.

Banana Pumpkin Dog Treats Recipe Card

3. Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Bites

Ingredients
2c Whole Wheat Flour
1c Rolled Oats
1c Whole Fresh Cranberries (Frozen works, just make sure they’re thawed)
16oz Pumpkin
1½c Chicken, Beef, or Vegetable Stock

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350℉.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. If the mixture is too dry you can add some more stock.
3. Roll into 1-1½in sized balls and place on a lined cookie sheet.
4. Bake for 50 minutes.
5. Let cool and serve!

Cranberry Pumpkin Pie Bites Recipe Card

What’s your favorite pumpkin dog treat recipe? Let us know in the comments below.

5 Dog Treat Recipes That Your Dog Will Love

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5 Dog Treat Recipes That Your Dog Will Love Header

5 Dog Treat Recipes That Your Dog Will Love

Looking to make a dog treat recipes that your dog will love? We have five for you! Including grain-free options.

Remember: As will all peanut butter dog treats, make sure you’re using xylitol-free peanut butter.

1. 4 Ingredient Carob Dog Treats

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Microwave coconut oil for 15-20 seconds or until melted.
  2. Whisk together carob powder, vanilla extract, and coconut oil.
  3. Fold in the frozen blueberries (make sure they’re still frozen!)
  4. Pour the mixture into a mold of your choice.
  5. Place the mold in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
  6. Let set for 5 minutes at room temperature before serving.

4 Ingredient Carob Dog Treats Recipe Card

2. Grain-Free Pumpkin Coconut Dog Treats

Ingredients:

  • 15oz Pumpkin Puree
  • ½c Peanut Butter
  • ½c Melted Coconut Oil
  • 1c Applesauce
  • 1⅔c Coconut Flour
  • 1tsp Turmeric (optional)
  • 1tsp Cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, peanut butter, coconut oil, and applesauce until smooth.
  3. Add in the turmeric, cinnamon, and coconut flour.
  4. Let ingredients rest for 10-15minutes. If your dough is too moist, let it sit for a bit longer.
  5. Layout a piece of parchment paper and place the dough on top. Then place another piece of parchment on top of that dough. Roll the dough between the parchment paper sandwich until the dough is about 1/4” thick.
  6. Place dough onto a cookie sheet and let chill for 20-30 minutes.
  7. Remove the top layer of parchment paper, and then cut using cooking cutters. You can also use something like a spice container lid for smaller, circular treats.
  8. Bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the cookies are dry and hard. Check on treats at around 20 minutes as these can be finicky. Let cool completely.

Grain-Free Pumpkin Coconut Dog Treats Recipe Card

3. Grain-Free Veggie Packed Dog Treats

Ingredients:

  • ⅔c Pumpkin Puree
  • ¼c Peanut Butter
  • ½c Applesauce
  • 3c Almond Flour
  • 1c Carrots, peeled and shredded
  • 1c Baby Spinach, chopped

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. In a large bowl, beat together the pumpkin puree, peanut butter, and applesauce until well combined.
  3. Add in the almond flour, ½c at a time.
  4. Add spinach and carrots. Mix until incorporated.
  5. Roll the dough into small balls OR use cookie cutters to make fun shapes. If using cookie cutters, allow dough to chill for at least one hour before cutting.
  6. Place treats on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for 25 minutes or until treats turn golden brown on the edges.

Grain-Free Veggie Packed Dog Treats Recipe Card

4. Tuna Yum Yums

Designed with cats in mind, Tuna Yum Yums are great for smaller dogs too.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of flour
  • 1/4 cup of water
  • 1/2 cup of non-fat milk
  • 1/2 can of tuna
  • 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or fish oil
  • 1 beaten egg
  • Optional: a teaspoon of catnip, mint, or parsley

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and place parchment paper on a cookie sheet
  2. Mash or cut the tuna into small pieces, mix in the flour and milk
  3. Pour in water and vegetable oil, then mix well
  4. In a separate dish, beat the egg
  5. Mix the beaten egg into the tuna mix
  6. Mix well, until the mix becomes dough-like
  7. Shape the dough into small balls, about the size of blueberries, and place on the baking sheet
  8. Cook the dough for 12 minutes or until golden brown. Stick a toothpick in to check that the treat is fully cooked
  9. Cool for an hour before feeding to your kitty and make sure not to overindulge them.

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5. Bacon-Carob Popcorn

Ingredients:

  • 4c Unsalted Popcorn
  • 10oz Carob Chips
  • 1c Crumbled Bacon
  • 1c Xylitol-Free Peanut Butter

Directions:

  1. In a small bowl, melt carob chips and peanut butter together. You can do this in the microwave in bursts of 30 seconds. Stir in between each burst until melted.
  2. In a large bowl, mix popcorn, bacon, and the carob-peanut butter mixture.
  3. Stir slowly until the popcorn is evenly coated.
  4. Refrigerate for 30-60 minutes or until firm.

Dog Friendly Bacon Peanut Butter Popcorn Recipe Card

Do you want even more treats? Check out these other great recipes:

Did you make any of our dog treat recipes? Tag us @WetNosesPetSitting or #WetNosesPetSitting.

Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites

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Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites Header

Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites

These dog friendly pumpkin pie bites provide an excellent source of fiber and other vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix oatmeal and flour together in a large bowl.
  3. Add enough water to get the dough to form a ball. Add water slowly, too much will make it too sticky, not enough and it will crumble.
  4. Line cupcake tins. Take a chunk of dough and press into the bottom of the cupcake liner. The dough should go up sides a bit, about a 1/2″.
  5. Bake crust for 8 mins, until firm and slightly brown.
  6. Carefully take crusts out of the tin, cool on the rack. When cool, remove liners.
  7. Mix pumpkin, banana, and half of the yogurt together.
  8. Fill each crust with pumpkin banana mixture.
  9. Freeze until firm. Serve Frozen.

Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites Recipe Card

Did you make our dog friendly pumpkin pie bites? Let us know @WetNosesPetSitting or #WetNosesPetSitting. Want to try some other treats? Check out our Thanksgiving treats and our Homemade Peanut Butter cookies.

Easy Thanksgiving Treats to Make for Your Dog

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4 Easy Thanksgiving Dog Treat Recipes Header

 

It’s officially November, kitchens and cooks all over the nation are getting prepped for the big day including those who want to make some easy Thanksgiving dog treats. Thanksgiving will be here before we know it and it’s time to start planning your menu. This year make sure to include your dog in the menu by whipping some easy to make treats of their very own. Whether you’re an avid chef and baker or just starting out, you’ll find that you can at least make one or two of these homemade treat recipes.

 

The Easiest Ever Two-Ingredients Treats

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Mix ingredients together to form a stiff dough. If necessary, add extra flour or water as needed.
  3. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out evenly until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut into the desired shape or a pizza cutter to make cubes.
  4. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, place treats about 1/2 inch apart. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.
  5. Allow them to cool completely before storing in a paper bag (storing in an air-tight container will make them soft, but they’re still edible).

 

The Easiest-Ever Two Ingredients Dog Treats Recipe Card

Frozen Apple Smoothie Bites 

Ingredients:

  • 2 Apples
  • 1 Cup Greek Nonfat Plain Yogurt
  • Water

Directions:

  1. Slice 2 apples into small pieces but remove the seeds and the core.
  2. Mix the apple slices, yogurt, and a splash of water in your NutriBullet or blender and blend until you get a liquid consistency.
  3. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze for a few hours or until hard.
  4. Put the leftover treats into a Tupperware container and store them in the freezer.

 

Frozen Apple Smoothie Bites Recipe Card

Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix oatmeal and flour together in a large bowl.
  3. Add enough water to get the dough to form a ball. Add water slowly, too much will make it too sticky, not enough and it will crumble.
  4. Line cupcake tins. Take a chunk of dough and press into the bottom of the cupcake liner. The dough should go up sides a bit, about a 1/2″.
  5. Bake crust for 8 mins, until firm and slightly brown.
  6. Carefully take crusts out of the tin, cool on the rack. When cool, remove liners.
  7. Mix pumpkin, banana, and half of the yogurt together.
  8. Fill each crust with pumpkin banana mixture.
  9. Freeze until firm. Serve Frozen.

 

Dog-Friendly Pumpkin Pie Bites Recipe Card

Peanut Butter Molasses Treats

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
  3. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
  4. Knead dough into a ball
  5. Roll the ball out onto a floured surface 1/4 inch thick
  6. Take a pizza cutter and score the dough horizontally and then vertically to make a grid. Be careful to score the dough, not completely cut through.
  7. Place on a prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.
  8. Cool and break into pieces, then refrigerate.

 

Peanut Butter Molasses Dog Treats Recipe Card

The best part of making your own easy Thanksgiving dog treats is that you know exactly what your dog is eating. Plus, they get to feel like a special part of the family on Thanksgiving. If you decide to add one or all of the recipes to your menu, let us know how they turn out!