The seasonal iconic pumpkin, in classic orange, is not only for carving scary lanterns, but It’s a ‘functional’ whole food ingredient, as well as the most popular choice for fancy dress!
Hailing the end of Autumn, Halloween is packed with fun social opportunities for both dogs and their owners. Whether you opt for a Halloween fundraising dog walk, a Howloween tea pawty, or a spooktacular fancy dress parade.
It’s a time to put your training skills to the test and optimise polite meet and greets, along with real-time desensitisation, focus and communication.
With 76% of dog owners admitting they will dress their dogs up for Halloween, canine pumpkin costumes rank as the number one choice followed by hot dogs, bats, Devils and ghosts.
Over a third of dog owners think their pets in costume will attract more attention, especially on social media which appears to be driven by Millennials who lead the pack in dressing up their dogs at 86% compared to the Boomers at 56%.
Remember a dog is for life, not just for Instagram! Tune into your dog’s calming signals, like head-turns, yawning, lip licking, or blinking, which indicate he is not happy wearing a pumpkin suit.
Adding a tablespoon of lightly steamed or pureed pumpkin, for a 10KG dog, is packed with minerals, vitamins and powerful carotenoid antioxidants helping a healthy immune system and offering a digestive boost.
Its 94% water content makes it a natural remedy for upset tummies, as it rehydrates and soothes the digestive tract, especially when cortisol levels rise and increase thirst.
Plus, Pumpkin is full of natural fibres that work as pre-biotics to feed the trillions of bacteria residing in your dog’s microbiome, (gut lining). This is where 90% of your dog’s immune system is based.
Like other orange vegetables, pumpkin contains a lot of beta-carotene, which is a precursor for vitamin A. Once it converts to vitamin A in the body, it helps improve vision as well as boost overall immunity and skin and coat health.
Packed with anti-oxidants Including Vitamin C and E and carotenoids from its plant pigments. The carotenoid Zeaxanthin protects your dog’s eyes from light damage. It may even contribute to slowing down the ageing process, improving heart health, increasing glutathione levels, and reducing skin inflammation.
Pumpkin also contains important minerals like potassium, copper, manganese, and iron each plays a role in cellular functions.
There’s also evidence that pumpkin seeds when ground up, and served by the teaspoon, contain valuable Omegas and the amino acid, Cucurbiton, which paralyses worms. Studies in rats and puppies concur that pumpkin seeds do eliminate intestinal worms!
As Halloween also heralds the start of the fireworks season, which affects 50% of Britain’s dogs with noise sensitivity, Pumpkin is food for thought in that Science concurs that there is a connection between healthy digestion and cognitive function.
Adding pureed pumpkin to your dog’s diet might help reduce fireworks anxiety just with healthier digestion.
This Autumn optimise pumpkin power, a seasonal veggie with a raft of health benefits.
We have more information on how to care for your dog during Fireworks season, read our blog now.
As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk