Pumkin seeds?? - YorkieTalk.com Forums

i_love_my_yorki · 10-31-2005, 02:51 PM

Scamp just ate a handfull of Pumkin seeds,does anyone know if its safe for pets to eat them??

YorkieShadow · 11-01-2005, 12:06 AM

I dont know. But I hope some one comes and post. Id like to know too.

PlatinumYorkies · 11-01-2005, 12:20 AM

An annual fruit, pumpkin has vines that grow up to 26 feet long. The leaves are large and bristly; the flowers are big, yellow, and solitary. The fruit is large, greenish to orange, and fibrous. Its many seeds have flat, shallow grooves.

Seeds of several species of the genus Cucurbita have long enjoyed a considerable reputation as teniafuges (agents which paralyze and expel intestinal worms). Chief among these are pumpkin seeds or pepo, obtained from C. pepo L., but the seeds of the autumn squash (C. maxima Duchesne) and of the Canada pumpkin or crookneck squash [C. moschata (Duchesne) Poir.] have similar properties. All are large edible fruits produced by herbaceous, running (vine like) plants of the family Cucurbitaceae. Numerous cultivated varieties exist.

When used as a teniafuge or anthelmintic, cucurbita seeds are ordinarily administered in the form of the ground seeds themselves, as an infusion (tea), or as an emulsion made by beating the seeds with powdered sugar and milk or water. Usually three divided doses are given, representing a total weight of seeds ranging from 60 to as much as 500 grams. Such treatment is said to be effective in expelling both tapeworms and roundworms. Another traditional use of the seeds is in the prevention and treatment of chronic prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of the prostate gland) in males. A handful of the seeds eaten daily is supposed to be a very popular remedy for this condition in Bulgaria, Turkey, and the Ukraine.

Cucurbitin, an unusual amino acid identified chemically as (-)-3-amino-3-carboxypyrrolidine, is the active principle responsible for the anthelmintic (worm-expelling) effects of the medication. It occurs only in the seeds of Cucurbita species, but its concentration is quite variable even in seeds of the same species. This variability probably accounts for reports in the literature that cucurbita seeds are either unreliable or ineffective as a teniafuge. One study showed the concentration of cucurbitin in different samples of C. pepo ranged from 1.66 to 6.63%, in C. maxima from 5.29 to 19.37%, and in C. moschata from 3.98 to 8.44%.

Identifying the principle(s) responsible for any beneficial effects on the prostate gland is not so straightforward. The fatty oil contained in cucurbita seeds in amounts approaching 50% is an efficient diuretic, so the increased urine flow it produces may give an illusory sense of reduction of prostatic swelling or hypertrophy. Administration of unsaturated fatty acids is thought by some to be beneficial in the treatment of prostate problems. Cucurbita seed oil contains a number of these, including about 25% oleic acid and 55% linoleic acid. Phytosterols may also play some role.

The nutrients in pumpkin are really world class. Extremely high in fiber and low in calories, pumpkin packs an abundance of disease-fighting nutrients, including potassium, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and vitamins C and E. The key nutrient that boosts pumpkin to the top of the Super Food list is the synergistic combination of carotenoids. Pumpkin contains one of the richest supplies of bio-available carotenoids known to man. Carotenoids are deep orange-, yellow-, or red-colored, fat-soluble compounds that occur in a variety of plants. They protect the plants from sun damage while they help them attract birds and insects for pollination. So far scientists have identified about six hundred carotenoids, and more than fifty of them commonly occur in our diet. Not all dietary carotenoids are efficiently absorbed. As a result, only thirty-four carotenoids have currently been found in our blood and human breast milk. The six most common carotenoids found in human tissue include beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta cryptoxanthin. Both alpha and beta-carotene and beta cryptoxanthin are what's known as provitamin A carotenoids, which means that the body can convert them to vitamin A. As opposed to animal sources of vitamin A, these plant sources cannot deliver a toxic amount of the vitamin. Carotenoids are concentrated in a wide variety of tissues, where they help protect us from free radicals, modulate our immune response, enhance cell-to-cell communication, and possibly stimulate production of naturally occurring detoxification enzymes. Carotenoids also play a major role in protecting the skin and eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light.

Foods rich in carotenoids have been linked to a host of health promoting and disease-fighting activities. They have been shown to decrease the risk of various cancers, including those of the lung, colon, bladder, cervical, breast, and skin.

Carotenoids have also shown great promise in their ability to lower rates of heart disease. In one thirteen-year-long study, researchers found a strong correlation between lower carotenoid concentrations in the blood and a higher rate of heart disease. As has frequently been found, the correlation between increased carotenoid consumption and decreased risk of heart disease was higher when all carotenoids, not just beta-carotene, were considered.

When derived from whole foods like pumpkin, the carotenoids are major players in the fight against disease. Higher blood levels of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene are associated with lower levels of certain chronic diseases. In laboratory studies, beta-carotene has been shown to have very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents the oxidation of cholesterol in laboratory studies and, since oxidized cholesterol is the type that builds up in blood vessel walls and contributes to the risk of heart attack and stroke, getting extra beta-carotene in the diet may help to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis and heart disease.

While beta-carotene has long been linked with health promotion, it's the bounty of alpha-carotene in pumpkin that makes it a real nutrition standout. The exciting news about alpha-carotene is that its presence in the body along with other key nutrients is reportedly inversely related to biological aging. In other words, the more alpha-carotene you eat, the slower your body shows signs of age. Not only may alpha-carotene slow down the aging process, it also has been shown to protect against various cancers and cataracts. Moreover, the combination of carotenoids, potassium, magnesium, and folate found in pumpkin offers protection against cardiovascular disease.

Pumpkin is also a terrific source of fiber. Most people aren't aware of the fiber content of canned pumpkin because it seems so creamy. Just one half-cup serving provides 5 grams of fiber-more than you're getting from most cereals.

PARTS USED
Seeds, pulp.

USES
According to archaeological records in Mexico (8750 B.C.), c. pepo appears to be one of the first domesticated plant species. Pumpkins and other species of squash, along with beans and corn, were considered the "three sisters" by Native Americans, who planted them together. The bean vines used the cornstalks as supports and fixed nitrogen in the soil. And for all of them, the large squash leaves shaded the soil and helped hold moisture in it. In the Grimms' fairy tale Cinderella, the heroine's fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a magical golden coach. During Halloween, the pumpkin is made into jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin cakes and pies; and it is represented in trick-or-treat costumes and decorations.

Pumpkin was used in folk medicine to treat kidney inflammation and intestinal parasites and was once listed as one of the Four Greater Cold Seeds in an 18th century list of medicines. Today pumpkin is employed to treat irritable bladder and prostate complaints, namely benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The fatty oil in pumpkin seeds is mildly diuretic, and the seeds' principal constituent, cucurbitacins, appears to inhibit the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotesterone. The presence of zinc and amino acids further treat BPH. Pumpkin does not reduce prostate enlargement - it relieves symptoms only. Pumpkin seeds are also thought to help relieve dizziness.

Pumpkin seeds are taken principally as a safe deworming agent. They are particularly useful against tapeworms in pregnant women and in children, for whom stronger-acting and toxic preparations are unsuitable. The seeds are also mildly diuretic, and have been used in Central American herbal medicine as a treatment for nephritis and other urinary system problems. Varieties of pumpkin that are particularly diuretic, tonic to the bladder, and high in zinc have been recommended in the early stages of prostate problems. The pulp is used as a decoction to relieve intestinal inflammation, and is applied as a poultice or plaster for burns.

When the first explorers arrived in America, they noticed the pumpkin plant in the cultivated maize fields of the Indians. The red men, they discovered, utilized the pumpkin for medicine as well as for food. An emulsion made from a mixture of pumpkin and watermelon seeds served to heal wounds for members of the Yuma tribe. The Catawbas ate the fresh or dried seeds as a kidney medicine, while the Menominees drank a mixture of water and powdered squash and pumpkin seeds to ease the passage of urine. In settler folk medicine the ground stems of pumpkin were brewed into a tea to treat "female ills," and the ripe seeds were made into a palatable preparation to dispel worms. Modern folk healers advocate pumpkin seeds to rid the body of intestinal worms, and they point out that the seed oil is helpful for healing burns and wounds.
Other medical uses - Prostate cancer.

__________________________________________________ ___________
Hope this helps

tmatherly · 11-01-2005, 07:02 AM

A local coffee shop here sells "pumpkin treats" for dogs made with pumpkin and seeds...My dogs love them and have never had any ill effects.

PlatinumYorkies · 11-01-2005, 09:03 AM

I figured if it help's human's, it can't be that harmful for dog's, however you never know!

Josie's Mom · 11-01-2005, 09:55 AM

Whew...thanks for posting and thanks for the response. I was a little worried yesterday. Josie had a few pumkin seeds too.

Funky Chicken · 11-01-2005, 11:32 AM

can you make a quick call to your vet? i'd bet it's fine though .

Apple Pie · 11-03-2005, 10:04 AM

well pumpkin seeds might be ok for people but i had a poodle eat some pumpkin seeds a few years ago and he threw up for two days!

but after that he was fine. just an upset to the stomach i guess. hope yours is fine.

10-31-2005, 02:51 PM	#1
i_love_my_yorki YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 705	Pumkin seeds?? Scamp just ate a handfull of Pumkin seeds,does anyone know if its safe for pets to eat them??

11-01-2005, 12:20 AM	#3
PlatinumYorkies Monte, Mone't's Joy! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD Posts: 3,009	An annual fruit, pumpkin has vines that grow up to 26 feet long. The leaves are large and bristly; the flowers are big, yellow, and solitary. The fruit is large, greenish to orange, and fibrous. Its many seeds have flat, shallow grooves. Seeds of several species of the genus Cucurbita have long enjoyed a considerable reputation as teniafuges (agents which paralyze and expel intestinal worms). Chief among these are pumpkin seeds or pepo, obtained from C. pepo L., but the seeds of the autumn squash (C. maxima Duchesne) and of the Canada pumpkin or crookneck squash [C. moschata (Duchesne) Poir.] have similar properties. All are large edible fruits produced by herbaceous, running (vine like) plants of the family Cucurbitaceae. Numerous cultivated varieties exist. When used as a teniafuge or anthelmintic, cucurbita seeds are ordinarily administered in the form of the ground seeds themselves, as an infusion (tea), or as an emulsion made by beating the seeds with powdered sugar and milk or water. Usually three divided doses are given, representing a total weight of seeds ranging from 60 to as much as 500 grams. Such treatment is said to be effective in expelling both tapeworms and roundworms. Another traditional use of the seeds is in the prevention and treatment of chronic prostatic hypertrophy (enlargement of the prostate gland) in males. A handful of the seeds eaten daily is supposed to be a very popular remedy for this condition in Bulgaria, Turkey, and the Ukraine. Cucurbitin, an unusual amino acid identified chemically as (-)-3-amino-3-carboxypyrrolidine, is the active principle responsible for the anthelmintic (worm-expelling) effects of the medication. It occurs only in the seeds of Cucurbita species, but its concentration is quite variable even in seeds of the same species. This variability probably accounts for reports in the literature that cucurbita seeds are either unreliable or ineffective as a teniafuge. One study showed the concentration of cucurbitin in different samples of C. pepo ranged from 1.66 to 6.63%, in C. maxima from 5.29 to 19.37%, and in C. moschata from 3.98 to 8.44%. Identifying the principle(s) responsible for any beneficial effects on the prostate gland is not so straightforward. The fatty oil contained in cucurbita seeds in amounts approaching 50% is an efficient diuretic, so the increased urine flow it produces may give an illusory sense of reduction of prostatic swelling or hypertrophy. Administration of unsaturated fatty acids is thought by some to be beneficial in the treatment of prostate problems. Cucurbita seed oil contains a number of these, including about 25% oleic acid and 55% linoleic acid. Phytosterols may also play some role. The nutrients in pumpkin are really world class. Extremely high in fiber and low in calories, pumpkin packs an abundance of disease-fighting nutrients, including potassium, pantothenic acid, magnesium, and vitamins C and E. The key nutrient that boosts pumpkin to the top of the Super Food list is the synergistic combination of carotenoids. Pumpkin contains one of the richest supplies of bio-available carotenoids known to man. Carotenoids are deep orange-, yellow-, or red-colored, fat-soluble compounds that occur in a variety of plants. They protect the plants from sun damage while they help them attract birds and insects for pollination. So far scientists have identified about six hundred carotenoids, and more than fifty of them commonly occur in our diet. Not all dietary carotenoids are efficiently absorbed. As a result, only thirty-four carotenoids have currently been found in our blood and human breast milk. The six most common carotenoids found in human tissue include beta-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta cryptoxanthin. Both alpha and beta-carotene and beta cryptoxanthin are what's known as provitamin A carotenoids, which means that the body can convert them to vitamin A. As opposed to animal sources of vitamin A, these plant sources cannot deliver a toxic amount of the vitamin. Carotenoids are concentrated in a wide variety of tissues, where they help protect us from free radicals, modulate our immune response, enhance cell-to-cell communication, and possibly stimulate production of naturally occurring detoxification enzymes. Carotenoids also play a major role in protecting the skin and eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet light. Foods rich in carotenoids have been linked to a host of health promoting and disease-fighting activities. They have been shown to decrease the risk of various cancers, including those of the lung, colon, bladder, cervical, breast, and skin. Carotenoids have also shown great promise in their ability to lower rates of heart disease. In one thirteen-year-long study, researchers found a strong correlation between lower carotenoid concentrations in the blood and a higher rate of heart disease. As has frequently been found, the correlation between increased carotenoid consumption and decreased risk of heart disease was higher when all carotenoids, not just beta-carotene, were considered. When derived from whole foods like pumpkin, the carotenoids are major players in the fight against disease. Higher blood levels of beta-carotene and alpha-carotene are associated with lower levels of certain chronic diseases. In laboratory studies, beta-carotene has been shown to have very powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It prevents the oxidation of cholesterol in laboratory studies and, since oxidized cholesterol is the type that builds up in blood vessel walls and contributes to the risk of heart attack and stroke, getting extra beta-carotene in the diet may help to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis and heart disease. While beta-carotene has long been linked with health promotion, it's the bounty of alpha-carotene in pumpkin that makes it a real nutrition standout. The exciting news about alpha-carotene is that its presence in the body along with other key nutrients is reportedly inversely related to biological aging. In other words, the more alpha-carotene you eat, the slower your body shows signs of age. Not only may alpha-carotene slow down the aging process, it also has been shown to protect against various cancers and cataracts. Moreover, the combination of carotenoids, potassium, magnesium, and folate found in pumpkin offers protection against cardiovascular disease. Pumpkin is also a terrific source of fiber. Most people aren't aware of the fiber content of canned pumpkin because it seems so creamy. Just one half-cup serving provides 5 grams of fiber-more than you're getting from most cereals. PARTS USED Seeds, pulp. USES According to archaeological records in Mexico (8750 B.C.), c. pepo appears to be one of the first domesticated plant species. Pumpkins and other species of squash, along with beans and corn, were considered the "three sisters" by Native Americans, who planted them together. The bean vines used the cornstalks as supports and fixed nitrogen in the soil. And for all of them, the large squash leaves shaded the soil and helped hold moisture in it. In the Grimms' fairy tale Cinderella, the heroine's fairy godmother turned a pumpkin into a magical golden coach. During Halloween, the pumpkin is made into jack-o-lanterns and pumpkin cakes and pies; and it is represented in trick-or-treat costumes and decorations. Pumpkin was used in folk medicine to treat kidney inflammation and intestinal parasites and was once listed as one of the Four Greater Cold Seeds in an 18th century list of medicines. Today pumpkin is employed to treat irritable bladder and prostate complaints, namely benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The fatty oil in pumpkin seeds is mildly diuretic, and the seeds' principal constituent, cucurbitacins, appears to inhibit the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotesterone. The presence of zinc and amino acids further treat BPH. Pumpkin does not reduce prostate enlargement - it relieves symptoms only. Pumpkin seeds are also thought to help relieve dizziness. Pumpkin seeds are taken principally as a safe deworming agent. They are particularly useful against tapeworms in pregnant women and in children, for whom stronger-acting and toxic preparations are unsuitable. The seeds are also mildly diuretic, and have been used in Central American herbal medicine as a treatment for nephritis and other urinary system problems. Varieties of pumpkin that are particularly diuretic, tonic to the bladder, and high in zinc have been recommended in the early stages of prostate problems. The pulp is used as a decoction to relieve intestinal inflammation, and is applied as a poultice or plaster for burns. When the first explorers arrived in America, they noticed the pumpkin plant in the cultivated maize fields of the Indians. The red men, they discovered, utilized the pumpkin for medicine as well as for food. An emulsion made from a mixture of pumpkin and watermelon seeds served to heal wounds for members of the Yuma tribe. The Catawbas ate the fresh or dried seeds as a kidney medicine, while the Menominees drank a mixture of water and powdered squash and pumpkin seeds to ease the passage of urine. In settler folk medicine the ground stems of pumpkin were brewed into a tea to treat "female ills," and the ripe seeds were made into a palatable preparation to dispel worms. Modern folk healers advocate pumpkin seeds to rid the body of intestinal worms, and they point out that the seed oil is helpful for healing burns and wounds. Other medical uses - Prostate cancer. __________________________________________________ ___________ Hope this helps __________________ "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."!! **Mone't Mom 2 Monte**

11-01-2005, 07:02 AM	#4
tmatherly Razorback Yorkie Lover Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 2,056	A local coffee shop here sells "pumpkin treats" for dogs made with pumpkin and seeds...My dogs love them and have never had any ill effects. __________________ Tiffany Pippa, Scout, and Ranger's Mom http://www.dogster.com/?198523 http://www.dogster.com/?198525

11-01-2005, 09:03 AM	#5
PlatinumYorkies Monte, Mone't's Joy! Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: MD Posts: 3,009	I figured if it help's human's, it can't be that harmful for dog's, however you never know! __________________ "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."!! **Mone't Mom 2 Monte**

11-01-2005, 09:55 AM	#6
Josie's Mom Jojo's & Junior's too! Donating YT Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Watsonville, CA Posts: 1,379	Whew...thanks for posting and thanks for the response. I was a little worried yesterday. Josie had a few pumkin seeds too. __________________ Josie, Jojo, Junior & Veronica ...No Home is Complete Without a Yorkie...or Two...better make that 3!..

11-01-2005, 12:06 AM	#2
YorkieShadow BANNED! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: USA Posts: 9,999	I dont know. But I hope some one comes and post. Id like to know too.

11-01-2005, 11:32 AM	#7
Funky Chicken YT Addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: WA Posts: 365	can you make a quick call to your vet? i'd bet it's fine though . __________________ FC see my babies on DOGSTER!

11-03-2005, 10:04 AM	#8
Apple Pie Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grapevine, TX Posts: 68	well pumpkin seeds might be ok for people but i had a poodle eat some pumpkin seeds a few years ago and he threw up for two days! but after that he was fine. just an upset to the stomach i guess. hope yours is fine.