Pumpkin Carving Night Left a Mess. A Shih Tzu Came to Investigate.
Pumpkin carving night has left the table looking like a delicious disaster, and a gold and white Shih Tzu has come to investigate. With its fluffy face pressed right up to the edge, the little dog sniffs at the chaos: heaps of slippery pumpkin seeds, wedges of orange flesh, curly bits of stringy pulp, and a bowl of cleaned seeds set aside for roasting. A glass measuring cup, a mug, a kettle, a wadded dish towel and some carving tools crowd the counter behind, and soft daylight drifts through sheer curtains.
Plain, raw or cooked pumpkin flesh is generally safe for dogs in small amounts, and plain roasted pumpkin seeds, unsalted and with no seasoning, can be an occasional treat. The trouble comes with everything else on a carving table. Sharp knives and carving tools can cut paws and mouths, the stringy pulp may upset a sensitive stomach, and seeds roasted with butter, salt, garlic or spices are not dog-friendly. Larger chunks of rind can also be hard to digest. When carving, keep pets out of the room or well away from the table, and clean up scraps right away.
This Shih Tzu clearly sees the carving table as a feast, but a dog-safe treat is a better reward for such curiosity. The jack-o'-lanterns will soon be finished, and so will this little inspection.
