Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Pie? No, But Here’s A Dog Safe Recipe)

Pumpkin pie is a must at most holiday gatherings and a delicious seasonal treat that lots of us look forward to all year long. If you’ve got a pup joining you for the holidays, or are just looking for something special to treat your dog with, you might be interested to know that dogs can eat pumpkin pie!

Most of the ingredients in homemade pumpkin pie are totally safe for dogs, but there are still a few important pieces of advice you should follow if you plan to share a slice with your pooch. 

Is Pumpkin Pie Safe for Dogs?

Yes, pumpkin pie, without pumpkin spice,  is safe for dogs. For the most part, the ingredients used to make pumpkin pies are safe for dogs to eat, if not particularly healthy. The exception is pumpkin spice. 

Pumpkin spice, or pumpkin pie spice, is a blend of spices usually consisting of cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and allspice. Cinnamon and ginger are safe and even beneficial for dogs in small quantities, but clove, nutmeg, and allspice can be toxic. If your dog happens to sneak a small piece of pie that contains these spices, don’t worry, they should be fine, but if consumed in large quantities or regularly, these spices can cause toxicity. 

This is also why you should avoid giving your dog pumpkin pie purchased at the store since it can be hard to determine how many spices are in the recipe, or if anything not listed on the label has been added. Similarly, pumpkin pie filling purchased in a can includes blended spices (plus artificial preservatives and sweeteners) that are not safe for dogs to consume.

Finally, consider whether you want to feed your dog something high in sugar. While a small piece of sugary pie won’t hurt your dog right away, feeding them sugary foods, in the long run, can be detrimental to their health, and produce negative feeding habits. Ideally, if you are planning to feed pumpkin pie to your dog as a treat, it should be baked at home using dog-safe and friendly ingredients. 

Nutritional Value of Pumpkin Pie

Pumpkin is an extremely nutritious fruit, low in calories, fat, and sugar but high in dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, and other key nutrients. The flesh of the pumpkin is completely safe for dogs to eat, and makes a delicious addition to any meal. Many dog owners use pumpkin puree as a dietary supplement to boost their dog’s digestive health and report excellent results. 

Beyond the pumpkin, there isn’t much substance in pumpkin pie, at least as far as a dog is concerned. The eggs may add a small amount of protein, but because dogs should get very little in terms of nutrients from treats like pumpkin pie, this will be negligible in the long run. Other ingredients like added sugar, sweetened condensed milk, and butter may also cause digestive irritation, so while not explicitly bad for your dog, these ingredients aren’t very good for them either. 

[Watch these senior dogs participate in a pie eating contest!]

How To Safely Feed Pumpkin Pie to Your Dog

The absolute best way to feed pumpkin pie to your dog is to make them their own doggy-approved pumpkin pie. We’ll be sharing a great recipe for dog-safe pumpkin pie just a little further down in this blog, so be sure to keep scrolling to take a look at that. 

If you cannot bake your own dog-safe pumpkin pie, and absolutely must share a little piece of pumpkin pie with your pooch, make sure it is a homemade pie that uses 100% pumpkin puree and does not include nutmeg, allspice, or cloves. 

No matter what kind of pumpkin pie you decide on, make sure to only give your dog a very small piece. 

Can Dogs Eat Other Kinds of Pie? 

So pumpkin pie isn’t your jam, and you’re more of a pecan or cherry kind of person; don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a quick overview of the kinds of pie dogs can and can’t eat. 

Can Dogs Eat…?	Safe for Dogs?	Toxic Ingredients	Unhealthy Ingredients	Advice
Pumpkin Pie	Yes, in small quantities.	Nutmeg, Clove, Allspice	Sugar, Butter, Shortening, Sweetened Condensed Milk	Bake a dog-friendly sugar-free pie, recipe below.
Apple Pie	Yes, technically.	Nutmeg, Allspice	Sugar, Butter, Shortening	While it’s safe for your dog to snag a tiny piece, let’s save this one for the humans.
Pecan Pie	No, but don’t panic.	None.	Pecans, Corn Syrup, Butter, Shortening, Extracts	Pecans aren’t toxic, but they can carry nasty molds. Check out this article to learn more about dogs and nuts.
Cherry Pie	Yes, in small quantities.	None.	Sugar, Butter, Shortening, Extracts	Avoid canned filling since these can include artificial sweeteners & preservatives. Learn more about feeding your dog cherries here.
Sweet Potato Pie	Yes, in small quantities.	Nutmeg	Sugar, Butter, Shortening, Extracts	Sweet potatoes are good for dogs! They are a good source of fiber, just like pumpkin, and can be used in place of pumpkin for your dog-safe pie recipes.
Oatmeal Cream Pie	No.	Raisins, Cocoa, Spices, Chocolate	Sugar, Butter, Extracts, Artificial Flavorings, Sweeteners, and Preservatives	Unless you make your oatmeal cream pies from scratch and can be certain there are no toxic ingredients, don’t let your dog get hold of these.
Key Lime Pie	No!	Limes	Sugar, Butter, Shortening, Extracts	Limes are toxic to dogs! Never let your pup eat key lime pie.
Rhubarb Pie	No!	Rhubarb	Sugar, Butter, Shortening, Extracts	Rhubarb is toxic to dogs! Never let your dog eat rhubarb pie.
Chicken Pot Pie	Yes, in small quantities.	Onion, Garlic	Butter, Shortening, Salt, Spices	Some contain toxic ingredients like onion or garlic. This said a small bite  shouldn’t harm your dog.

Dog-Safe Pumpkin Pie Recipe

The Barksgiving pumpkin pie is one of Rocky’s most iconic recipes, and a super fun way to share the festivities with your pooch. So simple and quick to make, here’s what you’ll need to make your very own doggy pumpkin pie. 

[Follow Along As I Make Dog-Safe Pumpkin Pie]

Ingredients:

15 oz. 100% pumpkin puree

2 eggs

1.2 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cinnamon + more for dusting

1 ¾ c. goat’s milk

Mini dog treats; we recommend ​​Mini Peanut Butter Bones

Equipment:

Mixing bowl

Spoon

Measuring tools

(1) 9” pie tin

Oven

Method:

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs, ginger, cinnamon, and goat’s milk in a bowl. Whisk until well combined.

Line the pie tin with small dog biscuits. Try to get them as close together as possible to minimize leakage.

Pour the pie mix into the tin, over the dog biscuits.

Top with a light sprinkle of cinnamon.

Place in the center of the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the oven to 350 degrees, and bake for another 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool completely; at least 4 hours or overnight.

Top with whipped cream and let your pooch have at it!

Pumpkin Pie For Dogs: The FAQ

Ready to see what other people are wondering when they Google “can dogs eat pumpkin pie?” Here are the most frequently asked questions about this topic. 

Are Pumpkin Pie Spices Safe For Dogs?

No! Pumpkin pie spices usually include a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. Nutmeg, clove, and allspice are toxic to dogs, and should always be avoided. 

Can Dogs Eat Raw Pumpkin?

Yes! Dogs can eat raw pumpkin, but they’ll probably enjoy it more and get more beneficial fiber if you cook it first. 

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Skin?

Sometimes. Raw pumpkin skin is too hard for dogs to properly chew and digest, but cooked, unseasoned pumpkin skin is totally safe for your dog to eat. 

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Seeds?

Yes! Like the skin and flesh, it’s best to cook pumpkin seeds before you feed them to your dog, but a couple of unseasoned pumpkin seeds can actually give your dog some additional nutrients. 

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Puree?

Yes! Dogs can eat pumpkin puree as long as it is free from other ingredients that could be toxic or unhealthy for your dog. 100% pure pumpkin puree is best, and can even aid your dog’s digestive health. 

Can Dogs Eat Store Bought Pumpkin Pie?

Yes, but they shouldn’t. Most store-bought pumpkin pies will contain spices like nutmeg that are not safe for dogs and are high in other unhealthy ingredients like sugar, butter, preservatives, and artificial flavorings. If your dog accidentally gets a piece of store-bought pie, don’t stress, but don’t intentionally feed it to your pup. 

Can Dogs Eat Libby’s Pumpkin Pie Mix?

No! Libby’s Pumpkin Pie mix comes in a can and is ready-made to be poured into a pie crust. While this is a super convenient shortcut for the holidays, this pie mix is not dog-safe and contains ingredients like cloves, and flavorings. Like store-bought pie, if your dog gets a piece of pie made with Libby’s they should be completely fine, but it’s not something you should feed intentionally.

Can Dogs Eat Pie Crust?

Yes, but in moderation. Pie crust contains a lot of fat, usually in the form of butter or shortening. These ingredients aren’t good for dogs and can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and digestive issues. An excess of carbohydrates can also cause digestive issues for your dog, but as long as it’s just a small amount they will be fine. 

Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Bread?

Sometimes. If it is homemade, does not contain nutmeg, clove, or allspice, and is free from other toxic ingredients, your dog can safely eat small pieces of pumpkin bread. However, remember that pumpkin bread is also high in sugar and added fat, and therefore not a healthy treat to share with your pup. 

Now that you know about pumpkin pie, let’s talk about feeding your dog cake!