Pumpkin and sweet potato seem to pop up everywhere in dog food and treats – particularly once autumn arrives.

Both can be a tasty addition to your dog’s diet. But despite often being grouped together, pumpkin and sweet potato are actually quite different nutritionally.

So, is one better than the other?

Not necessarily.

As with most things in canine nutrition, the better question is: which one is more suitable for your individual dog?

Let’s take a closer look at pumpkin vs sweet potato for dogs.

Can dogs eat pumpkin?

Yes. Dogs can eat plain, cooked pumpkin as part of a balanced diet.

Pumpkin contains a lot of water alongside fibre and naturally occurring vitamins, minerals and plant compounds such as beta-carotene.

Because it has a high-water content, pumpkin is relatively low in calories by weight compared with starchier vegetables such as sweet potato. That can make a small spoonful useful when owners want to add a little variety or volume to a meal without dramatically increasing its calorie content.

Its fibre content is also one of the main reasons pumpkin has become associated with digestive health.

However, there is an important caveat here:

More fibre isn't automatically better.

If your dog regularly has diarrhoea, constipation, mucus in their stools or other digestive problems, repeatedly adding pumpkin isn't a substitute for finding out why.

Different types and amounts of fibre can affect the digestive system differently, and some dogs may do worse when lots of additional fibre is added to their diet.

Can dogs eat sweet potato?

Yes. Cooked sweet potato can also be fed to dogs safely.

Like pumpkin, sweet potato provides fibre and naturally occurring micronutrients, including beta-carotene.

However, sweet potato is considerably starchier and more energy-dense than pumpkin.

That doesn't make sweet potato “bad” – it simply means portions matter.

A few chunks added to the bowl may not look like much, but regularly adding sweet potato alongside your dog's normal food, chews and other treats can gradually increase their overall calorie intake.

For healthy dogs, it can be a perfectly good ingredient when fed appropriately.

And if your dog loves sweet potato, there is an even easier option.

Soopa's Natural Sweet Potato Chews are made from 100% sweet potato and contain around 10 kcal per treat, making portioning much easier than guessing how much you've added to the bowl.

Shop Soopa Natural Sweet Potato Chews

Pumpkin vs sweet potato: what's the difference?

Although they have some similarities, they aren't nutritionally interchangeable.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is:

• High in water

• Relatively low in calories

• A source of fibre

• Naturally rich in carotenoids

• Easy to mix into food when cooked and mashed

It can therefore be a handy option when you simply want to add a small amount of vegetable to your dog's normal meal.

Sweet potato

Sweet potato is:

• More calorie-dense than pumpkin

• Higher in starch

• A source of fibre

• Naturally rich in carotenoids

• More substantial and filling

Neither is automatically “healthier”. They simply bring different things to the bowl.

Is pumpkin better for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

You'll often hear pumpkin recommended online whenever a dog develops diarrhoea.

Occasionally a little additional fibre may help, but digestive problems are much more complicated than simply adding pumpkin.

Loose stools can have many possible causes, including:

• Sudden diet changes

• Eating something unusual

• Parasites

• Excess treats

• Food intolerance

• Stress

• Infection

• Gastrointestinal disease

If your dog's digestive problems are recurrent, severe or accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting, blood, weight loss, reduced appetite or lethargy, speak to your vet rather than continually changing their food or adding different ingredients.

For dogs that simply enjoy pumpkin as a treat, Soopa's Pumpkin Spiced Latte Healthy Bites combine pumpkin with cinnamon in an easy-to-portion little reward.

Shop Soopa Pumpkin Spiced Latte Healthy Bites

And just to be clear: your own pumpkin spiced latte is definitely not the same thing!

Human drinks can contain caffeine, large amounts of sugar, syrups, dairy and spice mixtures that aren't appropriate for dogs.

Let your dog enjoy their own pumpkin-inspired treat instead.

What about sweet potato for dogs with sensitive stomachs?

Sweet potato is often described as being “good for digestion” too, largely because it provides fibre.

But again, there isn't one ingredient that is ideal for every sensitive dog.

Some dogs tolerate sweet potato brilliantly. Others may find larger amounts of fermentable carbohydrates and fibre contribute to wind or softer stools.

This is particularly important if you're already feeding a complete dog food containing ingredients such as sweet potato, potato, peas or other fibre sources.

Adding lots more on top isn't necessarily going to improve digestion.

With fibre, the overall diet matters more – you can find out more about fibre in dog’s diet in our blog “why is fibre so important for dogs”

How much pumpkin or sweet potato can I give my dog?

There's no single amount that suits every dog.

A Chihuahua and a Great Dane clearly shouldn't receive the same portion.

Your dog's:

• Size

• Weight

• Activity level

• Main diet

• Health

• Existing treats

all need to be considered.

As a general rule, treats and additional foods should make up only a relatively small proportion of your dog's overall calorie intake.

Remember that if your dog is already eating a complete and balanced commercial food, they don't need pumpkin, sweet potato or any other fruit and vegetable to “balance” it.

They're extras.

And extras still contain calories.

How should pumpkin and sweet potato be prepared for dogs?

If you're preparing them at home, keep things simple.

For pumpkin:

Cook until soft and serve plain. Remove the tough outer skin, stalk and seeds before cooking if you're preparing a fresh pumpkin. It can be boiled, roasted or steamed.

For sweet potato:

Cook thoroughly until soft and serve plain. Boiling, steaming or baking without oils or seasoning works well.

Avoid adding:

• Butter

• Salt

• Sugar

• Syrups

• Cream

• Seasoning

• Sweeteners

If you're using tinned pumpkin, choose 100% pumpkin rather than pumpkin pie filling, which may contain added sugar and spices.

So which wins: pumpkin or sweet potato?

There doesn't need to be a winner.

Pumpkin can be useful when you're looking for a lower-calorie, high-moisture vegetable addition.

Sweet potato is more energy-dense and starchier, but can still make a nutritious and tasty occasional addition or treat.

The important part is how much you're feeding and what the rest of your dog's diet looks like.

Rather than searching for one “superfood” ingredient, focus on your dog's overall diet being complete, balanced and appropriate for their individual needs.

And if autumn flavours are calling, you can always check out our Sweet Pawtato Balls recipe on our site

Or don’t fancy getting the pans out? Try Soopa's Pumpkin Spiced Latte Dental Sticks, Cranberry & Sweet Potato Healthy Bites or simple Natural Sweet Potato Chews for an easy way to bring those seasonal flavours to treat time.

Because your dog might not be able to join you for a pumpkin spiced latte...

…but they can certainly have their own little version.

Disclaimer – Sweet potato might not be suitable for dogs with CKD that need potassium controlling, check with your vet if unsure