Cornbread is considered one of the staple foods in some parts of the world. This can go well with almost anything. But, can dogs eat cornbread? Is cornbread good for dogs?
Cornbread is one type of simple bread made mainly from cornmeal. This is common in the Southern United States, although some variants can also be found all over the world. Native Americans have already been eating cornbread long before the arrival of the settlers.
This is considered a reasonably healthy food for humans as this contains iron, magnesium, folic acid, vitamins B12 and B6, and potassium, just to name a few.
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Could dogs eat cornbread
Cornbread is safe for canines to eat, but it is still essential to watch the amount they eat. Technically speaking, cornbread is not toxic for dogs, but you also shouldn’t feed it to them regularly.
Some nutrients present in cornbread are regarded as healthy for the consumption of canines, and this is why it is mistakenly believed to be a good and healthy addition to their regular diet. But, while this type of bread is safe to feed infrequently and in small amounts, this has high sugar content and must never be used as a regular dietary staple.
Store-bought and processed cornbread variants may also contain other additional preservatives, ingredients, and additives that are unsafe for your dogs. This combination only means that it is not recommended to always feed cornbread to furry friend, although there is no harm if they manage to grab a tiny piece of leftover homemade cornbread for your plate.
How is cornbread made
Cornbread is a cuisine in Native America. This is made using cornmeal or corn that was finely ground down to achieve flour’s consistency. This is often unleavened or made with baking powder to help the bread rise.
This has a crumbly texture and doesn’t often keep well, unless preservatives, as well as other ingredients, are added.
The simplest type of cornbread is only made up of cornmeal, salt, and water. This mixture is then made over a wood fire. Some recipes contain additional ingredients like wheat flour or fat added to Johnnycakes, as well as fried onions that get added to hush puppies.
What are the nutrients and vitamins in cornbread
| Cornbread nutritive facts per 10 grams | Nutrient Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 33 |
| Saturated fat | 0.4g |
| Monounsaturated fat | 0.3g |
| Polyunsaturated fat | 0.2g |
| Cholesterol | 5.7mg |
| Sodium | 59.9mg |
| Potassium | 13.3mg |
| Net carbohydrates | 5.2g |
| Sugar | 1.6g |
| Fiber | 0.2g |
| Lactose | 0.1g |
| Sucrose | 1.4g |
| Protein | 0.7g |
| Vitamin A | 16.8IU |
| Vitamin E | 0.1mg |
| Vitamin K | 0.4μg |
| Calcium | 13.5mg |
| Iron | 0.2mg |
| Magnesium | 1.7mg |
| Phosphorus | 39.1mg |
| Zinc | 0.1mg |
| Fluoride | 1.1μg |
| Selenium | 0.9μg |
| Retinol | 3.1μg |
| Niacin | 0.2mg |
| Folate | 5.5μg |
| Choline | 5.9mg |
| Betaine | 1.2mg |
| Water | 2.7g |
| Omega 6 | 0.2g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.1g |
| Proline | 0.1g |
The primary ingredient of cornbread is corn that contains high amounts of fiber. Fiber helps keep you regular and could also absorb cholesterol and reduce blood sugar levels at the same time. This is also believed to be great for weight loss since fiber can pass through the body without being digested. This can fill you up with no need to add calories to your daily intake.
Aside from fiber, cornbread can also include potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, folates, folic acid, and several vitamins such as A, B12, and B6.
There are also essential amino acids present in cornbread. These serve as antioxidants that can protect the cells from damage, help the body build protein, and control the function of different organs.
At first glance, this list of minerals and vitamins may look impressive. After all, most of these are considered to be equally important for humans and dogs alike. But, underneath cornbread’s pleasant albeit plain flavor is some hidden truths that you ought to know before you even think of letting Fido snack on it.
Cornbread has high sugar content
You might be surprised, but cornbread contains high sugar levels. A single slice of a standard cornbread recipe contains 20 grams of sugar equivalent to 5 teaspoons of sugar. This high sugar content only means that you will be able to safely feed just a tiny quantity of cornbread to your pup in one sitting.
Since you will feed a minimal amount, your pet won’t get any of the benefits of cornbread’s nutrient and vitamin content. There are still many other foods with the same beneficial ingredients that don’t contain a lot of sugar.
It is also even more likely that the sugar content of store-bought cornbread is higher. Despite having high sugar levels, the taste of plain cornbread is not sweet at all. Manufacturers include additional sugar to significantly transform this into a form of sweetened cake. It means that even if your pooch may enjoy the food’s flavor, he can only consume it in an even smaller amount.
Cornbread can cause sensitivities and allergies
Corn is the main ingredient in cornbread. Corn is a form of grain, and many dogs suffer from grain sensitivity or allergies to this particular type of ingredient. The mild symptoms can include stomach pain or gastric distress. This may also cause vomiting and diarrhea. Common symptoms of grain allergies include flaking and itchy skin, and deterioration of coat condition. These problems can also occur even with the smallest amounts of these grain-based foods.
Although it is safe for most dogs to eat grain, once you have determined that your pet is allergic to it, it is important to avoid feeding him these types of food. There are many recipes for grain-free dog food, and there are also several grain-free treats and other foods that you could give your pet in place of cornbread.
Store-bought cornbread is a no-no for dogs
If your pet doesn’t suffer from any grain allergy, you don’t need to panic or worry if he manages to steal a tiny piece of cornbread from your plate, as long as it is a plain recipe. It often means preparing a basic version at your own home and staying away from those variants you can buy from stores.
Although store-bought cornbread may state that this is made using a traditional recipe, it is still common for it to include preservatives and additives, and you need to avoid giving it to your pet. Preservatives such as potassium sulfite and sulfur dioxide often added to certain dog foods can also get toxic when given in large quantities. These preservatives are often found in higher amounts in human foods.
One more concern about store-bought cornbread is that it could contain other ingredients. Sweet cornbread variants include added sugar and other ingredients to help sweeten it. On the other hand, savory cornbread may also include ingredients such as garlic or onion. These two ingredients are both toxic for dogs and must never be fed at any time or in any quantity.
Can my dog eat cornbread dressing
Dogs shouldn’t eat cornbread stuffing or cornbread dressing because of several reasons. Stuffing and dressing are basically similar things, and these two are not suitable food for dogs.
Many stuffing or dressing recipes require onion and garlic. Garlic, in particular, is terrible for canines to eat, and onions could make them suffer from an agitated stomach.
On top of that, cornmeal is also bad for dogs, and for this reason, cornbread is a food that you need to completely avoid giving to your pet.
Is cornbread safe for your dog
While cornbread can be considered a safe food for your dog, it is only so if you feed it infrequently and in small amounts. But still, you need to ensure that you don’t feed your pet with cornbread that contains additives, preservatives, and other additional ingredients. If your pup has a grain allergy, you need to avoid cornbread at all costs since this is made mainly from corn, a type of grain.
The unique literary talents of Dr. A. Barton are well known throughout the veterinary profession. He is a regular contributor to the New York City Veterinarian and his professional articles have also appeared in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Journal of Small Animal Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Cornell Veterinarian and Philadelphia Medicine. He is the only veterinarian ever to have had an article published in the human medical publication, What’s New.
