Pumpkin always falls into the category of the healthiest fruits. If you can make a delicious treat from it, like pumpkin pie, that would be great. As always, you can’t forget your canine friend while enjoying any food. Before that, we must know: Can dogs have pumpkin pie?
Pumpkin pie is not a safe treat for dogs. We prepare it by adding salt, sugar, spices, creams, etc., which our dogs can’t have. So indirectly, these ingredients make the pie unsafe for them. Besides, each ingredient poses health threats individually. We will go deeper into this concept now. So stay tuned.
Can Dogs Have Pumpkin Pie?
Most vets say pumpkin is a safe and healthy treat for dogs, so why not make pumpkin pie? Is it because of the pumpkin? Well, no, it is because of the ingredients used in its pie.
The reason why pumpkin pie is so flavorful is that we use spices, salt, sugar, dairy products, fillings, oils, etc. in its mixture. Vets will never suggest you offer salt and sugar to your dog. The required amount of sodium is already present in the dog food. Besides, doctors say to keep dogs away from dairy products, spices, oils, etc. It is because these ingredients will not only upset a dog’s stomach but also cause organ damage.
Don’t think sugar-free pumpkin pie can be a safe substitute for your paw friend. All products that are labelled as sugar-free contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol. This is another toxic ingredient for dogs that can result in xylitol poisoning. In short, pumpkin pie is unsafe for them in almost all forms.
Why Can’t Dogs Have Pumpkin Pie?
Almost all human foods pose health threats to dogs to some degree. Some dishes are more harmful for them, and some dishes are less harmful for them. Pumpkin pie falls into the more harmful category. Let’s see how.
It Is High In Salt
As said before, pumpkin pie turns out to be an unhealthy dish for dogs because of its ingredients. For example, one pumpkin pie contains 600 mg of salt. Meanwhile, they are not allowed to consume this much salt. This can raise their blood pressure and cause dehydration. If the amount of salt is high, dogs may have to go through salt poisoning. This can happen from eating too much apple pie as well. It is because the more a dog eats this pie, the more he is ingesting salt.
Contains Dairy Products
Like salt, dairy products like milk and cream are also primary ingredients in pumpkin pie. And of course, the milk that you will use to make this pie is going to be canned milk. Meanwhile, canned milk and cream contain preservatives, additives, and sugar. Firstly, dogs are lactose-intolerant, so they can have pumpkin pie because of the dairy products in them. Secondly, the ingredients mentioned other than milk will cause stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
The more a dog eats pumpkin pie, the more he is taking the milk and cream. Hence, he will have an improper digestive system with symptoms of weakness and drooling.
Has Several Spices
While making pumpkin pies, we usually add different spices to them. Such as cinnamon, allspice, ginger, and nutmeg.
In most cases, we see nutmeg promote liver disease, low blood sugar levels, heart disease, etc., especially when its amount is high. If your dog is allergic to cinnamon, pumpkin pie can irritate his skin and gut because of this spice.
Again, allspice has an aromatic enzyme called eugenol. This can damage a dog’s liver.
Nutmeg contains myristicin, a toxic compound that is also present in nut oil. Sometimes ingesting the nutmeg can result in nutmeg toxicity in dogs. Its symptoms would be disorientation, dehydration, increased heart rate, seizures, hallucinations, and high blood pressure.
The Pie Filling Is Toxic For Dogs
We usually don’t skip the filling over the pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, this filling has almost all the ingredients that can harm a dog. They are artificial sweeteners, sugar, preservatives, and flavourings. These can be a threat to dogs’ metabolic and digestive systems.
The same goes for the whipping cream that we use in fruit and vegetable pies. If the pumpkin pie that you are eating contains whipping cream, the level of fat would be higher, which can have drastic side effects on dogs.
Has Fats And Oils
The fats and oils are mainly present in the pie filling and pie crust. Since we use butter to make the dish flaky, we also add fat to it. This, too, is a downside for dogs’ digestive systems. If the amount of fat is high, they can go through pancreatitis.
Alternative Of Pumpkin Pie For Dogs?
When our paw friends beg for a bite of pumpkin pie, we can’t offer them, and that’s very disheartening. Don’t worry; you can opt for an alternative and make your dog believe that it’s a pumpkin pie.
You can use a plain pumpkin, take some of its flesh, and make the texture pure. Since cooked pumpkins are preferable for mammals, remember to boil or steam the pumpkin first. For that, cut the pumpkin flesh into small pieces. Then cook those pieces unless they become tender. Then blend or mash the soft pumpkin pieces and bring them into a pure form. Don’t add any ingredients to it. Now it is all ready for your dog’s consumption.
The good news is that pumpkin puree, or plain pumpkin, can offer many health benefits to dogs. For instance, it has vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, fibre, and prebiotics.
The vitamins can aid your dog’s eye health, muscle health, skin health, and immune system. Again, potassium will take care of his nerve health and heart health, and fibre will aid his digestive health. Lastly, the prebiotics will regulate dogs’ body growth and maintain the good bacteria needed in the intestine.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can Dogs Have Pumpkin Pie?
Can dogs have pumpkin pie sometimes?
Let’s say you have a large breed, like a German Shepherd. If he licks a small portion of the pumpkin pie, maybe he won’t have any side effects. But if a small breed, like a Yorkie, eats that portion, he will have adverse side effects. It would be better if you didn’t offer pumpkin pie to dogs at all, as large breeds can also fail to escape the risks of this pie.
Which pie can dogs eat?
Dogs can eat apple pie, sweet potato pie, and chicken pot pie. However, all these dishes should not have dairy products, salt, sugar, filling, or spices included.
Is raw pumpkin safe for dogs?
Raw pumpkin may not be safe for all dogs, especially those who have trouble digesting foods. For better results, always offer boiled or cooked pumpkin to them in small pieces or puree form.
What happens if a dog eats pumpkin pie?
Eating one small bite of a pumpkin pie may not cause serious health issues for dogs. But more than that can upset their stomach, resulting in vomiting, diarrhoea, and even toxicity from its ingredients.
Final Thoughts
Since pumpkins are safe for dogs, we may think, Can dogs have pumpkin pie? The answer is no; pumpkin pie is not the pumpkin alone, but a group of many harmful ingredients.
If you can prepare this pie without adding salt, sugar, spices, or dairy products, that can be safe for dogs. But that may not give us satisfaction, as this won’t look like pumpkin pie. Instead, make pumpkin puree and let your dog have it when you are enjoying the pie.
Sometimes our four-legged friends eat foods discreetly that are not allowed to them. If he does the same with the pumpkin, don’t delay in informing his vet.
