Can dogs eat sweetcorn? Most of us have cans of sweetcorn in our pantry or love roasting it up while still on the cobb over the grill. But can dogs safely eat sweetcorn?
The short answer is yes, sweetcorn kernels from the cobb are safe for dogs; however, canned sweetcorn should be avoided. Similar to regular corn, and other related varietals, sweetcorn has a few wonderful nutritional benefits. But you should never offer a whole cobb to your pup!
Before adding corn of any kind to your dog’s diet, be sure to check in with your veterinarian. In the meantime, here’s what you should know about how sweetcorn can be a safe and occasional snack for your pup.
How Is Sweetcorn Good For Dogs?
Dogs tend to love the taste of sweetcorn, and it does have some nutritional value — not nearly as much as a turnip, a zucchini, or even lima beans, but it still offers quite a bit.
The kernels of sweetcorn have good carbohydrates (which are great for energy), plenty of protein, dietary fiber, vitamin C, antioxidants, lutein, and zeaxanthin — the last two are great for eye health.
Protein is an important one here, as it aids greatly in muscle growth. Plus, all forms of dietary fiber keep your dog’s gut health in line. As part of a balanced diet, where sweetcorn is only an occasional snack, your dog gets all of the benefits without any of the downsides.
You just have to be mindful of how you’re serving the sweetcorn.
How Can I Safely Give Sweetcorn To My Dog?
Summer barbeques tend to come with summer corn on the cobb. It may seem natural to want to toss your dog the leftover cob after your whittled it down. This isn’t a good idea.
A sweetcorn cob can break apart and either become a choking hazard or cause an intestinal obstruction inside your dog that will cause massive issues. It may seem like a fun idea to let them gnaw on a whole cob, but the risk just isn’t worth it.
Not all forms of sweetcorn are safe, either.
Canned sweetcorn is often loaded with preservatives and sodium. This can cause dehydration and even sodium poisoning if your dog eats enough of it. During the summer months, this is especially dangerous for obvious reasons.
Frozen sweetcorn is definitely a better option than canned, but of course, you’ll want to cook it first! Just be sure that you don’t sauté it with anything like garlic or onions, as both are toxic to dogs.
Furthermore, you want to keep portion sizes small and test out sweetcorn before fully introducing it into your dog’s diet. Some dogs are actually allergic to corn. Give them a few kernels and then keep an eye on them for a few hours to see if any allergic reactions occur.
Does your dog enjoy a bit of sweetcorn? Do you share any with your pooch as an occasional treat? Let us know in the comments below.
