pumpkins, pets, and fall-time fun

Are there two totally different things called “pumpkin?” There’s the big orange squash, and there’s the canned variety. Well, guess what? They’re the same thing! And you can use each of them to make autumn pet-tastic.

Cook up a canned pumpkin treat your dog will love

Canned pumpkin is delicious, easy and affordable to buy, and many pets love snacks made with it. When you shop for canned pumpkin for a pet recipe, make sure to get 100% pumpkin, not a can of pumpkin pie filling, which has spices your pet should avoid.

BTW, canned pumpkin is also very high in fiber – veterinarians often recommend it to, um, firm things up for doggos with gastrointestinal issues. So, as you would with any pet snack, don’t give your pup too much of any treat with pumpkin. It’s a treat, not a meal! – and don’t be surprised if the back-yard deposits from your pup look a bit different.

Make a pumpkin that shows off your love for pets

Want to create the coolest pumpkin on the block?

Find a big pumpkin, preferably with a flat side for easier carving
Get a good, safe, pumpkin-carving knife (and don’t let kids do any carving without your supervision)
Cut out the stem, remove the squishy insides
Do your absolute best to carve a cat or dog shape into the pumpkin
Place a pumpkin-safe battery-powered light in the pumpkin, and put your carved creation on display
Make sure to place your awesome pet-o-lantern (and all its guts) in a place where your best friend and inspiration won’t be able to eat it, knock it over, or find another way to make it less awesome

Step 4 is the hardest, but clearly the most important for this project. So maybe buy a few pumpkins, just in case your carving skills are a little rusty. We only do this activity once a year, so it’s hard to stay sharp (ha ha). Most importantly, be safe, take your time, be careful, and have fun!