You may question whether you may share some popcorn with your dog on movie night if you like it. Can dogs eat popcorn? We sought the advice of Dr. Michelle Burch, a veterinarian at Paramount Pet Health, to find out.
Is popcorn safe for dogs?
There’s no way to know for sure whether or not your dog will be able to get any popcorn. Because some popcorn is healthy for your dog, while others should be avoided, this is the reason why you need to be careful.
What kind of popcorn is best for your dog? This is, of course, the plain variety.
“Unflavored, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs to eat in small quantities,” Dr. Burch told us.
Can dogs eat caramel popcorn?
“I do not recommend dogs eating flavored popcorn, buttered popcorn, or popcorn with other toppings,” Dr. Burch said.
Flavored popcorn is a different issue when it comes to canine safety. Caramel popcorn bad for dogs because she may develop salt poisoning.
Salt toxicity can cause:
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Muscle tremors
- Seizure
A high-fat snack like buttered popcorn might exacerbate digestive issues and raise the risk of pancreatitis.
However, if your dog snatches any of your popcorn flavoring or buttering, you don’t have to worry. “If one or two pieces fall on the floor and your dog eats them, it will be OK,” Dr. Burch said.
Can dogs eat popcorn kernels?
Popcorn kernels, on the other hand, are not suggested for dogs to eat (but why would you?).
“Popcorn kernels can become stuck in between the dog’s teeth,” Dr. Burch said. “If too many popcorn kernels are consumed at one time, they can cause intestinal blockage or constipation.”
How much popcorn can dogs eat?
You don’t have to worry about overfeeding your dog if you simply give her a couple of plain bits of popcorn on rare occasions when you watch a movie together. You should bear in mind Dr. Burch’s recommendation to not offer your dog more than 10 percent of her daily calorie intake of popcorn (or other healthful snacks).
So the next time you and your pet are cuddled up in front of the TV to watch some Netflix, you may feel free to give them a few bits of plain popcorn.
