Can My Dog Eat Corn

Can My Dog Eat Corn? [Feeding Guide!]

Dogs always manage to fill the colors of love, loyalty, joy, and affection in the lives of the people. Who does not love to own a dog? Well, fostering a dog is not an easy task as it comes with a bundle of responsibilities and challenges as well. One of the most difficult tasks is to look after the nutritional needs of your pet, thereby soothing his taste buds with healthy food.

Dogs are mainly fond of food items that are consumed by humans such as corn. As a pet parent, you must be thinking about whether dogs can eat corn or not. In this blog, we are going to resolve all your concerns regarding the same.

Corn is among one of the main ingredients that are used in dog food that makes it suitable for consumption by your dog. Owning its excellent nutritional benefits, you can feed corn to your dog in moderate quantities. Make sure that the corn kernels are removed from the cob otherwise it would become difficult for your pet dog to digest it properly.

Corn, being an inexpensive grain as compared to the others in the segment, has been widely used in the formulation of dog food. Well, you can include corn as a portion of a well-balanced and healthy diet for your dog. The following are a few pivotal factors that you need to consider before giving corn to your pet.

Nutritional Value of Corn

Corn is nothing less than a superfood as it is full of nutritional benefits along with a delectable taste that would surely soothe the taste buds of your dog without compromising upon his healthy diet. Corn is a rich source of carbohydrates, protein, antioxidants, and linoleic acid.

Also, corn is known for providing essential nutrients, minerals, vitamins, fat, and fiber that are vital for the overall growth and development of your dog. The carbohydrates present in the corn helps in promoting gut health and improve mobility in pets.

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Being high in carbohydrates, it also contains phytochemicals such as carotenoids that are loaded with several health benefits for your dog. It is said to reduce the risk of chronic health diseases in dogs.

Ensure that your Dog is not Allergic to Corn

Giving corn kernels to your dog in moderate quantities is considered to be completely safe. However, some dogs are allergic to certain food items. That is why before feeding corn to your dog, you should make sure that your dog is not allergic to it.

You can even start with smaller quantities of corn at the initial stage and if it suits your pet, then you can increase the quantity subsequently. If your dog experiences any sort of health ailments such as intestinal discomfort or vomiting, then it is best advisable to consult a good veterinary doctor at the earliest.

Age Factor

The small pups mainly survive upon the liquid and semi-liquid pet-friendly food items that are easy to digest. However, if your dog is too small, then it is not suitable to feed corn to him as small dogs tend to swallow food items instead of chewing them. It can lead to intestinal blockages and other discomforts in pets.

Before giving corn kernels to your dog, make sure that he can chew food items properly otherwise it can give rise to gastrointestinal problems in dogs. Generally, young and adult dogs can digest the corn kernels properly as compared to the small and old ones. If your dog has become too old, then it is preferable to include liquid and semi-liquid food items in his diet.

Weight of your Dog

The diet of your dog hugely depends upon his weight. Generally, those dogs that are malnourished are required to consume more protein, carbohydrates, and fats to regain their health. In such conditions, you can include corn in the diet of your dog as it would provide your pet with all the essential nutrition that is required to maintain good health.

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On the contrary, if your pet is obese, then before feeding him corn, it is advisable to consult a good veterinary doctor for the same. It would help you in deciding the quantity of corn that would suit your dog’s dietary requirements according to his weight.

Generally, the diet of obese dogs differs from fit and healthy ones. That is why before including corn as a well-balanced meal in the diet of your pet, you should always seek approval from your vet. Some dogs are sensitive towards particular food items whereas some are put on a special diet for weight management. It is essential to consider the nutritional requirements of your pet before feeding him corn.

Importance of Suitable Quantity

Just because a particular food item is nutritious, it does not mean that you can feed it in excessive quantity to your pet. Corn, only when given in moderate quantities to your dog would be beneficial for his health. Make sure that the ideal quantity for corn kernels should not comprise more than 10% of your dog’s total diet.

Giving corn in larger quantities to your dog can cause a major imbalance in his nutritional requirements. Due to this, there are probable chances of your dog gaining extra weight that could lead to obesity. Besides this, excessive intake of corn kernels might cause several health issues in dogs, such as vomiting, stomachache, and intestinal problems. In such cases, immediate medical intervention is required to treat the health ailment.

The Right Way to Feed Corn to your Dog

The cob of corn is considered to be unsafe for dogs as it is pretty much difficult for them to digest. It is mainly inedible and if your dog accidentally ingests even a small piece of the cob, it can lead to an obstruction in the digestive tract of your dog.

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However, the ideal way is to remove the corn kernels from the cob and wash them properly before feeding them to your dog. Make sure to cook or boil the corn kernels properly so that your furry pal can easily chew and digest them.

Also, make sure that the corn kernels are unsalted and unbuttered. Flavored corn is good for humans but it is not good for consumption by dogs. Refrain from adding any additional toppings on the corn kernels.

Canned Corn, Sweet Corn, and Popcorn

You can opt for canned corn it mainly consists of the corn kernels that are removed from the cob. However, avoid feeding sweet corn to your dog as it contains high sugar content and is sourced at a premature stage as compared to regular corn. Also, it is high in starch and takes time to digest.

Additionally, you can even give popcorn as a seasonal treat to your dogs in small quantities. Popcorns are rich in protein, iron, thiamine, and riboflavin that are good for the health of dogs. Make sure that the popcorns are unsalted, unflavored, and unbuttered before feeding them to your furry companion.

Wrap Up

The corn kernels can be given to your dog in moderation as a part of an occasional meal. You cannot include corn as the main component in the diet of your dog. Corn, being a healthy snack, helps to keep the pets fuller for a long duration. Your furry companion would love to have a mouth-watering, delicious, and nutritious treat such as corn kernels once in a while.

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