The dog dog treats are super easy to make, as it’s a homemade recipe!
Dried pumpkin dog treats are a convenient and easy doggy snack to make on your own! Simple to create and they can be made from a simple pumpkin.
Pumpkin is high in fiber, water, and is relatively mild tasting for dogs. When pumpkin is dehydrated, most of the moisture has been eliminated, resulting in a chewy or crunchy snack depending upon the thickness of the slices and the duration of the drying process.
The best part is, you need not to use sugar, salt, oil or spices. But even homemade snacks should be given in moderation.
You will learn in this guide how to prepare dehydrated pumpkin dog treats, how to store them, how much to offer your dog and which products of pumpkin should be avoided.
Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin?
Can dogs have pumpkin?
Plain pumpkin is safe for most healthy dogs, as long as it is given in small quantities.
Plain Canned Pumpkin or fresh pumpkin can be used. Use canned pumpkin if using that option, a product with just pumpkin should be used.
Avoid pumpkin pie filling. May include sugar, spices and other ingredients not tolerated by dogs.
Pumpkin can be a source of fibre and moisture for your dog, but it shouldn’t be used as a substitute for your dog’s complete and balanced diet.
What You Need
Just a few items are needed to create dehydrated pumpkin dog treats.
Ingredients
- 1 small fresh pumpkin
That’s it.
Add no sugar, salt, butter, oil, cinnamon or other seasonings.
Equipment
You can use:
- A food dehydrator
- An oven
- A sharp knife
- A baking tray
- Parchment paper
A food dehydrator allows for greater control over low-temperature drying processes, but an oven can be used too.
Here’s a Quick and Easy Recipe for Dehydrated Pumpkin Dog Treats.
Here’s a simple and quick recipe for dehydrated pumpkin dog treats.
Step 1: Rinse the Pumpkin
Rinse your Pumpkin.
Clean pumpkin with clean water, outside.
Choose a pumpkin that is firm and has no soft rot or mould.
Step 2: Slice the Pumpkin into Eight Pieces
Divide the Pumpkin into 8 slices.
Clearly cut pumpkin into large chunks.
Discard the stem, seeds and stringy inner parts.
Discard the tough outer shell when using it to make thin slices of pumpkin.
Step 3: Slice the Pumpkin
Slice the pumpkin into even thin slices.
Try to keep the slices similar in thickness. Thin slices will normally dry out before thick slices.
Cut into smaller size when done with a smaller dog.
Step 4: Arrange the Pumpkin
Place the pieces in the order shown above.
Arrange pumpkin slices on your dehydrator tray.
If baking in an oven, line a baking tray with parchment paper and bake.
Make sure not to stack the pieces on top of one another.
Step 5: Dehydrate
Follow your dehydrator’s guidelines for temperature and drying time.
If baking in the oven, bake for a long time at low heat to remove moisture from the pumpkin.
The drying time will vary depending on the thickness of slices, the type of drier used and the amount of moisture in the pumpkin.
Treats should be dry enough to desired consistency.
Step 6: Cool the Treats
Place the Treats into the fridge and allow them to cool completely.
When pumpkin is completely dried, take it out of drying machine.
Wait until the treats are thoroughly cool before putting them away.
Never put warm food in a tightly covered container as moisture may accumulate and cause food to go bad.
How to Store Dehydrated Pumpkin Dog Treats
Dehydrated pumpkin treats will store for as long as a month.
The storage life varies based on the amount of moisture removed from the pumpkin and how the pumpkin is stored.
There are no commercial preservatives in homemade candies; therefore, proper storage is important.
Put the treats in a clean, dry, airtight container.
If you’re not sure you’ve removed enough moisture, store homemade dehydrated pumpkin treats in the refrigerator or freezer.
Look at the treats before each use. Discard if mold is observed or they smell, look, or feel differently than normal.
Dogs Can Have Pumpkin Treats, But Not Too Many
Dogs can have pumpkin treats, but not too many.
There is no universal dog serving size.
The correct quantity of treats to use depends on your dog’s body size, age, activity level, health and normal diet.
Give your dog a small taste, particularly if it has not tasted pumpkin before.
Also keep in mind that when you are dehydrated it’s taking water out of you, but not all calories or natural sugars. A little dried piece of pumpkin may have a lot more pumpkin in it than it looks.
Treats should only be a small portion of your dog’s daily calories.
Puppies Can Safely Eat Dehydrated Pumpkin
Puppies can safely eat dehydrated pumpkin.
Small quantities of plain pumpkin may be fed to puppies, but there’s always complete and balanced puppy food available.
Puppies have a rapid growth rate and require a proper nutrient balance.
Create small bites of food for puppies, and watch them eat. Do not include excessively hard or big pieces.
Puppy with digestive issues, allergies or other medical issues: Before giving any new treat, consult your veterinarian.
Does Dehydrated Pumpkin Aid Digestion?
Pumpkin is rich in dietary fibre that helps maintaining normal digestion.
Some dog owners give their dogs plain pumpkin if they experience mild digestive changes. However, dehydrated pumpkin is not the same as fresh pumpkin as a significant amount of water has been extracted from it.
Avoid using pumpkin treats to treat constant diarrhea or constipation.
If the diarrhea occurs repeatedly, your dog has severe constipation and/or vomiting, blood in the stool, weakness, pain, or loss of appetite, speak to your veterinarian.
There Are Several Advantages to Homemade Dried Pumpkin Treats
There are several advantages to homemade dried pumpkin treats.
These are a few easy-to-understand reasons to make homemade treats.
Simple Ingredients
They can be made using just one ingredient – plain pumpkin.
No Added Sugar
There is no need to add sugar to make pumpkin treats.
No Artificial Flavors
Homemade treats allow you to make up the recipe yourself.
Easy to Portion
You can cut the pumpkin into small chunks that are of similar size to your dog.
Convenient Snack
Pumpkin pieces can be added as rewards from time to time if properly dried and stored.
Pumpkin Products to Avoid
Not all pumpkin products are dog friendly.
Avoid:
- Pumpkin pie filling
- Sweetened pumpkin puree
- Pumpkin dessert mixes
- Products containing xylitol
- Products with large amounts of salt
Use pumpkin in an assortment of chocolatey products.
Use heavy spices for pumpkin products
Use a packaged product if you have to, always read the ingredients label.
Important Safety Tips
Always supervise your dog when giving a new treat.
Add foods one at a time. If your dog vomits, has diarrhea, itches, swells or otherwise has an unusual reaction, discontinue the treat and talk to your veterinarian.
Never offer your dog moldy or go bad treats.
Use an oven or dehydrator; if using an oven or dehydrator, allow the equipment and trays to cool before handling around pets.
Keep in mind that treats should not be used as a substitute for a well-balanced meal!
Final Thoughts
Pumpkin dog treats are a simple homemade treat that consists of plain pumpkin. They can be made in a food dehydrator or an oven, without the addition of sugar, salt, oil or spices.
Pumpkin is a source of fibre and can be an effective ingredient of a doggy treat or two. But it is advisable to feed dried pumpkin in little amount due to its water loss upon dehydration, which leads to concentration.
Select fresh pumpkin, cut it into sections and pat them dry, and safely prepare and store the pumpkin goodies.
Most of all, make treats a minor portion of your dog’s diet. When your dog has a health condition, food allergy, or special nutritional needs, consult your veterinarian prior to introducing homemade treats into your dog’s diet.
