If your dog or cat is having the occasional case of constipation or diarrhea, one of the things that might help is canned pumpkin. Yes canned pumpkin in its pureed form (NOT pumpkin pie filling) is a fantastic stool softener which makes it a good natural remedy for constipation. It often helps with upset stomach or indigestion for both cats and dogs. It is very rich in fibre and adding just one or two teaspoonfuls to your pet's food often gets the system moving in no time. Dogs will occasionally want to eat it directly and that's fine too. Sometimes though, finicky cats and dogs won't touch it no matter what you do.

On the opposite end of things is diarrhea. Since the dietary fibre in canned pumpkin absorbs water, it can be a great help to a cat or dog that has diarrhea. Some pet owners report that it firms up their pet's loose stools or diarrhea within a few hours. Again one to two teaspoonfuls is all that is needed.

N.B. It should be noted that both diarrhea and constipation can both be very serious and require immediate veterinary care depending on the cause. Whatever the cause, diarrhea or constipation lasting more than 24-36 hours requires vet care. Click the following links for more general information on diarrhea,constipation and intestinal disorders.

Pumpkin for Diarrhea and Constipation

It's quite strange that canned pureed pumpkin (not the pie filling but the 100% natural canned pumpkin) can work wonders for both the occasional bout of diarrhea or for the opposite, constipation in dogs. It has been reported that it firms up dog's loose stools or diarrhea within a few hours. How much pumpkin should you give? It depends on the size of the dog but as a rule of thumb a couple of teaspoons daily for a small dog or a couple of tablespoons for a large dog. It's doubtful that your dog or puppy will eat it without disguising it in some way in it's food.

The weight of your pet will determine how much pumpkin to give them. A pet which weighs less than fifteen pounds should be given 1-2 teaspoons of pumpkin puree. A 15-35 pound pet should receive 1-2 tablespoons, and a pet 35 pounds and up can be given 2-5 tablespoons of pumpkin puree. If you find your pet's stool becomes too runny, cut back on the amount of pumpkin.

Pumpkin is one of the mystery foods to the dog world, some say it is for constipation and others say it is for diarrhea, the bottom line (no pun intended) is that pumpkin can and does relieve both symptoms. By adding puree of pumpkin from the can to your dogs’ food the symptoms can be alleviated in a few hours (make sure you do not get pumpkin pie filling in the can by mistake). If the underlying cause is from stress or consuming strange water, a little pumpkin puree should alleviate irregular eliminations. Puree of pumpkin is both a good source of fiber and has a high water content that will help either the constipation or the diarrhea. As the water will hydrate the intestines that is needed to relieve constipation and the fiber will absorb excess water that is available from the loose stool of an agitated colon.

There are a few breeds that are more prone to constipation due to the anatomical characteristics of the corkscrew tail that can interfere with the normal defecation process. The puree of pumpkin can be incorporated into the evening meal on a regular basis as this allows the pumpkin to go through the system while the dog is sleeping, normalizing the small and large intestine. When treating any dog with the issue of diarrhea, you would give the pumpkin immediately as the fiber will absorb the excess water in the colon and slow the gut action down to alleviate the symptoms (either diarrhea of more than 7 stools in a 24 hour period or constipation that lasts more than 36 hours should cause you to seek professional care).

When you open a can of pumpkin, unused portions can be frozen using ice cube trays and then placed in freezer bags. Then just pull the proportioned amounts and thaw as needed, in the summer most dogs enjoy the “PUMPKIN POPSICLE” as a treat. Although for travel it is easy to throw in a can with the rest of the supplies. Another good source of Pumpkin can be found at shows from vendors who dehydrate the Pumpkin puree into what is now called “a crisp”, this should be used for a treat for any dog at any time in small amounts, but not recommended for a dog with constipation and on the other end highly recommended for a dog with diarrhea.

USAGE AMOUNTS FOR CANNED PUMPKIN PUREE
• Under 20 LBS. 1-2 Teaspoons
• 20-50 LBS. 1-2 Tablespoons
• 50-100 LBS. 2-5 Tablespoons

There is more to the pumpkin than the flesh that we can use, the seeds have long been said to eliminate parasites from humans as well as dogs and this is evidenced: starting in 1863 in the United States Pharmacopoeia it was listed for this use till 1936. The doctors used the seeds and the yellow flower to treat urinary tract problems, gastritis and to remove tapeworms and roundworms from the intestines.
This traditional use was started and has been carried on with Native Americans as well as a host of Holistic Nutritionists and Holistic Veterinarians; this has validity, but should not be used as a treatment without a professional’s recommendation and oversight. Using this treatment can and has caused a host of other difficulties that include impacted colon, and or if the seeds are rancid (from improper storage), toxins can form that could debilitate the liver.
The pumpkin seed has a very short shelf life and if you remove and wash the seeds yourself and place them on an oiled cookie sheet and roast them till dry, they are good for approximately a month. The best way to obtain pumpkin seeds would be frozen or airtight sealed packages and a shelf life that goes to 6 months. For use in dogs, you need to find the pumpkin seeds that are plain and not salt roasted. The pumpkin seeds that are commercially sold are often called “pepitas”.

PUMPKIN NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
Other conditions that pumpkin seeds have been used in connection with and have reliable and relative scientific data showing health benefits are benign prostatic hyperplasia (BHP) and kidney stones have been found to be dislodged and flow through the system as inflammation is reduced and fluidity increases due to the level and type of essential fatty acids, amino acids and phytosterols. This is also one of the reasons that parasites are not able to stay attached to the intestines as they are washed through the system and out of the body. Other studies have shown that the extracted oils in the pumpkin seeds can improve the function of the bladder and urethra. It seems that it keeps everything well lubricated, so as not to allow foreign debris from collecting, forming or attaching.
The amounts of L-tryptophan content in the pumpkin flesh and in the seed, although the majority is found in the seed and is in large enough amounts that it has been suggested that this could offset depression and keep it in check while the essential fatty acids and amino acids realign and open the energy flow that was cut off causing the depression in the first place.
The good news is the only side effect or interactions that do not seem favorable, is an upset stomach and many feel that is due to the anti-parasitical activity. This is usually very mild and is so unremarkable that pumpkin seeds and flesh may be used even during pregnancy and times of lactation.
As with all reported findings, there are no quick fixes when you are working with nutritional support, they all take more time than pharmaceuticals. If you have an ongoing health issue in your kennel that is not being resolved always seek your professionals advice.