Pumpkin?

[wendykei]

I've seen many references to folks feeding their FBs a little fresh or pure canned pumpkin to harden the stools... How much do you give to your doggies? Does it have to be added gradually?

[Carolyn]

Wendykei...pumpkin is not what you are looking for to harden the stool. What seems to be the problem with your pup?

[wendykei]

My question was inspired by the excerpt below from Gwyneth in response to the health question on anal glands. By the way--my reaction to that post was "Ick!" That's about the grossest thing I've read so far on this forum, and the posts are often pretty explicit. :)

"But most often the cause is diet - and you need to find a way to firm up the stools. Remember that they *should* be hard, not firm or just solid. Choosing a kibble that is reasonably high in meat meal (bone included) rather than one that is high in grains can often help. So can adding a little bone meal to the food each day, or alternatively a little pureed fresh or canned (plain) pumpkin."

Sidney's poop is generally pretty soft and occasionally winds up all over his backside after he does his business so I have to remember to bring puppy wipes or else end up running back inside carrying him extended out away from my body. :)

So that's why I was curious about the effects of adding pumpkin to the diet.....?

[Carolyn]

Choosing a kibble that is reasonably high in meat meal (bone included) rather than one that is high in grains can often help. So can adding a little bone meal to the food each day, or alternatively a little pureed fresh or canned (plain) pumpkin."

I thinkg the advice here is for those giving food higher in bone/meat meal. The pumpkin along with a food higher in meat content can help soften the stools...

[gmacleod]

Actually, pumpkin is a very good and very widely used cure for loose stools. Especially when the cause is some sort of tummy upset, or due to a food change (ie. a short term problem, with gastrointestinal cause). Bone meal is more appropriate as a cure for loose stools due to inappropriate diet - ie. permanently loose stools on a particular food, especially those high in grains and low in meat/bone meal.

Pumpkin is one of those handy vegetables that can be used to cure both diarrhoea and to cure constipation. It just depends on how much you feed ;) A tablespoon daily will help to firm up stools. More than that will soften them. So choose an amount that's appropriate to the particular problem your dog has got. The pumpkin you use should be plain - not spiced (eg. pie filling). Or you can just puree some fresh pumpkin.

[wendykei]

thanks for the clarification!!

[Carolyn]

Good to know....thanks!