Skip to content
Corn is a popular and healthy ingredient for salads, chili con carne and bread. It is not uncommon for an ear of corn to end up on our grill. We even eat corn at the movie theater, namely in the form of popcorn. But what is good for humans is by no means good for our dogs.
Is corn good for dogs?
Corn for dogs is healthy and full of important nutrients. The yellow grains provide a lot of potassium and magnesium as well as vitamins A, B and E. Due to the high amount of fibre, corn stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and promotes your dog's digestion. Dietary fibres are indigestible and bind water in the intestine and thus support bowel movement. The intestinal contents can then be transported more quickly.
Psyllium husks for dogs are also very suitable to support the gastrointestinal tract. They are rich in fibre and have a particularly high swelling capacity, which has a positive effect on digestion and the feeling of hunger.
Do not feed dogs whole corn
Corn is neither poisonous nor harmful to dogs, but it is difficult to digest, so the corn kernels should not be fed to dogs whole. Your dog cannot split the corn husk and make it accessible to the intestines. In addition, dogs rarely chew on the small grains, they are more likely to be devoured whole.
So if you want to feed corn to dogs, you should use canned corn or corn flakes. While corn flakes are made to swell with warm water, canned corn will also have to be pureed. Only then can your four-legged friend digest the valuable ingredients of the grain well. The production of canned corn also aids digestion because the corn is blanched and pasteurized so that it is soft and easier to split.
Fresh field corn for dogs, on the other hand, is not suitable as a snack between meals. It is sprayed with weed killers, fungicides and insecticides and often also with growth regulators, so stay away from field maize.
Should dogs eat corn despite the high amount of carbohydrates?
Corn contains a lot of carbohydrates that are converted into sugar, causing blood sugar levels to skyrocket. Diabetic dogs and dogs that are overweight should therefore be fed little or no corn.
Another special feature of corn: It is gluten-free, so it causes fewer intolerances in dogs than cereals containing gluten, such as wheat, spelt or rye. Their adhesive protein often leads to intolerance in dogs, which can manifest itself in diarrhea or coat and skin problems.
Nonetheless, both gluten-containing grains and corn are cheap fillers in feed and are also often added to dog food.
Does your dog already have intolerances or allergies? Then you can feed him our high quality single protein pure varieties. Pure horse and goat in particular are good alternatives for exclusion diets and can be supplemented individually with fresh vegetables and fruit. That way you have full control over additives, sugars and the amount of carbohydrates in your dog's food.
Dogs with behavioral issues should also not consume corn. The amino acids contained in corn prevent the production of serotonin (happiness hormone).
Can dogs eat popcorn?
Popcorn has more calories than canned corn or grilled corn on the cob. If you add fat, salt and sugar, the calorie content increases significantly. Sugar and salt are generally not healthy for dogs, so you should pay attention to the preparation of the popcorn if you want to share with your dog.
At a glance: Can dogs eat corn?
- Corn is neither harmful nor toxic to dogs
- Canned corn should always be fed pureed, as an alternative you can use corn flakes
- Corn is high in carbohydrates and should not be fed to overweight or diabetic dogs
- Popcorn in moderation is okay as a snack for in-between - but without salt or sugar
