Outside is more and more beautiful and we start to grill more. It is a fun and tasty activity. The whole family and our puppies gather around the grill. The smell of grilled fish, steak, pork chops, mushrooms, corn, and other tasty grilled foods, is driving our pups crazy. They want some of those grilled goodies. But can we share some grilled corn with our dogs? In this article we’ll talk about corn and if corn is good for dogs.
Dogs can eat corn. In fact, corn is good for dogs and your dog can eat corn if you don’t keep him on a grain-free diet. Corn is a good source of carbohydrates, protein, fiber, linoleic acid, amino acid, carotenoids, and vitamin E and beta-carotene for your dog. I mentioned about beta-carotene when I answered to the question if the dogs can eat carrots. Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that converts in vitamin A in your dog’s body. Corn kernels are very nutritional for dogs. Corn provides energy to your dog, helps him to maintain healthy skin, coat, muscles, and immune system. I have two Siberian huskies and I give them a few corn kernels from time to time. So, if you’re wondering if Siberian huskies can eat corn, yes, they can.
How can dogs eat corn?
Dogs can eat grilled corn, boiled corn, corn from a can, that hasn’t added butter or spices added. Even if you like a little bit of butter, salt, or other spices on your corn, your dog should eat plain corn kernels. When you’re boiling corn for your dog, don’t add any salt in the water even if it takes a little bit longer to be cooked. Always let the corn kernels to cool down before you give them your dog. Use a knife to remove kernels from the cob.
If you have a corn can and you want to share some kernels with your dog, look at the ingredients list and check how much salt contains. Also, look to see if there are any added sugars or artificial flavors. There are so many brands and types out there. Try to find one as natural as possible, if you want to feed some canned corn to your dog.
Corn is difficult to be digested and it usually goes straight to the gut completely whole and intact. This is a problem with boiled corn, grilled corn and even the corn from the can.
How much corn can dogs eat?
Dogs shouldn’t eat corn daily or in large amounts. Our furry buddies need a balanced diet. But a little bit of corn from time to time is a fun treat and it’s a healthy addition to your dog diet. If you worry about allergies, always start with a little bit when you’re introducing new food to your dog. Keep an eye on your dog and see how his body reacts to the new food. I always rotate vegetables, fruits, carbohydrates, proteins and oils for my dogs. I keep them on a balanced diet to fulfill all their needs. By rotating different foods, I’m making food more interesting for them. And when it comes to treats, I try to make the most of them at home.
Mostly due to the fact that many of the store-bought treats have a lot of fats or salt and I have to adjust their diet according to their nutritional plan. I try to keep my dogs’ mind active and always training because there are so many tricks to learn. My Siberian huskies tend to be stubborn sometimes. Homemade treats are the best for them because they are not allowed to eat “human spicy food”. Their treats look like human food but are safe for them. Raw carrots pieces, apple pieces, and other vegetables or fruits are good training treats for dogs. Also, if your dog it’s not lactose intolerant, small squares of cheese are high-value treats. But let’s get back to finding out more about corn for dogs.
Can dogs eat popcorn?
Dogs can eat popcorn only if the kernels are popped and they don’t have salt or butter on them. Also, popcorn shouldn’t be a daily treat for your dog. From time to time a few popped kernels are ok. Still, popcorn can get stuck in dogs’ teeth and this is not healthy for his dental health. Don’t let your dog eat the kernels that are not popped. The corn that wasn’t popped can’t be digested and it can cause an upset stomach.
Can dogs eat corn on a cob?
Dogs can eat corn if the corn is cooked without salt or spices. Always remove the cob and don’t live it for your dog to chew. If you have a medium-size dog, such as my two Siberian huskies, or a large dog he might bite chunks of cob and he can choke on it or block his intestine with a piece of the cob. Intestinal obstruction is a serious and even potentially fatal medical problem. So, don’t let your dog chew on a cob because he will really go for it. The corn cob, especially boiled cob, is easy to break.
What should I do if my dog ate a corn cob?
If your dog reached for a corn cob and he ate it, you should immediately call your veterinarian. This is a serious medical condition and it should be taken care of it right away. The signs that your dog has an intestine obstruction can be loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, straining to defecate, and stomach pain.
Even if your dog doesn’t show the symptoms that I mentioned earlier, he may have a chunk of cob in his stomach. The stuck chunk of the corn cob in the stomach has to be surgically removed as soon as possible. The more the corn cob stays in the stomach the more serious it can become. With this being said, if you suspect that your dog swallowed a chunk of corn cob, immediately go to your vet.
Can puppies eat corn?
It’s better not to give your puppy corn if he is still little. Wait until he is at least one year old, or big enough to try new foods such as corn. If you have a small puppy then he may even choke with a corn kernel or this can get stuck in his intestine if your pup doesn’t chew the kernel.
The same goes for small dog breeds. Your small dog might choke with the boiled or grilled corn kernels. Stay near him when you’re feeding him some boiled corn kernels to make sure he is fine. If your dog steals some corn kernels and shows signs such as loss of color in tongue or gums or high pitch squeaking that means he choked with the corn kernel. Immediately call your dog’s vet and tell him what happened.
Also, another food that should be avoided when it comes to feeding your puppy is honey. Read why you shouldn’t feed honey to your puppy.
Is corn flour, corn starch and cornmeal good for dogs?
Corn flour or cornmeal is often used in dog treats. You may use cornflour if you’re making special treats for your dog at home. It is safe to be used for treats if your dog is not allergic to it. As I said before, always check first if your dog’s body agrees with new food. Corn starch is often used in dogs’ foods because it binds the ingredients.
Treats made of cornflour and a protein, such as liver or tuna, are usually high-value treats. Even if your dog really likes these types of treats, give him only a small amount. We need to keep our buddies healthy, not to make them fat.
Final thoughts on if dogs can eat corn
We love to share what we eat with our furry friends, especially when they didn’t taste that food. You can share a few popped corn kernels or some grilled or boiled corn kernels on special occasions. Can dogs eat some corn? Yes. Do dogs need to eat corn? No. Dogs can live without corn in their life. If you want to treat your dog with some corn kernels, you can do it. Corn shouldn’t be daily food. Always keep that corn cob away from your dog. Even if your dog can’t eat all the “human food” such as flavored and salty popcorn or buttery grilled corn on a comb, his body is thanking you. The main thing is to keep our dogs happy and to make sure they live a good, long and healthy life.
Don’t forget to read Can dogs eat rice?
