Can using pumpkin seed powder for dogs help with worms? (What every dog parent needs to know)
Alright, let's talk about this pumpkin seed powder thing for dogs. I started looking into it a while back, heard some folks mentioning it could be good for digestive health, maybe even help with parasites naturally. Figured it couldn't hurt to try with my own furry pal.
My Process Step-by-Step
First off, I needed the seeds. I just went and grabbed a bag of raw, unsalted, shelled pumpkin seeds from the grocery store. The kind people eat. Made sure they had no salt or seasonings, that’s important.
Now, some people use them raw, but I felt better drying them out a bit. I spread a thin layer of the seeds on a baking sheet. Slid them into the oven on a really low temperature, maybe around 150°C (that's like 300°F?). I wasn't trying to roast them brown, just wanted to make sure they were thoroughly dry. Kept an eye on them, maybe 10-15 minutes tops, just until they felt completely dry and maybe slightly toasted. Then I let them cool down completely on the sheet. Completely cool, otherwise you get paste when grinding.
Next step was grinding them down. I pulled out my little coffee grinder – the one I keep just for spices and stuff, not coffee beans! Did it in small batches, pulsed it maybe 10-15 seconds at a time. Didn't want to overdo it and turn it into oily mush. Just pulsed until it looked like a coarse powder, kinda like cornmeal or slightly finer. You don't need it to be like baking flour.
Once I had my powder, I scooped it all into a clean, dry glass jar with a good lid. I decided to store it in the refrigerator just to be safe and keep it fresh longer. Seems to work fine.
Giving it to my dog was easy. I just mix it straight into his food. Started with a really small amount, like maybe a quarter or half a teaspoon, since he's a medium-sized dog. Didn't want to upset his stomach. He eats it right up, doesn't seem to mind the taste at all. I just sprinkle the amount that seems right for his size onto his dinner each day.
So yeah, that's basically my routine for making pumpkin seed powder. Pretty simple, really. Takes maybe 20-30 minutes active time every month or so, depending on how fast we go through it. It's just become part of taking care of my buddy.
