Can Dogs Eat Popcorn? What You Need To Know
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Whether watching a movie, tv show or you are just feeling peckish, popcorn is a tasty, and convenient treat. As you are sat there grabbing a handful of popcorn have you ever had those puppy-dog eyes stare up at you, pleading for just one kernel? At this point you pause, wondering, Can dogs eat popcorn?
Before deciding whether to feed your dog popcorn let’s take a closer look at whether dogs can eat it safely and the do’s and don’ts for feeding popcorn to your dog.
Table of contents
Is Popcorn Okay For Dogs?
As a rule, completely plain, air-popped popcorn in small quantities is safe for dogs to consume.
Sweet, salted or popcorn covered in butter is not a healthy snack for your dog to eat and can cause digestive upset. Other popcorn variations are not safe for your dog to eat and can be toxic.
When Is It Safe For Dogs To Eat Popcorn?
- After you’ve checked with your vet it would be okay for your dog to have popcorn. Every dog is different and has unique health recommendations.
- Stick to plain, air-popped popcorn with no additives. This exempts all flavoured or seasoned popcorn.
- Serve small amounts as an occasional treat - we’re talking 2-3 pieces for dogs around 30kg.
- Ensure any popcorn given is free of unpopped kernels.
- Supervise your dog whilst they consume the popcorn to ensure they don’t choke.
Can Popcorn Hurt A Dog?
You may have heard some people say that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s.
To answer specifically, yes. Please be careful if you are considering giving popcorn (or any human food for that matter) to your pup. Popcorn can be harmful to dogs if not fed plain popcorn with nothing added.
Unpopped kernels and popcorn hulls can be a choking risk or cause dental issues and digestive blockages, especially in small dogs.
Popcorn isn’t a nutritious snack for dogs and doesn’t provide health benefits. Therefore lots of popcorn will lead to weight gain and Popcorn is also unsafe when:
- Coated in butter and oil: Butter and fats can upset a dog’s stomach and lead to weight gain or pancreatitis if consumed regularly.
- Made with added salt or seasonings: High levels of salt can cause sodium ion poisoning, while other seasonings like garlic or onion powder are toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Toffee Popcorn?
Toffee popcorn or caramel popcorn is not safe for dogs to consume in any quantity.
Toffee popcorn is full of unhealthy ingredients and may contain xylitol which is toxic for dogs.
This goes for any popcorn containing chocolate too. If your dog does consume any toffee popcorn call your vet immediately.
If your dog is given an opportunity with a bag of toffee popcorn in sight, the chances are they are going to be attracted to the sweet smell. So keep a close eye on your movie snack!
More Suitable Treats For Your Dog
There are a whole host of more suitable treats for your dog than popcorn even though dogs can consume plain popcorn in small quantities.
There are a range of fruits and vegetables suitable for dogs that are going to be packed with value for your dogs health.
As discussed, popcorn doesn’t provide any nutritional value for your dog and there are a lot of healthier treat options you can choose such as:
- Carrots - Dogs can eat carrots and don’t contain nasties such as additives, artificial colours or preservatives. They’re also a perfect dental chew to help care for your dog’s teeth whilst containing vitamins A, B, C, E and K.
- Celery - A crunchy snack that can help your dog’s gut work well and promotes healing and support.
- Pumpkin - Pumpkin is great for dogs being rich in fibre and contains vitamins A, C and E and boosts the immune system while promoting a healthy coat.
- Apples – Containing vitamin A and C apples are good for a dog’s immune system. Apples are also a great source of dietary fibre.
You can also make your own dog-friendly popcorn for your pup to tuck into whilst you have your human-friendly popcorn
Dog-Friendly Popcorn Recipe
Here is a simple idea to make some popcorn that your dog can eat.
This one-ingredient dog-friendly popcorn uses leftover yak bones.
Start off by putting these into some water for about 10 to 15 minutes.
Next, the fun part, smash them up into smaller pieces!
Then put them into the microwave for about 30 seconds and set aside to cool.
This is optional, but you can add some pet-friendly peanut butter to drizzle over the top.
And here you have your very own dog friendly popcorn.
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Popcorn For Dogs: Important Reminders
It is always best to check with your vet before introducing new ingredients into your dog's diet, especially if they have allergies or existing health conditions that could be made worse with added snacks in their diet.
If you want to feed your dog popcorn, do so in very small quantities and only feed them a plain, unsalted, unsweetened air-popped option.
Never feed your dog any popcorn such as toffee popcorn or those with extra ingredients as they could make your dog very sick. If your dog has consumed some popcorn like this contact your vet immediately.
Specific dog snacks would be much better for your dog to eat instead of popcorn or alternatively human snacks that are safe for your dog such as fruits and vegetables.
