The organisms that dogs have are perfectly designed to process a variety of food types. These animals are able to get the required nutrition from animal and plant matter. They consume meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, and grain products, indicating flexibility regarding particular sources of nutrition. In this way, dogs are able to meet their nutritional needs in a balanced manner. However, many things can affect what a dog can eat, such as age, health history, health status, and previous diet. This is why it is vital to always consult a veterinarian as a first step before introducing any food into a dog’s diet. So, what about popcorn? In general, is popcorn actually safe for dogs?

Is Popcorn Safe For Dogs?

Dogs are curious animals who often snatch food from people. Is it a cause of concern if your dog eats a little bit of popcorn? Many products safe for humans can damage an animal and cause several medical issues. So, can popcorn harm your dog?

Thankfully, popcorn is typically safe for dogs as there are no poisonous ingredients in this treat. Popcorn comes from corn, and corn is a common ingredient in dog food. So yes, dogs can eat popcorn. But this crunchy snack is not without its risks. Learn how to pop some corn for your pup safely and what to look out for before you offer your dog popcorn to munch on.

How to Feed a Dog Popcorn?

Dogs can eat popcorn, though owners need to be sure that this snack does not harm the pets. Above all else, ensure that the popcorn does not cause the dog to choke. That is especially important for smaller dogs who might be unable to chew the treat properly. So, please ensure the size of the popcorn you offer your dog is not large. Also, remove hard shells or any unpopped corn kernels; it is advisable to chop the popcorn before serving.

The next thing to consider is the additives. Popcorn purchased from stores is usually filled with plenty of additives. This snack is laced with salt, flavorings, flavor enhancers, sugar, and fat manufacturers. However, you should skip the add-ons that people love: those can be dangerous for your dog, so it’s best to share plain popcorn. Too much salt in your dog’s diet is not advisable. Dogs with diabetes or obesity should not be fed popcorn with added sugar, as this is particularly unhealthy for them. Fat is another thing to exclude because an excessive amount of fat in a doggy diet can also cause hypertension and many different health issues. Finally, remember that dogs can also be allergic to corn, and popcorn is corn!

While dogs can eat popcorn, it should be a small portion. So, moderation should also be something you keep in mind. As dogs can eat this kind of meatless product, it should not go over 10% of their diet. Popcorn can be a snack for dogs as long as they are fed a healthy diet based on good quality meat, which helps them to ingest the fiber they need. But it should not be a regular nibble.

Summary

Dogs can eat popcorn. As long as you feed your dog small pieces of popcorn without additives and fat, nothing wrong should happen. However, we recommend to speak with your vet in each such case. There are many things that are crucial, like the state of health of the dog, which may react differently to a new snack.

Source

• Jirayu Tanprasertsuk, Devon E. Tate, Justin Shmalberg (2021). Roles of plant‐based ingredients and phytonutrients in canine nutrition and health.
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9291198/#jpn13626-sec-0019