Can dogs eat corn or corn?

If you are wondering what happens if a dog eats corn, pay attention to this section, in which we will explain whether dogs can eat corn or not.

Corn is a cereal that does not contain any substance that is toxic to dogs. Furthermore, it is well digested by dogs and provides a number of nutritional benefits when included in their diet. Therefore, we can conclude that corn or corn is a suitable food for dogs. In fact, it is an ingredient that is usually found as part of commercial feed.

However, it must be taken into account that a improper administration corn can cause serious damage to health of the dogs. Therefore, it is important to take into account the considerations that we will mention later to guarantee a safe contribution of this food.

Although there are trends that advocate eliminating cereals from the diet of dogs, the truth is that the corn that is added to feed is not used solely as a “filler ingredient” to reduce production costs, but rather constitutes a material premium with an important nutritional value, which also has important technological properties for the formulation of feed. Here are some of the most important benefits of corn or corn for dogs:

• The endosperm of the corn kernel contains starch granuleswhich constitutes a important source of energy. The starch contained in the endosperm has a digestible and an indigestible fraction. The digestible is absorbed in the small intestine, providing energy to the body, while the indigestible reaches the large intestine, where it ferments and generates short-chain fatty acids, which contribute to maintain a beneficial microbiota in the colon.
• The germ of the corn kernels contains protein and a small amount of fatfundamentally formed by healthy fatty acids (mono and polyunsaturated).
• Corn bran (including pericarp and husk) contains fiber, a nutrient that dogs cannot digest but which is essential to regulate intake and maintain intestinal health. The fiber present in corn generates a feeling of satiety, favors the production of firm stools and regular defecation.
• It presents a particularity with respect to other cereals, and it is its carotenoid content (vitamin A precursors). Specifically, it contains lutein and zeaxanthin, two xanthophylls with antioxidant capacity that have been linked to the protection of eye health and the proper functioning of the immune system.

In addition, it should be noted that, although there is a belief that cereals are the main cause of food allergies in dogs, the truth is that there are studies that show the opposite. In dogs, the data indicates that the majority of food allergies are caused by animal proteins (mainly beef, dairy and eggs), and within cereals, corn appears to be less allergenic than others like wheat.

Although dogs can eat corn, we must bear in mind that it is a food that comes in many different forms (raw beans, roasted, cobs, canned, etc.) and that not all presentations are safe for our dogs. In this section, we will answer a series of questions to find out how corn can be fed to dogs:

Can dogs eat raw corn?

No. The corn should always be served cooked, since the digestive system of dogs is incapable of digesting raw corn grains. Cooking alters the compact structure of the raw grains and improves the digestibility of the starch. Therefore, if you decide to include corn in your dog’s homemade ration, it is important that you cook it before mixing it with the rest of the ingredients.

Given the above, can dogs eat boiled corn? The truth is that it is the best way to offer it. Thus, to cook it, put water to boil and add the ears; the cooking time will be between 8-10 minutes, although it will depend on the size of the grains. Once cooked, shell the ears to get the corn kernels (however, you can also do this step before cooking if you want to cook the corn kernels separately). It is worth mentioning that the variety most used in animal feed is the dent corn.

Can dogs eat roasted corn?

The truth is neither. Roasted corn kernels (commonly known as “kikos”) are hard and represent a choking hazard or choking for dogs. Therefore, it is preferable to avoid adding corn in this way.

If your dog has eaten roasted corn and you suspect that some grain may have been stuck, don’t miss this article and, of course, go to the veterinary center: “What to do if my dog ​​has something stuck in his throat?”.

Can dogs eat candy corn?

This corn has a higher sugar content than other varieties (such as dent corn), therefore, less beneficial for dogs. If you decide to give it to your dog, use it only as a reward, occasionally, and make sure that you give the grains separated from the cob.

Often, as caregivers, we think that corn on the cob can be a play item for our furry companions, allowing them to enjoy a snack while they entertain themselves by breaking the kernels off the cob. However, its contribution, far from being a game, can carry significant risks, since it is common for dogs to swallow part of the fibrous trunk of the ear, which is indigestible and can cause intestinal obstruction.

Can dogs eat canned corn?

In this case, the answer is similar to the previous one, since canned corn is nothing more than sweet corn preserved with a governing liquid that is usually made up of water, salt and sugar. If you decide to feed this type of corn to your dog, it is important that you first remove the canning liquid and rinse the corn to reduce the salt and sugar content. But in any case, remember that sweet corn should not be part of the diet habitual of your dog, but you should only provide it occasionally as a prize.

Can dogs eat corn tortillas?

If you are wondering “what happens if I give my dog ​​corn tortillas”, pay attention to the following, since not all tortillas are suitable for dogs. Whether or not they are suitable for our dogs will depend on the ingredients they contain and the way they have been cooked. Tortillas that only contain corn flour and water, and that are cooked on the grill or in the oven, are suitable for dogs. Although they should not be part of their usual diet, you can occasionally offer them as a reward. However, the tortillas that are fried or that contain other ingredients (such as salt, spices or additives) should not be part of the diet of the dogs.

As we have seen throughout the article, corn is a raw material with good nutritional value that provides multiple benefits when included in the diet of dogs. However, should be included in the proper proportionsince an excess of starch in the diet can contribute to the appearance of insulin resistance and, consequently, to the development of type II diabetes.

If you decide to include corn as a carbohydrate source in your dog’s diet, first of all, you must take into account the amount of energy that your dog needs daily, since the main purpose of including cereals such as corn in the diet of dogs is to provide energy. The amount of energy your dog needs will depend, among other things, on his age and his level of daily physical activity. From the total energy that your animal needs, you must subtract the energy provided by protein (which must be at least 20% of the ration if we are talking about feed) and by fat (at least 5.5%). The rest of the energy in the diet can be provided by ingredients rich in starch, such as corn. However, remember that dogs are still carnivorous animals, although they can eat other foods such as cereals, fruits or vegetables, so the ideal is that the percentage of protein of animal origin is higher. In homemade diets, it should occupy around 70%. We talk about it in this article: “What do dogs eat?”.

How can you intuit, the exact amount of corn or corn What can be included in the dog’s diet? it will be different for each animal. Therefore, if you provide a homemade ration to your dog, it is important that you have the advice of a veterinarian specializing in animal nutrition, who helps you design a balanced ration and indicates the proportion of ingredients that you should include in the ration, to meet the energy and nutritional requirements of your dog.

Although corn or corn is a suitable food for dogs, sometimes its contribution can generate certain unwanted effects, especially if it is not administered following the advice that we have mentioned throughout the article. Some of the negative effects that corn can cause in dogs is:

• Choking or intestinal obstruction: when corn on the cob, raw or roasted corn is provided.
• Type II diabetes and obesity: when it is provided in quantities that exceed the energy needs of the animal.
• mycotoxin poisoning: when food safety regulations are not met, corn can be contaminated by fungi, which release mycotoxins capable of producing poisoning in animals and people.

As we have seen throughout the article, corn is a good food for dogs. However, there are certain situations in which your contribution can be counterproductive, such as:

• diabetic dogs.
• Overweight or obese dogs.
• Dogs with food allergiesespecially allergies to corn or other grains.

Tell us, does your dog like corn, corn or corn? If you don’t know if your dog could be allergic to this cereal, don’t miss this other post on Food allergies in dogs.

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