- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Popcorn is one of my top five favorite foods, and I’m not too shy to tell you that I can cook up an excellent batch of stovetop popcorn with a generous dollop of coconut oil, a big pinch of salt, and a healthy shake of nutritional yeast. My whole family, including my counter surfing golden retriever, all love my popcorn. So when my kids want to share it with her, it that ok? Can dogs eat popcorn?
Can Dogs Eat Popcorn?
Yes and No. Plain, air-popped, unsalted, unbuttered popcorn is okay in small amounts. Plain popcorn has some nutrients that are good for dogs, but it’s also very high in dietary fiber, which your dog only needs in small doses.
So, a few pieces of plain popcorn once in a while is ok for your dog, but it doesn’t really have health benefits when eaten a few pieces at a time.
But let’s be honest. How often do you eat plain, unsalted, no butter popcorn? Once you add butter, salt, and other popular toppings, popcorn becomes unhealthy for your dog.
For dogs, the high levels of fat and sodium typically found in popcorn can lead to dehydration in the short term and obesity in the long term. In addition, the hard, un-popped kernels can hurt teeth and gums on the way in.
Microwave popcorn can actually be dangerous for dogs. It has an additive called perfluorooctanoic acid on the bag that has been found to be unhealthy for people and might also cause problems for dogs.
And artificial butter flavor has another component, diacetyl, that can cause lung problems if inhaled.
Is Popcorn Healthy for My Dog?
If you feed your dog a little plain popcorn, it doesn’t have any real health benefit.
In larger amounts, plain air-popped popcorn is about 15% dietary fiber by weight and contains magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
If your dog eats enough popcorn to gain the benefits of these minerals, he might suffer from an overdose of dietary fiber. (Which can produce some unpleasant results.)
So, while plain popcorn shouldn’t harm your dog in small doses, it also won’t help with their dietary needs.
Can Eating Popcorn Be Dangerous for My Dog?
Popcorn itself isn’t toxic to dogs. A small amount of plain popcorn is ok for a dog to eat.
That said, there are a few related problems with dogs eating popcorn.
Too much butter and salt
If your dog gobbles down a big bowl of popcorn on movie night, especially if it’s buttered, be sure to keep on eye on them.
Check for signs of discomfort, including:
- Vomiting
- Indigestion
- Constipation
If you’re concerned, give your vet a call.
Microwavable popcorn is probably dangerous for dogs
Prepackaged, microwavable bags of popcorn contain perfluorooctanoic acid. Never heard of it? I hadn’t either.
But it turns out that the stuff has been linked to ADHD and thyroid problems in humans. Why would it be good for dogs?
If your microwavable popcorn contains artificial butter, you have a second problem. Artificial butter contains diacetyl, a chemical that has been shown to cause lung disease in animals if they breathe it in.
So, if you’re going to share popcorn with your pooch, stay away from the prepackaged microwaveable varieties.
How Much Popcorn Can My Dog Eat?
If you’re sharing plain, salt-free, no butter, boring old popcorn with your dog, they can have a little. What’s a little?
That depends on the size of your dog. Follow the 10% rule with popcorn and other treats—that means that 10% of your dog’s daily calories can come from snacks.
Oil-free air-popped popcorn has about 30 calories per cup.
So when my kids want to share their popcorn with Sugar Pie, our golden retriever, I scoop out half a cup from the air popper (before I add the salt and butter) and put it in a special bowl for them to toss for her, one piece at a time, during movie night. I save the special coconut oil recipe for the humans in my house.
For More Information
From cheese to French fries, there is a wide selection of information on snack yeses and no’s available on our Can My Dog Eat? directory page.
Learn more about feeding your dog a wonderfully varied diet while learning the limitations of a dog’s sensitive digestive system.
We offer a collection of articles on foods that are safe, dangerous or even toxic for dogs to eat, including vegetables, dairy, bread, and junk food.