If you’re like a lot of pet parents, you’ve probably heard murmurings of the “great corn debate”.
Is it or is it not harmful for your dog?
In fact, the subject of corn is one of the most debated topics in the dog food realm. Certainly, it’s no secret that corn is a filler ingredient. It’s cheap to produce so it goes into many commercial dog foods.
But the question of whether or not it’s harmful for your pet depends on a few factors not the least of which is whom you ask. Obviously, the farmers who produce the corn think it is fine while many dog owners aren’t so sure.
On the plus side, the farmers and even some veterinarians say that corn contains essential fatty acids like linoleic which help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy.
It also contains carotene, lutein and vitamin E which every pet needs.
Yet, walk into any pet store and review the dog food labels, you’ll find an increasing number of them advertise that they’re completely grain free—including corn.
Why is that?
Does it really matter?
Is corn truly that harmful to your pet?
What’s the Big Deal about Corn Anyway?
There are a few concerns about corn and its impact on your dog’s health. Here are a few of them.
1. Corn is not easy to digest – There’s a huge debate around whether or not corn is digestible for dogs so let’s look at the facts.
Corn is a whole grain. In order for it to be digested, it needs to be cooked and ground into a fine substance – which it is if it’s in commercial dog food.
So what’s the problem? Dogs are carnivorous beings and grain wasn’t a big part of their ancestral diet. That means their bodies aren’t built to process it easily. Now, many of them can eat grains just fine, but others don’t. You’ll see more about that in a minute. When dogs don’t process corn (or other grains well), they may itch a lot, have a dull coat and be low in energy.
2. Corn and allergies – You probably know allergies are on the rise in the canine world. The symptoms include itchy skin, frequent ear problems, hot spots, dull coat and a host of other ailments.
You might also know that it’s tremendously difficult to diagnose dog food allergies.
For example, to determine if your dog is allergic to corn, you have to make sure he’s not exposed to it at all for a period of several weeks. If you do this corn elimination diet, you’ll likely find it’s helpful to jot down notes about your dog’s demeanor and appearance during this “corn free” time and see if you notice any changes.
You might wonder what causes allergies anyway?
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation classifies allergies as the “most common chronic disease.” People (and pets) who suffer with allergies have highly sensitive immune systems.
These immune systems can be triggered by eating too much of the same thing. That’s why corn, soy and wheat allergies are so common these days. If your dog has been eating a corn laden food for years, he could be more susceptible to allergies.
The allergy symptoms include a dull coat, frequent itching or ear infections among other symptoms. In some cases, if you remove the trigger, these symptoms will clear right up.
3. Corn Spikes Blood Sugar
It turns out that corn is a “high glycemic” food. You may have heard that high glycemic foods spike your blood sugar? That’s true and it does the same thing for your pets.
This is a problem because when your blood sugar spikes, it’s going to fall resulting in a “sugar crash.” That’s bad enough on its own – you’ve probably experienced the accompanying lethargy.
But consider what else it does to your body. High glycemic foods spark insulin production which signals the cells to absorb blood sugar for energy or storage. Then, as the blood sugar falls, the pancreas tells the liver to release stored sugar.
Essentially, a diet based on a surplus of high glycemic foods means your pet’s body will struggle constantly trying to regulate his blood sugar which can trigger diabetes.
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Pet Snacks treats are the best thing you can feed any dog because they are 100% natural and healthy, keep them busy, clean teeth, and best of all healthy.
Ensuring the health and happiness of dogs throughout Australia has become something of a personal mission of mine, a calling if you will and now, I'd like to take the opportunity to invite you to join me in this mission…
With your help I believe we can turn the tide of the pet food industry and show manufacturers that pet owners are not only willing but eager to give their dogs the best...
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