What to Do With Leftover Halloween Pumpkin: 6 Dog-Friendly Ideas
Got leftover pumpkin after Halloween? If it’s still fresh and unspoiled, there are plenty of dog-friendly ways to use it rather than simply throwing it away.
Dogs can eat fresh, plain leftover pumpkin, but carved pumpkins that have been left outside, decorated or started to spoil should be discarded.
Fresh, plain pumpkin can be baked to make homemade dog treats, frozen treats, or spread on lick mats as an enrichment activity. The key is to make sure the pumpkin, is still edible, and free from added ingredients: fresh and plain is best.
Pumpkin can be a great food for dogs. It’s a natural source of fibre, which can help support healthy digestion (and poops) and is a good source of vitamins A, C and E. But avoid feeding your dog a pumpkin that has been sitting outside for weeks, as it will start to spoil (you may not see it at first). If the pumpkin has been painted, decorated, contains melted wax/had a candle inside, throw it out.
Here are six easy ways to use leftover Halloween pumpkin for your dog.
1. Make Pumpkin Purée for Your Dog
One of the easiest things to do with leftover pumpkin is turn it into plain pumpkin purée, which can be used in lots of different ways.
Remove the seeds and scoop out the stringy centre, then cut the flesh into chunks and cook until soft. If you’re cooking pumpkin for yourself, simply set some aside for your dog before adding any seasoning. You can roast, steam or boil it, but if it’s for dogs don’t add salt, sugar, butter, oil or spices.
Once cooked, blend or mash until smooth. This plain pumpkin purée can then be used in homemade biscuits, frozen treats, lick mats or enrichment toys. If you make more than you need, simply portion it into small containers or an ice cube tray and freeze for later.
2. What About the Pumpkin Seeds?
Pumpkin seeds don’t necessarily need to go in the bin either. Dogs can eat plain pumpkin seeds in small amounts, provided they are unsalted and unseasoned. For smaller dogs, or dogs that tend to swallow treats whole, grind the seeds before serving to reduce the risk of choking.
Remove the seeds, rinse them thoroughly and roast them plain without oil, salt or spices. Once cooled, they can be offered occasionally as a treat. Whole pumpkin seeds can be a choking hazard, especially for small dogs or dogs that gulp food rather than chew. Consider how your dog tends to eat before offering whole seeds. If there is any doubt they cannot tolerate it, don’t take the risk.
Pumpkin seeds are nutrient-dense, providing protein, fibre, healthy fats and minerals such as magnesium and zinc. Because they’re also relatively high in calories, so they’re best given in small amounts.
3. Bake Homemade Pumpkin Dog Treats
Pumpkin works particularly well in homemade dog biscuits.
Once you have made your purée, you can combine it with simple dog-friendly ingredients such as oats and egg to make an easy biscuit dough.
A simple option is:
Ingredients
200g oats, blitzed into a coarse flour
150g plain pumpkin purée
1 medium egg
1 tbsp ground flaxseed
Mix the ingredients into a soft dough, roll it out and cut into shapes.
Bake at 180°C (160°C fan) until firm and lightly golden(20-25 minutes), then allow to cool completely before serving.
If you like the idea of baking pumpkin treats but don’t have fresh pumpkin to use, Dog & Bond’s Pumpkin & Carrot Dog Treat Mix gives you an easier option without weighing out all the ingredients.
4. Make Frozen Pumpkin Treats
Leftover pumpkin purée can also be turned into easy frozen treats. Spoon plain pumpkin purée into small silicone moulds and freeze until solid.
You can serve the pumpkin on its own or combine it with another dog-friendly ingredient your dog already enjoys, such as:
plain, unsweetened yoghurt, if your dog tolerates dairy
banana
a small amount of dog-safe peanut butter
If using peanut butter, always check the ingredients and make sure it does not contain xylitol.
Paw-shaped moulds work particularly well and make it easy to create smaller individual portions.
5. Use Pumpkin on a Lick Mat or for Enrichment
Even easier is using leftover pumpkin on a lick mat. Spread a thin layer of plain pumpkin purée across a lick mat and serve it straight away, or freeze it first to make the activity last longer.
You can also use a small amount inside an enrichment toy, like a Kong. This is particularly useful if you only have a little pumpkin left and don’t want to make an entire batch of biscuits.
Keep portions modest, especially if pumpkin is a new ingredient for your dog.
6. Freeze Your Leftover Pumpkin for Later
You don’t have to use all of your Halloween pumpkin right away. Once cooked and blended into plain purée, pumpkin can be frozen in small portions for later.
Try freezing it in:
ice cube trays
silicone moulds
small reusable containers
That way, you can defrost only what you need for future dog biscuits, lick mats or frozen treats.
Can Dogs Eat Leftover Halloween Pumpkin?
Yes, dogs can eat fresh, plain pumpkin in suitable amounts. The important distinction is between fresh pumpkin intended for cooking and an old carved Halloween pumpkin that has been sitting outside.
Fresh pumpkin flesh can be cooked and used in dog-friendly recipes. A carved pumpkin that has started to soften, smell unusual, grow mould or become contaminated should be thrown away instead.
When in doubt, don’t feed it.
What Not to Do With an Old Carved Pumpkin
Not every leftover Halloween pumpkin should end up in your dog’s bowl.
Don’t feed your dog pumpkin that:
has developed mould
smells unusual
has become very soft or slimy
has been left outside for days
has been contaminated with candle wax
has been painted, glittered or decorated
has been mixed with salt, sugar, butter or spices
It’s also important not to confuse plain pumpkin purée with pumpkin pie filling or other prepared pumpkin products.
Pumpkin pie filling can contain sugar, spices and other ingredients that aren’t appropriate for dogs. If you’re buying purée, look for plain pumpkin with no added ingredients.
An Easy Pumpkin Treat Option
If your Halloween pumpkin has already seen better days, you can still enjoy some seasonal baking with your dog.
Dog & Bond’s Pumpkin & Carrot Dog Treat Mix is designed for making dog biscuits at home and comes with a reusable bone-shaped cutter. Simply add the ingredients, make the dough, cut out your biscuits and bake. It gives you the fun of making pumpkin dog treats without needing to prepare a whole pumpkin first.
Leftover Pumpkin for Dogs: Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat leftover pumpkin?
Yes. Dogs can eat fresh, plain pumpkin in suitable amounts. Cooked pumpkin or plain pumpkin purée can be used in homemade dog treats, lick mats and frozen treats.
Can dogs eat carved Halloween pumpkin?
It’s best not to feed dogs a carved pumpkin that has been sitting outside. Once cut, pumpkins can begin to spoil and may develop mould or contamination.
Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?
Dogs can eat plain, unsalted and unseasoned pumpkin seeds in small amounts. They can be served raw or roasted, but roasted seeds are often easier to handle and store; for smaller dogs, ground seeds may be safer than whole seeds.
Can dogs eat pumpkin purée?
Yes, provided it is plain pumpkin with no added sugar, sweeteners or spices.
Can you freeze pumpkin for dogs?
Yes. Cooked pumpkin purée can be divided into small portions and frozen for later use in homemade dog treats, frozen treats or enrichment activities.
What can I make for my dog with leftover pumpkin?
Fresh leftover pumpkin can be used to make pumpkin dog biscuits, frozen pumpkin treats, lick mats, enrichment toys or plain pumpkin purée that can be frozen for later.