“Squashing” the benefits out of a pumpkin!

Digestive Health

• Excellent source of fiber.
• Helps with constipation.
• Helps with diarrhea.

Urinary Health

• Fatty acids and antioxidant source.
• Contains vitamin A, beta-carotene, potassium and iron to prevent cancer.
• Oils around the seed help keep the urinary tract clean.

Weight loss

• Fiber keeps them full for longer periods of time.
• Replace food with some pumpkin.
• Adds additional flavor, naturally.

Let’s get cooking!

Pumpkin peanut butter treats

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups of whole wheat flour
• 2 eggs
• ¾ cup of pumpkin puree
• 3 tbsp. all-natural peanut butter

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix all ingredients on Low, until dough comes together.
• ½″between treats is enough.
• Bake 30 minutes.
• Makes 75+ 1″treats.

Pumpkin-cinnamon treats

Ingredients:

• 2½ cups whole wheat or all-purpose flour
• 1 cup 100% canned pure pumpkin
• 1 tbsp. of cinnamon
• 1 egg

Instructions:

• Combine pumpkin, cinnamon and egg in the bowl.
• Add flour ½ cup at a time into the bowl until stiff dough forms.
• Roll dough to about ½ inch thick.
• Line dog treats ½ inch apart.
• Bake for 25-30 minutes or until treat is golden brown.
• Store treats at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

No bake peanut butter pumpkin rolls

Ingredients:

• ½ cup peanut better
• 1 cup 100% pure pumpkin, canned
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 tbsp. honey
• 2½ cups oats

Instructions:

• Add peanut butter, pumpkin, cinnamon and honey in a bowl and mix.
• Roll batter into balls and place on prepared baking sheet.
• Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks (3 months frozen)

Peanut butter, pumpkin apple pup-cake

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• 1 cup 100% canned pure pumpkin
• 3 tbsp. peanut butter
• ½ apple finely chopped
• ½ tsp baking powder

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Mix all ingredients together until smooth.
• Grease a ramekin or a jumbo muffin tin.
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
• Cool on a rack for 5 minutes.
• Frost with the mixture with either: a spoon of peanut butter, spoon of plain greek yogurt or a spoon of honey.

Pumpkin and molasses treats

Ingredients:

• ½ cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie filling)
• 4 tbsps. molasses
• 4 tbsps. water
• 2 tbsps. vegetable oil
• 2 cup whole wheat flour
• ¼ tsp. baking soda
• ¼ tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Blend all of the wet ingredients (pumpkin, molasses, vegetable oil, water) together.
• Add the dry ingredients (wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon) and stir until soft dough forms.
• Grab the dough by teaspoonful’s and roll it into balls with your hands.
• Drop the balls onto the cookie sheet or pizza pan and flatten them with a fork.
• Bake until hard (approximately 25 minutes).

Facts about doggy treats

• In 2014, 16% of US pet food spending went to treats.
• In 2016, 26% people spent $5-$9 on pet treats every month.
• Pumpkin is 4th in the most recommended ingredient in dog treats.
• Treats and snacks should only make up 10% of a dog’s daily calories.
• Low calorie veggie treats include: baby carrots, a green bean or some broccoli.

This is a cross post from Kuddly.co. 

Several days ago a man posted a Craigslist ad that seemed to be offering a free Beagle to a good home. In the post he explains that his girlfriend wants to get rid of the dog. He proceeds to describe his Beagle pup saying "I have had her 4 years. She likes to play games. Not totally trained. Has long hair so she's a little high maintenance, especially the nails, but she loves having them done." However, by the end of the post we learn that he is in fact rehoming his girlfriend and keeping his dog!

As the ad went viral he updated the post saying it was all a joke and that in reality he's a pitbull owner and his girlfriend loves his dog. He ended his post encouraging one simple message—that adoption is a life long commitment, not just while convienent. It's great that he is using his viral fame to continue to push his message and promote pet adoption.

Way to go, dude!