dogs are one of the most wonderful pets anyone can have. They are interesting, entertaining, and easy to maintain. Like all other pets, all you have to take care of is the habitat and the diet of the dogs to ensure they stay comfortable throughout their lifespan. Taking care of the diet of dogs is easier said than done. It is quite natural for you to have many doubts in your mind about what your dogs can eat and what they cannot.
A simple food item like corn can also confuse you to bits. One of the main questions that dog owners may have in their minds is, “Can dogs eat corn.” In this article, we attempt to answer this question for you, and we also share some points that you have to keep in mind when you take care of the diet of your dogs.
Can dogs eat corn?
The straightforward answer to this question is “yes.” Yes, they can eat corn. In the wild, dogs are habituated to eat natural fruits, seeds, and vegetables. Being a natural, easily available, and simple food, corn is definitely a part of a dog’s food in the wild. Corn is a harmless food, even in the case of domesticated dogs. dogs love corn, and the best thing is that this food provides them with lots of nutritional benefits.
As the owner of dogs, you only have to take care of some important points like what kind of corn you feed the dogs, how the corn is cooked before feeding the birds, how much corn you have to feed them, etc. We will see more about these in the sections below.
Top reasons why corn can form an important part of dogs’ diet
As we told earlier, corn is easily found as part of natural foods in the wild. dogs eat corn quite a lot in the wild because it is available naturally and easily to them. Some of the other important reasons why dogs love to eat corn are:
- dogs can digest corn easily, as this food is easy on their stomach.
- Corn is available in plenty, but it is also loaded with many nutrients. Corn can give dogs their daily dosage of zinc, Vitamin B, manganese, magnesium, copper, iron, and antioxidants.
- The limited number of calories in corn is more than enough for the small-sized dogs.
What to take note of when including corn in the diet of dogs?
One of the most important things you have to remember when taking care of dogs is that birds are quite prone to stomach upsets, especially when fed greasy or oily foods. So, you have to take care of the sensitivity of the stomach when feeding corn to dogs. They may love corn cooked in one particular type but may develop an allergy to corn cooking in another style. So, in the following sections, we will discuss more on some types of corn that you can feed dogs and ensure that it doesn’t cause any problems for them.
Can we feed dogs corn on the cob?
This is yet another common question that many dog owners may have in their minds. There are two parts to this question. They are – feeding cooked corn on the cob to dogs and feeding them raw corn on the cobs. Here is what you have to know about this question.
Feeding cooked corn on the cob for the dogs
It might appear to you that corn on the cob is one of the easiest and simplest ways to eat corn. We all love cooked corn on the cob in different flavors. However, can you feed the same thing to your dogs? Of course, not! If you have bought the corn on the cob from an eatery, there are high chances for the corn to have extra flavors of mayonnaise and spice. Please remember that your dog’s tummy is not strong enough to digest these additional flavors. So, you should avoid feeding them this. However, if you have to feed them cooked corn on the cob, you should avoid using an excess of grease and oils. Cooked corn, when it is baked, is a great choice of food for dogs, as it is oil-free and healthy.
Feeding raw corn on the cob for the dogs
According to pet experts all over the world, it is safe to feed raw corn on the cob to dogs. The only thing you need to remember is to wash the corncob properly, before feeding it to the birds. Also, while you feed the cob to the birds in a single piece, we would recommend you cut it into small chunks before feeding it to the dogs, so that it is easy for them to eat and digest the raw corn on the cob.
Is it okay to give tinned corn to dogs?
Tinned corn is easily available in the stores today, and you may be tempted to give your dogs this as a quick snack. While dogs enjoy cold and warm tinned corn, it is always good to check the labels on the tin to see that it doesn’t contain any ingredients or chemicals that are toxic or allergic to dogs. In case of doubts, you can check with your veterinarian if it is okay to feed tinned corn to dogs, and the exact quantity you should give them per day.
Is it okay to give frozen corn to dogs?
Yes, you can give frozen corn to dogs, provided you satisfy two conditions. Firstly, you have to warm the corn in a microwave for a minute before feeding your parents. Secondly, you should check the packet’s label to check that it doesn’t contain any ingredients that dogs are allergic to.
Bottom Line
Since corn is a simple and nutrient-rich food, it is definitely good to give it to your parents. However, it would help if you cooked & cleaned corn properly before giving them to your pet birds. Ensure that store-bought corn doesn’t contain any harmful ingredients that can cause stomach upsets for dogs, by confirming it with experts, to avoid regrets later.