There’s nothing quite like settling down with a bowl of popcorn and a good movie, but can our pets come and watch with us? Learn whether your dog is safe to feed popcorn by reading this guide.
We can’t have a movie night with our favorite popcorn and soda combo. It’s the ideal quick snack since it can be prepared in the microwave in a matter of seconds, and it’s also a rather nutritious treat for us humans because it’s made with high-fibre whole grains. It’s easy to drop bits of popcorn when sitting on the couch eating by the handful, and our dogs will be more than happy to swoop in and clean up any morsels they find. However, this raises the intriguing prospect, can dogs consume popcorn?
We hope this information helps answer any queries you may have about whether or not popcorn is safe for dogs to eat. If you and your dog like sharing movie night munchies, you’ll want to read on.
Canines, can they munch on popcorn?
I would say yes, but with a caveat. Popcorn is safe for dogs to consume in moderation, but only plain popcorn should be given to them. Treats are OK, but they shouldn’t account for more than 10 percent of your child’s daily calories if you want to keep them on the healthier side of things.
Is it safe to give dogs popcorn?
Popcorn isn’t harmful to dogs, but it also isn’t very beneficial to them. Corn kernels do include nutrients like magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, and zinc as well as fiber and trace levels of vitamins, but your dog should already be receiving all of these from the high-quality dog food they eat every day.
Popcorn is OK for dogs to consume in moderation if it is simple, air-popped, and not too large in size. Dogs shouldn’t eat popcorn because it contains ingredients that might be harmful to them, such as the salt and butter that people love to sprinkle on top.
Popcorn is often topped with butter, salt, sugar, or even caramel; however, the high levels of fat, salt, and sodium in these condiments may contribute to gastrointestinal distress, dehydration, and even health problems including obesity if consumed in excess.
Unpopped or partly popped kernels pose a choking threat, and you never know when they can become lodged in your dog’s teeth, causing him or her a lot of pain.
A further problem with giving dogs popcorn is that several canine species are known to have an adverse reaction to maize. Never feed popcorn to your dog if you know they have a sensitivity to it, since this may cause gastrointestinal distress, excess gas, and diarrhea.
Just how do I give popcorn to my dog?
Be sure it’s simple and air-popped just if you want to share a tiny bit of popcorn with your dog. Making popcorn by air popping is easy and may be done in a microwave, on the stove, or in a dedicated popcorn popper.
Pop the rest of the kernels and then remove the unpopped ones so they only get a few. Never offer your dog popcorn that has any kind of seasoning or other topping on it, and if you want to add these things to your own serving, take out a tiny quantity first to give to your dog, and then add them.
Conclusion
Yes, dogs can eat popcorn. Now that you know the answer to whether or not popcorn is safe for dogs, you may be interested in learning more about what you should be giving your pet. Whether you want to know if your dog can eat strawberries or coconut, check out our articles!