You can’t go to any store without seeing Pumpkin Spice flavored everything. It is a seasonal gourd that is usually harvested in the fall, so it is plentiful about now. What does this have to do with dogs and cats? The answer is Fiber.
Cats and dogs don’t need much fiber for normal GI health, but occasionally they can get a gastrointestinal/colitis problem that will benefit from fiber. The usual sources of fiber are OTC weight loss diets, Metamucil, Miralax, bran (like in high fiber breakfast cereal), and canned pumpkin. Diet food is boring, Metamucil has a weird texture, and bran just tastes like sawdust to me. Miralax is a tasteless powder and works even in tiny (1/8 tsp) amounts for our pets. Canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is sweet and most cats and dogs will eat it willingly. Who knew? You never see a dog or cat stealing pumpkins out of the garden.
Not all GI problems need fiber, and some will get much worse with it. A lower GI or colitis case with straining, frequent mucoid stools, or constipation usually will benefit from added soluble fiber like pumpkin. The recommended amount to add to a meal varies, but usually 1 TBP/can of cat food, or 1 TBP /meal for large dog, or 1-2 tsp/meal for smaller dogs. I find most pet owners only have to do this for few days to get a case of stress colitis resolved. If one has to do this for days or weeks, one trick to keep the can from spoiling after opening is to fill an ice cube tray with the puree, freeze, then only pop out a “cube” to add to the food.
Now you CAN buy a pumpkin, scoop the seeds out, cut it up, cook/bake it and then puree it, OR you can just buy a can of cooked pureed pumpkin at the grocery store. If you buy the pie filling, use it for Thanksgiving dinner dessert, not the cat.
for more information- https://now.tufts.edu/articles/people-giving-pets-pumpkin-it-good-them
