Can Dogs Eat Popcorn?

Can I give my Lab Popcorn?

So, it’s movie night. Your pajama-clad family is about to dig in a bucketful of popcorn but somewhere in the corner, your dog whines and stares at you with big sad eyes.

And you’re wondering if dogs can eat popcorn? You can’t help but wonder, especially when that furry charmer of yours wouldn’t stop until you bat an eye.

Popcorn itself is not bad for dogs. Butter, oils, salt, and the other toppings on popcorn can lead to intestinal upset in dogs, and the fats in oil and butter also contribute to obesity and obesity-related health problems. There is an alternative. Plain, air-popped popcorn makes a nice occasional treat for your dog.

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As a responsible owner, it is natural for you to distinguish the nutritional benefits and potential hazards of certain foods before handing it to your dog.

In this article, we will discuss whether popcorn can hurt your pooch or provide him with nutritional benefits.

So, tell your pal to hang on a little bit while you read.

Is Popcorn Good for Dogs? The good news is, popcorn is a healthy treat that we can share with our canine companions.

Many people may not have heard of it but popcorn is actually good for both humans and dogs.

Did you know that popcorn is also one of the world’s best sources of dietary fiber? Popcorn is a whole grain food, which means it is naturally rich in fiber and complex carbohydrates but low in fat.

This popular snack also supplies the following essential nutrients: Calcium Copper Iron Magnesium Manganese Phosphorus Potassium Vitamin B1  (Thiamin) Vitamin B3 (Niacin)Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Zinc Can Dogs Eat Flavored Popcorn? There are various ways to enjoy popcorn.

The majority of us love our popcorn with tasty toppings or popcorn drizzled with caramel or chocolate.

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However, the stuff that makes popcorn savory spell danger for your dogs.

Salted Popcorn Excessive salt intake causes extreme thirst and burdens your dog’s kidneys.

According to the Merck Veterinary Manual,it also makes your dog a candidate for salt poisoning if he doesn’t drink enough water.

Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and muscle tremors.

Therefore, avoid salted popcorn at all cost,especially if your dog already has renal problems.

Buttered Popcorn Popcorn slathered with butter is a big NO for dogs.

Butter is high in fat that may cause digestive upset in dogs.

It also makes your dog gain weight fast.

Another reason to avoid it is diacetyl, a chemical found in artificial butter flavoring.

According to animal studies, it damages the airways and lungs.

Cheese Popcorn A tiny amount of cheese is generally safe for dogs but dogs should not eat cheese-flavored popcorn.

Truth be told, none of these cheese-flavored popcorn use real cheese.

Manufacturers use cheese powder – a mixture of unknown derivatives and fattening ingredients such as sugar, vegetable oil, whey, and salt.

The pre-packaged microwave variety Anything prepackaged for microwave heating should be avoided.

The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) acknowledges that microwave bags used to contain popcorn are coated with perfluoro octanoic acid (PFOA),which has been associated with numerous health problems.

In addition, a lot of microwave popcorn brands use hydrogenated oils, which contain unhealthy trans fats.

These are fatty acids that have been linked to obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

Note that if these chemicals can harm humans,it can surely harm our canine companions as well.

Decadent toppings Herbs and spices give popcorn some oomph but if you plan to share it with your dog, then save it for another occasion.

Garlic and onion, in particular, is a toxic combination for dogs.

Chocolate-coated popcorn should also not be given to dogs.

Chocolate contains caffeine, which causes hyperactivity and palpitations in dogs.

In case you don’t know, a dog’s heart already beats 50x faster than ours! Can Dogs Eat Popcorn Kernels? No! Popcorn kernels or partially popped popcorn are choking hazards for dogs, especially for pups and small breeds.

These may also get stuck to your dog’s teeth or cause his gums to bleed.

Likewise, kernels are hard for dogs to digest.

The canine digestive system cannot properly break down kernels in large amounts and may cause intestinal obstruction or difficult evacuation of the bowels.

What is the Best Popcorn for Dogs? Commercially prepared popcorn are usually smothered with unhealthy ingredients and high amounts of sugar and salt – all of which adds a significant amount of calories and can be bad for your dog in many ways.

Even if the brand says they are free of harmful chemicals, you can’t be sure unless you make your own.

The best popcorn for dogs to eat is plain unsalted popcorn prepared using a pot or an air-popper machine.

How Much Popcorn Can Dogs Eat? You should be wary of how much popcorn your dog has put in its belly.

As with any snack, too much popcorn is not healthy for your canine buddy.

Vets suggest keeping treats down to 10% or less of your dog’s daily calorie intake.

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