I first discovered pumpkin puree for dogs back in 2013 when my Boxer mix Buzz had a nasty case of diarrhea. This was two years before I made the switch from kibble to raw dog food.
Our traditional vet prescribed a bland diet of rice and boiled chicken, along with the traditional Fortiflora probiotic powder vets like to prescribe for diarrhea.
Neither worked, and Buzz kept having extra loose stool for 2 weeks.
I finally browsed the internet in hopes of finding something else that might help him have decent poops again, and that’s when I came across pumpkin puree.
I immediately went to my grocery store and picked up a can, and fed Buzz 2 large spoonfuls. I kid you not, the next morning Buzz had the firmest poop he had had in 2 weeks!
After 2 days of feeding him pumpkin puree along with chicken, the diarrhea was gone!
I made sure to mention my find to our vet, who more or less dismissed it with the words “sure, it CAN work, but we usually don’t recommend it because it’s not medicine”.
Unbelievable, but whatever.
So today, I’m sharing how to make pumpkin puree for dogs!
Spoiler alert: There’s also a homemade pumpkin puree video version.
What You’ll Need To Make Pumpkin Puree For Dogs
It’s fairly easy to turn your pumpkins into puree, but you’ll need to carve out (pun intended!) at least 90 minutes for one medium size pumpkin, unless you have more than one oven.
That time frame includes prep work, roasting in the oven, peeling, blending, portioning, and clean up.
It took me 4 hours to turn my 2 medium and large jack-o-lantern pumpkins into puree.
Besides time and fridge/freezer space, you’ll need the following:
- Pumpkin(s)
- A chef’s knife and spoon
- Cutting boards
- Strainer (for the seeds)
- Cookie sheets and/or baking dishes
- Food processor or blender
- Food storage containers
- Marker (for labeling)
First Things First: Go Pumpkin Shopping (Ideally With Your Dog)
You’ll definitely get the freshest pumpkins from a pumpkin patch near you.
There’s a local farm here in our neck of the woods in central NC with a huge pumpkin patch that’s open to the public every year.
They also offer a variety of fall attractions like corn mazes, hayrides, pumpkin themed playgrounds, picnic areas and concession stands with homemade snacks.
Bonus: You guessed it, they’re dog friendly, so I love taking my pup Wally and his little friend Lila there for fall walks.
We always pick up a few fresh pumpkins whenever we go.
If the place is dog friendly, I’d suggest heading there with your pup, but don’t forget to leash your dog and to bring poop bags.
Farmers will be more likely to keep their dog-friendly policy if we’re respectful of their property and clean up after our furry lovelies.
Bright orange pumpkins with healthy looking stems taste the best, so you’ll want to be on the lookout for those.
If you can’t make it to a pumpkin patch, you’ll be able to find pumpkins at your local grocery stores, at least during pumpkin season.
If you can, make enough pumpkin puree to hold you over until the next pumpkin season.
You can keep it in the freezer up to one year, and it tastes SO much better than the canned grocery kind.
How To Make Your Dog’s Pumpkin Puree
Once you brought your pumpkins home and you’re ready to get started on the pumpkin puree, do the following:
- Cut your pumpkin(s) in half
- Remove the stem
- Scoop out the seeds and pulp and place pumpkin halves on cookie sheets or baking dishes
- I suggest roasting the pumpkin seeds as well (more on their benefits for dogs below). You’ll have to rinse and drain them, then put them into the oven on a cookie sheet or baking dish. Roast for about 20 minutes.
- Roast the pumpkin halves for 45-60 minutes at 350 F (180 C)
- Let the pumpkin halves cool off for a few minutes, then peel the skin off and blend the flesh until smooth in your food processor or blender. For example, in a Ninja Food Processing Blender or a Magic Bullet Blender. You’ll have to add a little (filtered) water.
- Transfer the puree into food storage containers. I labeled mine with a black marker and waited until the puree had cooled off before putting it into the fridge/freezer.
How to Store Homemade Pumpkin Puree for Dogs
You can keep your pup’s pureed pumpkin in the fridge for 4 days.
After that, you’ll have to transfer it into your freezer to keep it from spoiling. In there, you can keep it for about a year.
Depending on how much freezer space you have, you can either store the pumpkin puree in food storage containers or in Ziplock bags.
The latter take up less space but aren’t as convenient to scoop the pumpkin puree out of.
I personally prefer medium size stackable food storage containers.
If you’re looking to make large batches of homemade pumpkin puree that’ll last you until next pumpkin season, you may want to invest in separate freezer space.
I began doing that when I switched my dogs from kibble to raw dog food.
Although it’s obviously an investment up front, it allows me to stock up on cuts of meat that are on sale which keeps my raw dog food costs low in the long run.
Besides meat, I also keep my homemade pumpkin puree in there!
How To Make Your Pumpkin Pancakes Using The Pumpkin Puree You Just Made
If you’re lucky, your pup might share some of his pumpkin puree he just watched you make, ha!
Ingredients you’ll need:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 3 tsp baking powder (omit if using self-rising flour)
- 1 cup milk ( I like to use almond milk)
- 3 tsp sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup pumkin puree
- 1 egg
- Coconut oil for the pan
- Butter/honey/maple syrup/fresh fruit/whipped cream for your topping
Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl.
Add coconut oil to a frying pan on medium high heat. Pour 1/4 cup batter into the pan per pancake.
Flip the pancake when bubbles start to appear around the edges.
Enjoy your pancakes hot!
Key Benefits Of Pumpkin Puree For Dogs
Pumpkin puree is a low-calorie, low-fat food that’s fiber-rich and great to add to your dog’s (raw dog food) diet if he needs to lose some weight.
That’s because the high fiber content will help make your dog feel fuller.
Cooked pumpkin or plain canned pumpkin can also help with anal gland issues, as well as upset doggie tummies, diarrhea AND constipation and is rich in:
- Soluble fiber
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Phosphorus
- Magnesium
- Iron
- Folate
Feeding Your Dog Pumpkin
The amount of pumpkin you can feed your dog is about 1 teaspoon per 10 lbs of body weight per day.
You can mix it in with their food, regardless of whether you feed dry or wet dog food, homemade dog food, or raw dog food.
Adding pumpkin to your dog’s food is likely to entice a picky eater to eat.
You can also fill some pureed pumpkin into an ice cube tray or baking molds and freeze, then serve as a refreshing summer treat!
If you decide to use canned pumpkin, do make sure to only use the plain canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling.
Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?
Pumpkin seeds help to naturally control parasites such as tapeworms. They’re rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids, but also high in fat.
Feed 1 pumpkin seed per 10 lbs of body weight per day. They can be fed whole or ground.
I personally like to eat them as an in-between human snack and sprinkled onto my salads.
How To Make Pumpkin Puree For Dogs: Bottom Line
I like pumpkin puree for dogs because it’s great for dogs who suffer from:
- Upset stomachs, diarrhea AND constipation
- Anal gland issues
- Too much weight
- Loss of appetite
Ever since my awesome experience with Buzz’s poop firming up again after he ate pumpkin, I’ve always recommended pumpkin puree to fellow dog parents who had a case of cannon butt, and it’s helped in most cases.
Leave your comments or questions in the comment section below! For more raw feeding resources, visit my full homemade raw dog food library.
Related Reading
- How To Make Dehydrated Sweet Potato Dog Treats
- Slippery Elm: What It Is, How to Make It & More
- Bone Broth for Dogs: Recipe & How To Feed
- Foods That Settle Dog’s Stomach
- Dog poop color chart
Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.
She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.
As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.
Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.
In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.
Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.