This time of year, you might find yourself indulging in everything from healthy pumpkin spice lattes to homemade pumpkin pie — but it turns out, another member of your household could benefit from a little pumpkin, too. Or should we say … pupkin?
That’s right, pumpkin is jam packed with fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, all of which benefit dogs’ digestive tracts, skin, and coats. In fact, canned pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) can help with both constipation and diarrhea in dogs — just add a spoonful or two to Fido’s food and see the almost magical results on your next walk.
Besides pumpkin puree, these homemade dog treats also pack additional gut-friendly fiber from oats and a dose of protein and drool-worthy flavor from peanut butter. Bonus: They’re so easy to make that you can pretty much stop buying store-bought treats altogether.
Check out the video above and instructions below to make these wholesome balls of goodness. You’re sure to get some face licks of appreciation in return. (Pro tip: They're good enough for humans, too. Just add a drizzle of honey to the mix for a touch of sweetness.)
Pumpkin Oatmeal Dog Treats Recipe
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 ½ cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup water
- Add pumpkin, peanut butter, oats, and water to a large bowl and stir to combine.
- Form mixture into 1-inch balls and roll each ball through additional oats.
- Place treats onto a rimmed sheet pan and refrigerate until firm, about an hour.
