Pumpkin pie has a smooth texture because of the creamy margarine, eggs, and pumpkin-rich custard filling used. And the flavour! 

Humans can attest to it that only one munch of a professionally prepared pumpkin pie, alongside its classic aroma, ecstatic taste, and smooth texture, will have anyone pleading for more. 

Very few fruit-based confectioneries satisfy people’s confectionery cravings like pumpkin pies do. As a matter of fact! It is a trendy go-to fruit-based snack in most American homes today.

As you may happen to be a fan of pumpkin pies, as most individuals are, you might contemplate sharing a few pieces of your freshly baked snack with your canine companion as a special treat. 

Before sharing any of it, though, you must be well equipped with accurate information on whether it is healthy for your dog; hence the question, Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Pies? 

There are a whole lot of “human-friendly confectioneries” that are indeed toxic to dogs; let’s find out if pumpkin pies are one of the many confectioneries that are not canine-friendly. 

What Is Pumpkin Pie?

Pumpkin pie is a very delicious confectionery that is usually served as dessert and is usually prepared by spicing a huge pumpkin filling and baking it in a pastry crust. It is a popular go-to dessert, especially during the holiday or fall seasons. 

Humans feed on pumpkin pie for various well-known reasons. Firstly, it is consumed because it is a traditional dessert commonly enjoyed during every Thanksgiving service, Halloween, and other festivities during the fall seasons. 

The combination of spiced pumpkin filling, made of high-quality ingredients, and a flaky crust provides a very ecstatic and delightful taste that so many Americans find enjoyable. In addition, pumpkin pie is most often served in a serene environment where there is peace, tranquillity, nostalgia, and comfort. 

Its inviting flavour and aroma evoke a sense of warmth, cosiness, and a healthy lifestyle, making it a popular go-to dessert during the cold seasons. 

Lastly, pumpkins are popularly accepted as a symbol of every harvest season, and pies made out of Pumpkin are a delicious and savoury manner to showcase this versatile and seasonal fruit. 

Every time they are prepared traditionally, pumpkin pies contain a variety of essential nutrients that contribute to their nutritional value/profile. 

Pumpkin itself in any pumpkin pie contributes many healthy nutrients, as it is low in caloric concentration and an awesome source of dietary fibre, vitamins C and A, alongside other beneficial nutritional needs. 

However, note that the overall healthiness of a pumpkin pie dessert can vary slightly depending on the nature of the recipe used to prepare it and the methods of preparation used.

As you may know, pumpkin pies contain beneficial nutritional needs. Still, it is traditionally prepared with sugar in high concentration and a pastry crust, increasing the fat and calorie concentration.

In addition, some of the recipes might need a high concentration of condensed milk and heavy whipped cream, which can contribute to the pie’s rich nature. 

Still, the downside is that the saturated fats in the pie will increase to an unhealthy amount. Moderation is important when you want to enjoy a pumpkin pie, especially when you are cautious of your fat and sugar intake. 

Nutritional Value of Pumpkin Pie

Before allowing your pet to consume any “human confectioneries” in addition to their regular diet, it is essential that, as a pet owner, you decipher the nutritional composition and daily value of the confectionery. 

Description And Ingredients Commonly Found In Pumpkin Pies

As most recipes online indicate, pumpkin pies consist of only simple ingredients: Pumpkin, eggs, pie shell, nutmeg, sugar, condensed milk, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. 

Other vitamins and minerals are derived from the fresh Pumpkin used to prepare the pie, and the nutrients derived from any pumpkin used are determined by the quality and breed of Pumpkin used to bake the confectionery. 

When it comes to humans, their digestive system is popularly known to tolerate the spices in pumpkin pies like nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, regardless of their taste. But pumpkin pie is not the healthiest treat for any dog at all. 

For the sake of healthy living and, if possible, the long life of your canine friend, there are other healthy – alternative human-friendly confectioneries that a dog can have for occasional treats. 

Suppose you are wondering why; it is because pumpkin pies have a high-fat content due to the condensed milk and heavy whipped cream, and the snack provides only a few grams of vitamins & minerals. It also has a high concentration of unhealthy carbohydrates due to its sugar content. 

Generally speaking, pumpkin pies have no substantial amount of essential vitamins and minerals for your canine buddy to benefit from. It may not be a great treat for him or her as it will likely cause more harm than good. 

The Nutritional Content Of Pumpkin Pies And Potential Concerns For Dogs

With regards to nutritional value, one serving of a pumpkin pie is 100 grams, and the amount of calories derived per serving is 243. 

The total Fat derived from a serving of pumpkin pie is 10 grams (15% daily value). Total Fat is derived from saturated Fat (5 grams), Trans Fat (1 gram), Polyunsaturated fats (2 grams), and Monounsaturated fats (2 grams). 

Pumpkin pies also contain:

• 26 milligrams of cholesterol (8% daily value).
• 239 milligrams of sodium.
• 167 milligrams of potassium (4%% daily value).
• 3.9 grams of protein (7% daily value).

It has 35 grams of total carbohydrate content (11%% daily value per serving), the carbohydrate content is derived from dietary fibre (1.8 grams and 7% daily value), and 19 grams of sugar. 

The percentage (%) per serving shown above is the “Daily Value” of each nutrient derived from a serving of pumpkin pie. 

This means that the amount of nutrients stated above per serving of pumpkin pies actually contributes very little dietary requirements to a dog’s daily diet. Pumpkin pie contains:

• Only a small amount of essential proteins.
• Too many calories.
• Sugar.
• Saturated fats per serving.  

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Pie?

When it boils down to the vegetable, i.e. (Pumpkin) itself, it is generally safe and even beneficial to a canine’s health. But, it is essential to note that traditionally prepared pumpkin pies are not suitable or recommended for canines. 

This is major due to the harmful & toxic ingredients derived from one serving or two of the delicious pie. Some toxic ingredients in pumpkin pies that are not dog-friendly are added sugar, spices such as nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and cinnamon, and even dairy products such as heavy whipped cream and condensed milk. 

Consumption of pumpkin pie with these added & toxic ingredients may result in gastrointestinal tract complications, an upset stomach, and cause other possible complications to a dog’s health. Generally, it is wise to avoid feeding pumpkin pie or even keeping it anywhere close to your canine. 

However, if you would still love to share some of your sweet pumpkin pies with your favourite buddy, you can grab a few utensils and prepare a unique/separate, dog-friendly pumpkin pie. Plain, canned Pumpkin (Avoid pumpkin pie fillings) can serve as a healthy and tasty treat for your canine. 

Make sure that this dog-friendly recipe excludes everything concerning sugar, additives, seasonings, toxic herbs, and sweeteners. 

Basically, it would be wise to consult with your canine’s veterinarian about feeding pumpkin pies or other toxic human confectioneries or drinks to your dog, as every pet’s dietary needs differ. 

Potential Risks Of Feeding Pumpkin Pie To Dogs

You may still consider providing your dog with a few slices of the pumpkin pie you’re having for dessert. 

Some guidelines specifically serve the purpose of helping individuals never relent concerning the portion sizes and frequency of pumpkin pie servings to their dogs. Pumpkin pies are entirely dangerous to dog pets.

The pumpkin pie provides not even a trace of the substantial amount of essential nutrients needed for canines to grow healthily; there are no traces of essential dietary requirements like vitamins or minerals for your pet, so there is no reason to give your dog large amounts of it. 

The Potential Risks of Pumpkin Pies for Dogs Are As A Result Of: 

1. High Sugar And Their Impact On Canine Health

High sugar consumption is bad for a pet dog, human beings can eat sugar no matter what and will be able to contain its effects & consequences, but dogs can barely contain it. If you must serve pumpkin pies to your dog, remember that it is also extremely unhealthy if fed in large amounts. 

If your dog consistently gets a moderate confectionery serving, it shouldn’t hurt his body system. 

But, eating a whole lot of sugary confectioneries like (pumpkin pie) may result in severe health hazards after a long period of time, such as diarrhoea, obesity, gastrointestinal disturbances, diabetes, constipation, excessive urination, bloating, metabolic complications, etc. 

When it comes to adverse health effects, your dog could get sick with pancreatic cancer. 

Read Also: Can Dogs Eat Quesadillas? What You Should Know

2. High-Fat Content And Their Impact On Canine Health

Consumption of foods with a high fat concentration is unhealthy for a dog’s health. One example of unhealthy food and fatty human food is pumpkin pie cookies. 

Such fatty foods can result in one possible life-threatening health hazard known as pancreatitis. And, because the fat content from the pumpkin pie may contain more than 10% of the calories, sugars, and carbohydrates a dog derived from his regular diet, he may gradually become obese. 

On the other hand, if pumpkin pies contain essential fatty acids that can benefit a dog, like omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, it would be a healthy option to serve as a dog treat.

Veterinarian doctors majorly recommend these essential fatty acids as effective remedies for skin allergies on a dog, osteoarthritis, inflammation, heart diseases, and cancers. Unfortunately, pumpkin pie has no such essential fatty acids.

If algal, flaxseed, and cod liver oils were available in one serving of pumpkin pies, it would have been an awesome treatment option, especially for dogs with eye and skin complications. Unfortunately, no such oils are derived from a serving of pumpkin pie. 

3. Added Ingredients Such As Nutmeg, Ginger Or Artificial Sweeteners That Can Be Toxic To Dogs

Nutmeg and ginger are natural sweeteners that can harm your canine. These natural ingredients usually added to a traditionally prepared pumpkin pie are a good reason you should bake your dog’s pumpkin pie separately with only dog-friendly ingredients that won’t be toxic or harmful to its health. 

On the other hand, artificial sweeteners are often used as an alternative to sugar, and individuals claim that pumpkin pies prepared with sugar alternatives are keto, sugar-free, plain, and Paleo. Best believe such confectioneries are unsafe for a pup’s health. 

Suppose you unknowingly share a pumpkin pie that contains ginger, garlic, cinnamon, or nutmeg with your canine. In that case, you will definitely observe low blood sugar, seizures, obesity, overall weakness, vomiting, and excessive urination. Call the Pet Poison Hotline or a veterinarian doctor for help. 

Alternatives To Pumpkin Pie For Dogs

Canines cannot consume pumpkin pie. Baked goods like those are not safe as a dog treat due to the high sugar concentration and the dangerous additives. 

Additionally, if you think canned pumpkin pie is safe since the traditionally prepared one is not safe, you are mistaken because canned pumpkin pie is also not dog-friendly. Read on to discover some safe alternatives to pumpkin pie for dogs. 

Homemade confectioneries play a vital role in controlling the ingredients used to bake and ensuring a healthier treat option for your canine pet. 

There is no doubt that pet dogs will benefit from the advantages that come with consuming homemade dog treats. The reason is that most dog-friendly homemade treats are made out of only fresh, clean, and natural ingredients, and it is always consumed almost immediately. 

Pet owners will always benefit from this because health hazards will, in turn, be avoided if you incorporate healthy homemade treats because they will be aware and in control of the ingredients used to prepare homemade treats for their canine’s overall health and well-being.

Homemade dog treats have no unhealthy preservatives, artificial sweeteners, chemicals, fats, unhealthy carbohydrates, or additives that store-bought dog treats contain.

Unlike store-bought treats, dog-friendly homemade treats do not have to be kept for a long time in packaging on top of store shelves waiting for weeks just for households to purchase. 

Homemade treats are made with potent, extra fresh, and natural ingredients. For every serving of homemade dog treats a dog consumes, there is always a positive impact on its digestive system, teeth, heart, eyes, muscles, bones, and fur. 

Equipped with accurate information, you now know that homemade treats make it possible to control exactly what your dog consumes daily. 

There are no hidden artificial sweeteners, no artificially sourced ingredients, no preservatives, and your dog will not be vulnerable to unnecessary health hazards. 

Let us give you an insight into the “dog-friendly human homemade treats” you can incorporate alongside your dog’s regular diet as an alternative to pumpkin pies and the ones you should totally avoid. 

Before you consider alternative homemade treats for your dog, here are some safe, dog-friendly human foods to incorporate into your dog’s treats. 

• Carrots
• Little amounts of peanut butter (Excess consumption will lead to xylitol poisoning)
• Cooked eggs
• Cooked, boneless salmon
• Blueberries
• Watermelon
• Pineapple
• Plain white, wheat, or whole-grain bread
• Cooked or mashed corn (Off the cob)
• Green peas 
• Oatmeal
• Apples (Off the seeds)
• Peanuts (Off the Shell)
• Cashews (Off the Shell)
• Sweet potatoes
• Cooked, boneless chicken
• Pork Meat
• Mangoes
• Turkey, beef, and fish
• Rice
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Oranges
• Shortbread (Once in a while)

Human-Food-Based Recipes For Homemade Dog-Friendly Treats

1. Peanut Butter And Sweet Potato Homemade Treat

This treat is prepared with some peanut butter, salt, eggs, flour, some water and sweet potatoes. These ingredients are an awesome source of dietary fibre for your canine companion.

2. Oatmeal, Blueberry And Peanut Butter Homemade Treat

This treat is prepared with ground oatmeal, eggs, flour, baking soda, and eggs little granulated sugar, and your pup will be happy and salivating for more after each bite. 

3. Banana Bread Homemade Treat

Banana bread is extremely delicious and popular, prepared with freshly ripe bananas, brown sugar, margarine, baking powder, and flour. The protein (milk) and ripe banana in this recipe are undoubtedly excellent dietary fibre and protein sources for your canine buddy. 

4. Fruit Salad For Dogs

As written above, human foods such as blueberries, carrots, strawberries, watermelon, bananas, and apples are safe and non-toxic for dogs. Just make sure to properly wash and cut any of these fruits before serving to your dog and watch him gnaw excitedly on his healthy treat. 

5. Chicken Dog Treats

Alongside a plate of spaghetti, basmati rice, or white rice, your pooch could be treated to some chicken nuggets and maybe two cooked eggs. Both eggs and chickens are great for essential proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

6. Homemade Dog Biscuits 

Homemade dog-friendly biscuits are the most generally accepted regular dog treats used in most pet owners’ households today. The five basic ingredients for this treat are wheat flour, peanut butter, meat stock, flaxseed, and oatmeal.  

Strictly Canine-Based Alternatives To Pumpkin Pie For Dogs

Some pooch owners may not trust “human-only foods.” This is because they believe that most, if not all, are not entirely dog friendly, for example, peanut butter. 

If you do not want to incorporate human foods into the homemade treats of your dog, maybe you would like to specifically serve homemade treats made with specifically canine-friendly ingredients. 

Here is a concise description of pooch-friendly ingredients that are good in dog treats. 

• Pet-safe CBD oils
• Herbs
• Locally sourced meat
• Pureed Pumpkin
• Honey
• Coconut flour
• Oat flour
• Blackstrap Molasses
• Star anise
• Oregano
• Chickpea flour
• Sunflower oil

Below are some homemade- treat options using specific ingredients that dogs can safely consume

1. Homemade Jerky Canine Treats

Beef jerky is recognized first among all the canine-specific treats to make for your canine because they have a longer shelf life, is the easiest to prepare, and provide the greatest source of protein among all the other canine-based alternatives. 

All a pet owner needs to do is purchase freshly cut & healthy cow legs in the beef market (specifically lean meat) or chicken parts or turkey parts and wash them thoroughly at home before anything else.

Marinade your beef in only a small amount of salt and some beef seasoning cubes, do not add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, onions, garlic, oil, and other spices. After the meat marinades, push it into your oven, halogen cooker, microwave, or dehydrator and grill for a very long time until it turns dry. 

Preserve it safely and serve it to your dog as much as you like. Since it is strictly canine-based, it will pose no danger to your dog’s health. 

2. Turkey Sauce, Sweetened With Sweet Potato Dog Treats

Sweet potatoes are a wonderful source of protein that humans will deeply appreciate; canines can also benefit from this delightful meal. 

Purchase some turkey and sweet or Irish potatoes, wash properly and cut them into many slices, marinade them thoroughly in just a few seasoning cubes, and add some peppers too. 

After marinating the turkey and sweet potatoes, put them into your oven, halogen cooker, microwave, or dehydrator and grill until you observe that it is well cooked and has turned into a puree. Serve with some fresh water, and Carrots or cucumbers would be a great choice for vegetable options. 

3. Biscuit Bone Treats

Biscuit bones are canine-based treats derived from turkeys, lean beef, chickens, gizzard, and turkey legs that one can easily purchase from the beef market or even make a whole purchase of bones from a meat market. 

The beef naturally would still be bloody, so it is advisable to properly and thoroughly wash off every ounce of blood, transfer the neatly washed beef into a pot and cook until soft with salt and beef seasoning. 

Pet dogs of all breeds and sizes generally love biscuit bones. No canine is ever allergic to biscuit bones, and neither do they find them toxic; biscuit bones are not known to cause any choking hazards. 

Serve some to your canine when it is well cooked, and preserve any remnants in your refrigerator. 

Read more: Can Dogs Eat Raisin Bread? Find Out

4. SeaFood Canine Treats

Some sea foods that are dog friendly consist of delicious crustaceans such as skates, shrimps, crabs, sharks, sawfish, catfish, clams, squids, octopuses, limpets, scallops, and whelks. 

You may have observed that we have continuously emphasized “human foods’ and their toxicity to dogs. It is important to note that sea foods mentioned above are strictly “Canine-specific foods” that are very toxic to humans. 

To safely prepare these crustaceans for your dog, use a big pot that will be used specifically for just your dog’s seafood treats. 

From the seafood market, purchase and properly wash any dog-friendly seafood of your choice and marinade it with fish seasoning and other safe seasonings for dogs; afterwards, you can boil it until soft and serve it alongside the regular diet of your canine companion.  

Some Store-Bought Treats Designed Specifically For Dogs

Below is a list of some canine-friendly store-bought treats that can serve as an alternative to pumpkin pies for dog treats; 

• Happy Spring Dog Treats
• Just Jerky Canine Treats
• Zami Pet Happy Treats
• Vetri Science Pinchers
• Dog Macarons Treat
• Pill Hiding Probiotic Treat
• Dr. Gary’s Best Breed Treat
• Open-farm dehydrated beef treats
• The honest kitchen is purely one

Tips For Selecting And Offering Safe Homemade & Store-Bought Treats To Dogs

Considering pet owners’ affection for their pet dogs, it is already known that they love to appreciate their pets and show them how special they are by serving them fun and satisfying treats occasionally. 

Fortunately, in today’s world, so many tasty and ecstatic snacks are sold in various malls and grocery stores from which to choose a treat for their pet. 

However, how can pet owners decipher which treats are 100% safe, non-toxic, and healthy for their pets? Find out below! 

• Decipher the current health condition of your dog first and foremost. Figure out if he or she has intolerance-related issues regarding human-friendly food ingredients like butter, salt, milk, wheat, sugar, additives, garlic, nutmeg, corn, soy, and nuts. 
• Purchase strictly dog treats that are manufactured with just natural & fresh ingredients such as oatmeal, lamb, locally sourced carbs, vegetables, and proteins. 
• Keep away from dog treats that provide an ingredient label that confuses you. 
• Strictly stick to dog treats that have low-calorie content and low-fat content.
• Remember to ensure the nutritional composition of the treat you pick for your dog will serve to provide a balanced and nutritious diet for your dog.
• Avoid buying treats that are uneasy about chewing and small in size. This will help to avoid choking hazards.
• Every pet owner should make sure to check expiry dates first before purchasing.
• Pet owners should keep away from treats that are prepared with artificial colours and sweeteners.
• Always Purchase treats that have locally sourced fruits and vegetables. 

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FAQ

Conclusion

So, in summary, “Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Pies?” The direct answer to this query is NO. But this does not mean there is an issue with the Pumpkin itself. As a matter of fact, pumpkin vegetables can benefit dogs with high amounts of dietary fibre, minerals, and vitamins, and it is low in fat. 

Pumpkin Pies, on the other hand, is not entirely the healthiest treat for any furry friend at all. This is due to the fats & oil, nutmeg, myristicin, processed sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and canned pumpkin pie filling derived from one serving/slice of a pumpkin pie. 

For the sake of alternatives to pumpkin pies, there are other healthy human foods or Canine-specific homemade treats that a furry friend can have for his occasional treats. 

Homemade treat alternatives to pumpkin pie specially prepared for canines are healthier, and such meals provide fewer chances of gastrointestinal or choking hazards. But, If you must give your dog some of your pumpkin pie desserts, it must be in extremely moderate portions. 

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