Pumpkin-flavoured season? Fall diet tips for pets

Are you a PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte) fan? If you love the flavours of the season or not, here are some tips on if they are good for your pet or not!

Dave Wilson, director of Shelter Health & Wellness and retired vet, shares great information about adding some seasonal flair to your pets’ fall diet.

Amping up the fibre content

Wilson says what pumpkin, sweet potato and squash all have in common is high fibre content. He says this is great to increase regularity, but you have to be careful how much you give them.

“On the downside, if you use too much or too fast or both, you can cause some digestive upset and loose stools that go along with it,” he says.

The best thing to do, Wilson says is to ask your vet with what quantity and frequency your pet needs to be fed fibre. He says this can depend on the activity level, regular diet, and temperament of your pet.

Cats with hairball problems, for example, Wilson says can really benefit from extra fibre. As well, he says many pets are less active in the cooler months so fibre can help maintain regularity and increase ruffage.

“It’s all down to moderation,” he says

In the end, Wilson says it’s just important to consult your vet, and feed in moderation. He says it’s also important to give them canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling, which has so much sugar in it.