Pumpkin puree

What is pumpkin puree?

Pumpkin puree is nothing more than pureed pumpkin. You can make it from different types of pumpkin such as Hokkaido, butternut, muscat or spaghetti. These pumpkins have no poisonous bitter substances (cucurbitacins), which can be found in wild or ornamental pumpkins and are dangerous for dogs. You should therefore only use pumpkins from the supermarket or organic market and not home-grown or wild pumpkins.

To make pumpkin puree, you first need to wash the pumpkin, cut it in half and remove the seeds. Then cut it into small pieces and boil it in a little water until soft. Then puree it to a smooth consistency using a hand blender or food processor. The pumpkin puree is ready!

You can either feed the pumpkin puree immediately or store it in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for around three to four days. You can also freeze it in ice cube molds and defrost it when needed.

What are the benefits of pumpkin puree for dogs?

Pumpkin puree has many benefits for your dog's health. Here are some of them:

• It contains lots of vitamins and minerals.Pumpkin is a good source of vitamins A, C and E, as well as magnesium, potassium, iron and zinc. These nutrients strengthen your dog's immune system, eyesight, skin and coat.
• It is rich in fiber. Fiber is important for your dog's healthy digestion. It promotes intestinal motility, binds excess water in the intestines and helps with constipation or diarrhea. It also makes your dog feel fuller for longer and can therefore help with weight loss.
• It is low in calories. Pumpkin only has around 26 calories per 100 grams. This makes it an ideal snack or food supplement for dogs that tend to be overweight or are on a diet.
• It is tasty. Most dogs like the sweet taste of pumpkin and enjoy the variety in their bowl.

What are the disadvantages of pumpkin puree for dogs?

Pumpkin puree also has some disadvantages that you should be aware of:

• It can trigger allergies. As with any other food, your dog may have an allergic reaction to pumpkin. Typical symptoms include itching, skin rash, diarrhea or vomiting. When you give your dog pumpkin for the first time, you should therefore only give a small amount and observe his reaction.
• It can cause flatulence. Due to its high fiber content, pumpkin can cause bloating or abdominal pain in some dogs. This is because the fiber is fermented by bacteria in the intestines, causing gas. If your dog is sensitive to pumpkin, you should reduce the amount or avoid it altogether.
• It can lead to an overdose of vitamin A. While vitamin A is important for your dog's health, too much can be harmful. An overdose of vitamin A can lead to symptoms of poisoning such as loss of appetite, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea or bone damage. You should therefore not cover more than 10 percent of your dog's daily calorie requirement with pumpkin.

What pumpkin puree recipes can you try?

There are many ways you can prepare pumpkin puree for your dog. Here are some simple and delicious recipes you can try:

Pumpkin muffins

For these muffins you need the following ingredients:

• 100 g pumpkin puree
• 1 egg
• 100 g flour (gluten-free)
• 20 g soft butter (unsalted)
• 1 tsp honey

This is how you proceed:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and grease a mini muffin tin.
• Mix the pumpkin puree, egg, butter and honey in a bowl.
• Add the flour and stir everything into a smooth batter.
• Pour the batter into the muffin tin and bake the muffins for about 15 minutes until they are golden brown.
• Leave the muffins to cool and feed them to your dog.

Pumpkin and tuna treats

You need the following ingredients for these treats:

• 100 g pumpkin puree
• 100 g tuna (canned, in its own juice)
• 50 g rolled oats
• 50 g rice flour

This is how you proceed:

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper.
• Mash the tuna with a fork and mix it with the pumpkin puree in a bowl.
• Add the rolled oats and rice flour and knead everything into a firm dough.
• Roll out the dough on a floured work surface and cut it into small pieces.
• Place the pieces on the baking tray and bake for about 20 minutes until they are crispy.
• Leave the treats to cool and store in an airtight container.

Pumpkin and beef stew

You will need the following ingredients for this stew:

• 200 g beef (diced)
• 200 g pumpkin puree
• 200 ml water
• 1 carrot (diced)
• 1 potato (diced)
• 1 tbsp oil
• A pinch of salt

This is how you proceed:

• Heat the oil in a pan and fry the beef in it.
• Add the water, pumpkin puree, carrot, potato and salt and bring everything to the boil.
• Reduce the heat and leave the stew to simmer for about 30 minutes until the meat and vegetables are soft.
• Leave the stew to cool and serve it to your dog.