Fall is here- that means long walks, jumping into leaf piles, and Pumpkin spice everything. Did you know that some familiar seasonal ingredients like pumpkin, apple, and sweet potato are pup-approved superfoods? Celebrate the season and supercharge your dog’s nutrition with our fall superfood roundup.

Pumpkin

In addition to being a digestive aid, pumpkin is a nutritional powerhouse for any pup. The popular squash is low in calories and high in fiber to promote a strong digestive system. Pumpkin is a good source of carbohydrates for instant energy. The vitamins and minerals in the orange fruit (pumpkin is not technically a vegetable) provide great benefits for your pup as well. Pumpkins are rich in carotenoids, vitamin E, iron, and potassium. Carotenoids encourage skin health and eye health, while vitamin E acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps with heart function. Iron encourages the production of hemoglobin, and potassium ensures that muscles and nerves work properly.

Dogs love the taste of this fall favorite, making it especially great for picky-eaters. If you want to quickly, add pumpkin to your pup's breakfast you can use the ready-to-serve canned kind, but make sure it's 100% pure. Stay away from pie filling, filled with sugar and other unhealthy additives. You can also add pumpkin to your dog’s diet by trying out our newest Jinx treat - Pumpkin Apple Biscuits!

Sweet Potato

Did you know you can share this classic thanksgiving veggie with your pup? Sweet potato is a safe, healthy, and natural treat for dogs, offering a range of health benefits (and a sweet flavor they’ll likely love). Sweet potatoes support a healthy digestive system thanks to their high dietary fiber content. They’re also low in fat and contain essential vitamins like B6, C, and A.

To add some extra fiber to your pups bowl, you can roast sweet potato chunks in the oven or buy sweet potato puree at the store. As with canned pumpkin, do make sure the puree does not contain any other ingredients or additives. If you’d like to incorporate sweet potato into your pup’s diet, check out our Chicken Sweet Potato & Egg Kibble, our Salmon Brown Rice, Sweet Potato Kibble, or our slow-roasted Chicken & Sweet Potato Jerky.

Apple

An apple a day…keeps the vet away? Apples are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, fiber, calcium, and phosphorus and are relatively low-calorie. The classic fruit is a safe way to satisfy your pet’s sweet tooth, as opposed to chocolate and other doggy diet no-nos. Chewing an apple can also help clean your dog’s teeth, but shouldn’t substitute for actual dental care. Apples are an affordable and tasty snack full of valuable nutrients, making them a great choice as a reward during training, so long as they are served in moderation.

Slicing up an apple for a snack, using them as a low-calorie training treat, or just throwing a couple chunks in your pup’s bowl are all great ways to add them in your dog’s diet. Please be sure to remove apple seeds before feeding to your dog as apple seeds do contain trace amounts of cyanide, which is toxic. Our new crunchy Pumpkin & Apple Biscuits are a tasty way to incorporate two superfoods into your dog’s diet at the same time.

These three nutrient-packed fall ingredients just might become your pup’s new favorite treats!