Popcorn is one of our favourite snacks. We all eat this quick bite while watching movies or late-night TV shows. Unfortunately, you cannot ignore your dog while enjoying your time with popcorn. But as a responsible pet owner, you come here to know whether can dogs eat popcorn or can not.
Your dog might have eaten dropped popcorn and he definitely loved it. But only because he liked the taste, we can not serve anything without knowing whether it is dog-safe food or not. In this article, I will discuss whether popcorns are safe for dogs when they can not eat popcorn, and if there are any benefits of eating popcorn for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Popcorn?
Yes, dogs can have popcorn but it should be occasionally. Make sure that only serve in small quantities. Only plain white popcorn without adding any seasoning or salt is okay with dogs. So you can feed popcorn to your dog as a treat feeding more then required can lead to toxicity[1].
Note down that your popcorn should not be the main diet of the day, it should be less than 10% of the whole day’s meals. Moreover, do not serve butter or oil-added popcorn, it must be plain air-popped popcorn.
Popcorn can be a nutritious treat for your furry friend. It turns out that popcorn contains many essential minerals, including zinc, magnesium, fiber, vitamins, manganese, and phosphorus, that are crucial for your dog’s health and well-being.
“Popcorn contains riboflavin and thiamine, both of which promote eye health and digestion, as well as small amounts of iron and protein” stated in American Kennel Club.
So, the next time you’re snacking on popcorn, you can share a few pieces with your pup unless he is not allergic to it and let them enjoy some of the nutritional benefits[2] too.
The same goes for other unhealthy human foods like chips, which can also have detrimental effects on dogs if fed regularly. Before feeding chips to your pup ask your vet whether can dogs have chips?
Is Popcorn Bad for Dogs?
Humans love popcorn, but we also know popcorns are not healthy anymore after adding seasoning, butter, oil, flavours, and sat. In the same way, it is not healthy to feed tasty popcorn to dogs also. If you feed them this kind of fatty popcorn then it will have a more detrimental effect on them than us. They will also gain weight.
Now let’s see what are the factors which make popcorn bad for dogs.
- The first one is obesity. Added seasoning and toppings are very bad for dogs, and can lead to many health-related problems.
- If you feed too many seasonings and added additives, then it will lead to Kidney issues. It can damage kidneys also.
- If the dog eats more popcorn than, he should then he might face stomach-related problems. It usually leads to diarrhoea.
- Popcorns usually come with salt and salt can upset his stomach. But not only that, it can lead to dehydration also.
If you are trying to feed popcorn for the first time, then there are chances that your dog already have allergic to popcorn. So before you start giving popcorn to your dogs, consult your vet first. In case you didn’t check with your vet, your dog can experience a variety of allergic reactions.
Including itching, sneezing, skin rashes, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Additionally, Itchy paws, hives, and swelling are also common signs of an allergic reaction in dogs. It is important to be aware of these symptoms and take necessary precautions to prevent allergic reactions in dogs.
According to The kennel Club “After eating lots of sugar, or even lots of fat, dogs can develop pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas), which may cause them to be off their food, develop vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy and go into organ failure.“
Pet owners should always monitor their dog’s behaviour and seek veterinary care if they suspect an allergic reaction or adverse food reaction.
It’s best to avoid flavored popcorn for dogs, as ingredients like mint can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. Check with your vet and see is mint safe for dogs before feeding any mint-flavored foods.
How Should I Feed My Dog Popcorn?
The best way to feed your dog popcorn is, first to keep a small amount of popcorn not repacked. Now make sure you don’t add any seasoning or additives. Just plain and air-popped popcorn. The next step is to bake it using either a popcorn machine, microwave or on pan.
It is very simple to prepare popcorn for your dog, isn’t it? Once you pop all the corn, filter it and remove all partially popped corn and then serve less than 10% of their daily diet[3]. Keep in mind that you should not feed popcorn frequently.
If you want to give your dog a different starchy treat like pasta in addition to plain popcorn, make sure to also learn about what types of pasta are safe and in what amounts by referring to our article about can dogs eat pasta?
FAQs
Can dogs eat popcorn?
If you serve plain and unseasoned without salt, butter, oil, or sugar. Then I think there is no issue in feeding popcorn.
Are there any alternatives to popcorn that I can give to my dog?
Yes, there are many alternatives to popcorn which are also healthy for your dog. Like carrot sticks, apple slices, plain boiled noodles, and plain popcorn without seasoning.
Do different types of popcorn (e.g. sweet, salty, or flavoured) have different effects on dogs?
Yes, every type of popcorn has a different effect on your dog. Suppose sweet or flavoured popcorn is harmful to dogs. As dogs should not have excess sugar or any other flavours. popcorn can affect your dog. Plain and unsalted popcorn is the best option, rather than going for any other flavour.
Can feeding popcorn to dogs cause an upset stomach?
Yes, if you serve popcorn to your dog when he is very hungry, then there are chances that he swallows popcorn in hurry without even eating. It leads to diarrhoea, vomiting, or other digestive issues.
Are there any nutritional benefits to feeding popcorn to dogs?
Yes, there are several nutritional values which are found in popcorn. Like fibre and essential minerals like magnesium, zinc, and phosphorus. Even though it possesses great nutritional values, you should not replace it with diet. Occasional treats are ideal.
Conclusion
By now you are aware that whether can dogs eat popcorn, and how much they should have in what form. Therefore, from now onwards before you feed popcorn to your dog, visit your vet and check if your dog has an allergy to popcorn or not.
There are only a few important things you have to consider, like serving only air-popped popcorn without seasoning in small amounts. So you can avoid any health issues and also can let your dog enjoy tasty popcorn.
Reference:
- Calderone, B. J. (2018, March 23). 8 Toxic Foods for Dogs. Consumer Reports. Retrieved February 16, 2024
- Dog Nutrition Tips. (n.d.-b). ASPCA. Retrieved February 16, 2024
- Burke, A. (2023, February 7). How Many Treats Can Your Dog Really Have? American Kennel Club.
