Another breeder once told me her breeder friend told her to use canned pumpkin or cottage cheese in the food she feeds her whelping girls. I asked her why, but she did not really know.
Well, I am the kind of person that needs to know why I do what I do. So I did research and experimented with canned pumpkin. Here is what I found:
One of the most common canine ailments is diarrhea. My puppy mom’s will always have loose stools after birthing and then sometimes it turns into constipation. Often the puppy owners take their puppy home one of the first calls I receive from them is, “My puppy has diarrhea, what do I do?”
About Diarrhea
Please remember that diarrhea is more of a symptom rather than a disease. Diarrhea is typically a sign that something is wrong with your canine’s digestive system. The problem may be simple or an indication that something serious is going on.
Some of the things that can cause diarrhea are:
- The puppy/dog may have eaten something that disagreed with its body
- It may have food allergies
- Or it may have a bacterial or viral infection or even a worm infestation. Bacterial and viral infections could be something minor or it could be something major, even fatal.
- Diarrhea also could be cause by something as simple as a change in diet.
So here is the Miracle of Pumpkin.
In most cases, what is often referred to as “Normal cases”, the solution is canned pumpkin. Canned pumpkin is rich in fiber that can help the digestive process in your canine. Besides the good fiber it will also absorb the excess water present in the stool. This will make your canine’s stool firm up. The results can happen in just a few hours!
Look what pumpkin can do:
- If your canine has constipation problems, pumpkin can soften its stool and can cure an upset stomach very quickly.
- The miracle is that whether your canine suffers from diarrhea, constipation or upset stomach canned pumpkin, becomes one of the best natural remedy to your canine’s digestive problems.
- Canned pumpkin also becomes the gauge as to whether the problem is just “normal” doggie problems, or whether there is a larger underline serious problem.
- Canned pumpkin is also good for weight loss in canines. One of the most difficult problems with lowering you canines food amount is that it thinks it is still hungry. So outside it goes to find something else to eat. Or it may simple keep looking at you wondering where the rest of its dinner is. Because pumpkin is high in fiber a couple tablespoons in the reduced food will make your canine feel fuller that it would if you just simple reduced their caloric intake.
In other words, if canned pumpkin does not take care of the problem then it is time to take your puppy/dog to the Vet.
But wait there’s more!
Canned pumpkin is low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. It is a good source of vitamin E, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium. Pumpkin also has beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. Because vitamin A is stored in the body, is not water soluble like say vitamin B or C, you do not want to give your puppy/dog to much. Giving your puppy/dog to much A is highly toxic.
Pumpkin is also a very good source of dietary fiber. However, remember that your canine system is not like a human’s digestive system, therefore it does not require a high fiber count. So a little is all that is needed.
How to administer canned pumpkin:
- Give a small canine or puppy 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons of canned pumpkin.
- For a large canine give two tablespoons.
- For the canine in between adjust accordingly.
Pumpkin is a Miracle to keep on your shelf.
References:
- https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/nutrition/dog-nutrition-a-to-z
- http://www.petinsurance.com/healthzone/pet-articles/pet-health/Canned-Pumpkin-for-Dogs-and-Cats.aspx