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Pawrennial

Can dogs eat popcorn?

Yes, in small amounts.

Plain, air-popped popcorn with no butter, salt, or toppings is a fine occasional treat for most dogs. Movie-theater, buttered, salted, caramel, and cheese popcorn are not, and unpopped kernels can upset the stomach and get stuck in teeth.

The toppings are the problem

Popcorn itself is just corn. Butter and oil add a lot of fat, which can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis, and salt and flavorings aren't good for dogs. Caramel and kettle corn add sugar, and some flavored popcorn contains garlic or onion powder.

Unpopped kernels

Hard, unpopped kernels aren't digestible, can crack teeth, and can get stuck between teeth and gums. Pick them out before sharing, and don't give your dog the bottom of the bowl.

How much popcorn can a dog have?

A small handful of plain, fully popped pieces is plenty for a medium dog, and a few pieces for a small dog.

Helpful tools and guides

Frequently asked questions

My dog ate buttered popcorn. What should I do?

A few pieces usually cause no more than a mild upset stomach. Call your vet if your dog ate a large bag, or vomits, has belly pain, or stops eating.

Can dogs eat microwave popcorn?

It's best not to. Most microwave popcorn contains butter, oil, salt, and flavorings.

Can puppies eat popcorn?

It's best to skip it for puppies, which are more likely to choke on kernels.

Sources

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