In this blog post, we’ll answer the question “My dog eats popcorn, will he be okay?” We will talk about the problems caused by the consumption of popcorn by dogs and how tutors should proceed.
My dog eats popcorn, will he be ok?
If the dog ate a small amount of popcorn, he would be fine! Just to be sure, it is always prudent to take the animal to the veterinarian for a checkup.
Harm of dog’s popcorn ingestion:
- Gastrointestinal gas / fart;
- Abdominal discomforts;
- Diarrhea;
Popcorn is commonly fried in oils and fats, the excess of this type of food can harm the animal’s health over time. Excess calories can result in obesity when popcorn is consumed constantly.
In addition, the flavors used as a popcorn additive can harm the animals’ health, such as high blood pressure and kidney disease. Microwave popcorn should never be eaten by dogs. Because these popcorn are more fatty, and contain various additives and even aromas, which are harmful to the health of dogs..
My dog ate popcorn, how should I proceed?
My dog ate popcorn, how should I proceed? First of all, keep calm, popcorn is made from corn that undergoes a thermal process. Thus, Popcorn is rich in carbohydrates and fiber. So, dogs can eat popcorn.
But can popcorn harm my dog? Yes, oils and butters used in their production contain large amounts of fats and sodium in flavors can be harmful to the animal’s health.
In general, excessive consumption of popcorn can lead to symptoms such as lack of appetite, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and even vomiting.
If you want, you can offer small amounts of popcorn to your pet as a snack, the popcorn should not contain flavors and additives, and in its preparation, the use of oils and butters should be avoided.
Harms of popcorn ingestion
Popcorn consumption has some harm to dogs and therefore should be avoided. Some of these harms will be described below.
Some harms of popcorn ingestion:
- Gastrointestinal gases / fart;
- Abdominal Discomforts;
- Diarrhea;
- Obesity;
- Hypertension;
- Kidney disease.
When the dog eats a lot of popcorn at once, the dog can have an imbalance of the gastrointestinal microbiota, thus increasing the proliferation of some microorganisms that produce a lot of gastrointestinal gases.
In dogs, gastrointestinal gases from excess popcorn intake and increased motility can lead to abdominal discomfort and diarrheal to pasty stools. It is worth remembering that some dogs can become dehydrated due to loss of liquid and mineral salts in the feces. It is very important to encourage the consumption of water or saline solution.
In cases of constant diarrhea, the veterinarian should be consulted, for a better evaluation of the clinical case. In some cases, it may be necessary to hospitalize the animal so that the dog’s hydration can be reestablished, thus preventing the worsening of the symptoms that can lead to the death of the dog.
Dogs that eat small amounts of popcorn, but eat popcorn every day, can become obese. Constant consumption of popcorn by dogs increases the amount of calories ingested, resulting in greater weight gain. If not controlled, the dog can end up getting so fat that it can develop recurrent overweight diseases.
On the other hand, the consumption of popcorn not suitable for dogs, such as popcorn with a lot of salt, additives and flavorings, can cause dogs to start having circulatory problems such as hypertension. This hypertension can also overload the dogs kidneys that can go on to develop kidney disease.
That’s why you should avoid dogs consuming popcorn with a lot of salt, additives and flavorings. These components when added to popcorn make it very tasty for human consumption, but for dogs it can be extremely harmful, leading to health problems.
Conclusion
In this blog paper, we learn that a dog will be okay if he eats a small amount of popcorn; We’ve even seen that popcorn without additives and flavors can be offered to dogs as snacks. When the consumption of popcorn is exaggerated, we saw the harm caused to the dogs and in these cases it may be necessary to visit the Veterinary.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): My dog eats popcorn, will he be ok?
Can you give the dog some popcorn?
Dogs can eat popcorn. Although it can cause Gastrointestinal gas and abdominal discomfort, the biggest risks of popcorn are associated with other ingredients used in the food.
How to give popcorn to a dog?
You can give your dog popcorn in small amounts, always offer popcorn without additives such as salt, sugar, butter or any other type of flavor. It is also recommended that the popcorn is made without the use of oil or butter.
How to make dog popcorn?
It should be made with little oil or replacing the oil with water as in the recipe:
- Place the corns in a popcorn maker and add half a cup of water;
- Cover the popcorn maker leaving a space for the corn to breathe;
- Over medium heat, hot water will pop the corn;
- Allow it to cool and serve it to the dog without adding salt or other flavor.
References
AMARAL, A. R. Microbiota e produtos de fermentação fecal de cães com doença inflamatória intestinal suplementados com β-glucanos
Buckley, S., & Chavez, O. (2020). Big Kibble: The Hidden Dangers of the Pet Food Industry and how to Do Better by Our Dogs. St. Martin’s Press.
