It is movie night, you are already set with your pack of popcorns but your dog is just there, staring at you with those cute, adorable eyes.
Many dog owners keep wondering and asking if dogs can eat popcorns. That is the one question that I would like to answer today, “Can dogs eat popcorn? Is it safe to feed dogs popcorn?”
The short answer to that question is yes; dogs can eat popcorn, but it should be served plain and in moderation. It is the excess added toppings that mask the healthy benefits of popcorn.
There has been a lot of controversy on whether or not dogs can eat popcorn and whether it is safe for them.
Read on to find out if your little furry friend can eat popcorns.
Table of Contents
What really is this popcorn snack?
It is good not to assume that everyone is familiar with popcorn.
It is a tasty treat that is made from special corn which when exposed to heat it makes a “pop” sound and exposes its white soft starch.
There are a number of people who love to eat popcorn which is plain salted, while others like to spice it up with butter, cheese, caramel, garlic or honey. This is just to make it even more yummy and pleasing to the taste buds.
Is It Healthy to Feed Dogs Popcorn?
Is popcorn good for dogs? Most people may think that popcorn is not a healthy snack.
However, this is a snack that is really high in fiber. If it is served plain, it has even lower calories than most snacks. It is also low in cholesterol and bad fat.
Being a whole grain, popcorn is one nutritious snack that contains essential vitamins and minerals.
Experts say that popcorn itself is not harmful to dogs. It has several minerals that your dog needs like magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, zinc, fibre and some vitamins. This is what makes popcorn fit for your dog in terms of nutrition.
A moderate serving of popcorn contains the aforementioned minerals.
Calcium, manganese and magnesium are very essential for your puppy’s bone development. If your dog is a bit older, theses minerals are particularly useful in maintaining their bones as they become brittle with age.
Minerals like potassium and zinc are useful in maintaining your dog’s body to function efficiently. Copper helps your canine friend to absorb iron and if your dog has adequate iron, it means that he is safe from anemia.
Most of us prefer our popcorn dipped in salt and butter, just to make it tastier. However, when it comes to your furry canine friend, popcorn in butter and salt may cause some serious stomach upsets. It is the excess toppings that are added to popcorn that mask the healthy benefits of popcorn.
Also depending on the type of breed, you simply don’t want to risk your dog becoming obese because of feeding him popcorns.
Furthermore, when you allow your already overweight dog to regularly eat human food and snacks that is a sure way of making him add more calories that will obviously make him obese.
According to a recent study by the BMC Veterinary Research, dogs that are obese are also highly likely to become resistant to insulin. This basically means that your dog can easily develop serious health issues like diabetes, high cholesterol (dyslipidaemia) and also hypertension, which is high blood pressure.
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Alternatively, you can give him some plain air popped popcorn that can also be a nice treat for your pup.
Be very careful because the corn kernels may be a possible choking hazard and can easily get stuck in between your dog’s teeth. This therefore poses the question as to whether it is safe for your dog to eat popcorn.
It is important to keep your dog healthy for them to be happy. Your dog’s diet is a big part of their health. You can therefore give your dog healthy meals but get it all wrong with the choice of snack or popcorn treat.
Popcorn can be a great snack but it all depends on how it has been prepared and served.
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Is it safe to feed dogs popcorn?
The answer is yes and no. Your dog can have popcorn treats but in small quantities. A small amount of popcorn is okay for your furry friend.
However popcorn that is loaded with excessive topping is a whole different story. When you want to give him buttered popcorn or with garlic flavor, please bear in mind that it might not be very safe for your dog.
You should not let him have the spiced up popcorn regularly. This is due to the fact that it can make your dog obese and he may develop serious health issues in the long run.
Just like any other dog treat, too much popcorn is not good for your dog. It is recommended to keep treats down to at least 10 per cent of a dog’s daily calorie intake.
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What are the possible hazards or side effects of giving your dog popcorn?
There is a very high possibility of your canine friend developing some side effects as a result of the unhealthy toppings and additives in the popcorn.
When giving your dog some popcorn treat, make sure not to add to much salt, butter or any other unhealthy food preservatives.
This may pose a health hazard to your dog and may cause serious health problems like digestive issues and diarrhea in extreme cases, dehydration and kidney problem due to too much salt, and obesity that will be the obvious result of too much fat in the buttered popcorn.
Can dogs eat buttered popcorn?
You might be curious as to whether dogs can eat buttered popcorn.
Some of us like our popcorn dipped in some butter and salt just to add some flavor and make it even tastier.
Yes, you can give your dog some of the buttered popcorn but you need to monitor and take the necessary precautions. Too much butter can lead to too much fat intake. Excessive fat can lead to obesity.
If you are going to give your dog some buttered popcorn please do so in very low quantity.
The major reason being, butter has a really high fat content and when your dog consumes it, it may have serious digestive issues and stomach upsets. The excess fat in the buttered popcorn as mentioned is dangerous as it leads to unnecessary weight gain.
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Can dogs eat flavored popcorn?
This is yet another concern for most dog owners. Can your dog eat flavored popcorn?
Well, there are different flavors when it comes to popcorns. There is caramel, cheese, honey, garlic, butter and plain salted.
Cheese in itself is not bad for dogs; however your dog should not eat cheese popcorn. Be careful when you buy cheese popcorn for your dog.
In most cases the “cheese” found on the popcorn is usually just artificial cheese powder. These artificial toppings may be unhealthy for your dog.
Garlic and onion popcorns should be avoided too. We all know that dogs don’t eat garlic or onion because they are toxic in nature, hence try to avoid feeding your dog any garlic or onion powdered popcorns.
Salted popcorns are another no-go zone for your dog.
When you give your dog excessive salt, it causes him to get dehydrated and also urinate excessively too. This you might think is not a bad thing but, it is dangerous if your dog does not have access to enough water. It then leads to salt toxicity which is the number one cause of vomiting and diarrhea.
Flavored popcorn can be a real treat for your dog, however, you need to apply some caution when giving your dog flavored popcorn. This is because it can easily cause your furry friend to develop some health issues.
The excessive fat in the butter, sugar, artificial sweeteners and preservatives may cause your puppy to develop digestion problems thus pose as a health hazard to your canine friend.
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How do you then prepare and serve your dog with a healthy popcorn treat?
The answer is pretty simple, you need to keep it light and fresh. The popcorn kernels and caramel flavors may not be at all good for your dog.
These excessive sweeteners and artificial flavors are not healthy for your dog. They are potential health risks.
You need to prepare unseasoned air-popped popcorn if you want your furry friend to enjoy the snack with you. The salt or seasoning should be very light and in all the right quantities.
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What are some of the other alternatives to homemade popcorns for your dog?
Finding the right healthy snack for your dog to enjoy during movie time should not be a difficult task.
There are plenty of alternatives that you can give to your furry friend instead of unhealthy popcorn that is seasoned with excess flavors.
Apart from making your dog light and air-popped popcorn, you can also shop online for some healthy popcorn dog treats.
What are pupcorn healthy dog treats?
These are simply flavored popcorn snacks that are specifically meant for your canine friend.
You can try the Triumph Pet 3 pack pupcorn healthy dog treat. It is available in a pack of 3 containing dog treats cheese flavored popcorn.
These are professionally made and you need not to worry about your dog consuming excess calories since they only contain 5 calories in every pack.
Why go for pupcorn healthy dog treats?
1. Healthy snack:
Triumph Pets pupcorn healthy dog treats contain controlled levels of fat, calories and even sodium.
The ingredients used include corn flour which is a good source of dietary fiber, powdered cellulose, and some wheat flour and canola oil.
The flavors that are used are also natural so your furry friend is sure not to have any stomach upsets afterwards.
2. Highly economical:
It is also very economical as it comes in a pack of three and at a very affordable price.
Being pocket-friendly, pupcorn healthy dog treats are a good choice for your canine friend. You can let him have his snack as you enjoy your favorite regular popcorns.
One satisfied customer actually wrote a review and was impressed that it was a good value for money, so many for a great price.
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3. Readily available:
Pupcorn healthy dog treats are also readily accessible.
You can make your order online and it will be delivered right to your doorstep. The methods of payment are diverse so you can easily pay for your package using any means that is convenient for you.
4. Great customer reviews:
One of the reasons why I prefer buying stuff online is the fact that there are plenty of customer reviews that can inform you a lot about the product quality.
Pupcorn healthy dog treats are simply so many dog owners’ favorites.
Most customers have written positive reviews about this product. That it is a treat that dogs love and being low in calories, your dog can have as much as he pleases.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can popcorn upset a dog’s stomach?
Yes, Popcorn can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, allergies and other digestive complications in dogs, especially if not consumed in moderation.
And as we have mentioned earlier several times, only serve plain popcorn without any butter or salt.
Can my dog eat microwave popcorn?
The short answer is yes, but only in moderation.
Experts advice that plain air-poped popcorns are always more safe than the microwave version.
How Much Popcorn Should a Dog Eat?
You can feed popcorn to your dog only in moderation (few pieces here and there). Make sure it’s served plain without any toppings and only a little salt.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, dogs can also enjoy a healthy popcorn snack. If you are going to make your popcorns at home, make them light and air-popped. This will also enable your dog to enjoy movie night with you.
Too many salt and excessive seasoned flavors are not good for the health of your pup.
Prevent health issues like obesity due to the excess fat in buttered flavored popcorns, too much salt may also cause dehydration.
A healthy dog is a happy dog so make sure to treat your dog with Pupcorn Healthy Dog treats that are cheese-flavored popcorns. They are low in calories and therefore you need not to worry about your dog gaining excess weight.
Available in a pack of three, pupcorn dog treats are also very economical and pocket-friendly if you are on a strained budget. Containing all natural flavored ingredients, this is a treat that your dog will definitely enjoy.
Dogs can eat popcorn and just like us, they like the different flavors that popcorns have. Your dog can enjoy caramel popcorn, popcorn dipped in butter, honey-flavored, cheese flavored and plain salted.
Make sure to give the treat in moderation while taking caution of the popcorn kernels that can pose as a choking hazard. The kernels can also stick in between your dog’s teeth so make sure to brush his teeth after having the snack to avoid dental issues from occurring.