As much as they would love to, can dogs eat cornbread? As safe as it is, you should still moderate how much of it they eat, and this is why.
Cornbread is a staple food in the south. It goes with almost everything. And it’s safe for your furry friends to eat too. But you should watch how much of it they at one time. Small amounts are always best!
For ultimate pet safety, I recommend consulting with your vet about all the questions you have about your dog eating any cornbread.
Can Dogs Eat Cornbread?
Whether you buy it from the store or make it yourself, cornbread is quintessential comfort food. And when we take a closer look at whether your dog can eat it, you might reconsider eating large portions of it yourself.
Yes, dogs can eat cornbread. There is nothing in the cornbread that is particularly bad for them. Obviously, you will want to keep an eye on your dog in case they have an undiagnosed grain sensitivity or allergic reaction. If your pet is gluten-sensitive or intolerant, cornbread doesn’t have wheat flour in it.
But there is nothing inherently nutritious about it. In fact, it is really high in sugars, which could contribute to a dog’s obesity and weight problems.
Depending on how it’s made, cornbread has about 18 grams of sugar in a typical slice and 180 calories. That’s about 4.5 teaspoons of sugar.
Since it’s made with ground-up cornmeal, there isn’t a lot of fiber in it either. While it might not taste sweet, you can think of it as if you are giving your dog a slice of cake.
It’s ok once in a while. But your dog shouldn’t eat it every day.
Is Cornbread Good For Dogs?
Cornbread is a good source of folic acid. It also has amino acids, but there aren’t very many other beneficial nutrients in a slice of cornbread for dogs.
It’s the additional ingredients that pose the biggest threat to dogs. Corn kernels are ok for dogs in moderation, but they can upset your dog’s stomach. Some people add a touch of sugar or honey in their homemade cornbread.
Too much sugar in your dog’s diet can lead to health issues like obesity and a higher risk of heart disease.
It might be a common side dish in the southern United States, but this is not healthy food. If your dog has wheat allergies, they might be able to digest this better, but you should still treat it like a treat. Your dog will digest it just like cake, especially since they share a lot of common ingredients.
Can Dogs Eat Corn Muffins?
Corn muffins are basically the same thing as cornbread. The batter is just poured into a muffin pan instead of a skillet or baking dish.
For the same reasons listed earlier, dogs should only eat corn muffins once in a while. They are a safe treat, but there isn’t anything nutritious about them. So don’t give your dog cornbread every day.
Can Dogs Eat Cornmeal?
Cornmeal has been used as a filler in dog food for years. However, corn is not a natural part of the canine diet. Many dogs actually have trouble digesting corn.
If you use cornmeal in homemade dog treats or human foods that you share, you should watch out for possible allergic reactions.
Symptoms of a cornmeal allergy include:
- Weight Gain
- Itchy Skin
- Coarse Throat or Cough
- Ear Infections
These are also signs of grain allergies. If you notice these symptoms, talk to your dog’s veterinarian and ask about switching them to a grain-free diet.
Can Dogs Eat Cornbread Dressing?
There are a few reasons why dogs should not eat cornbread dressing or cornbread stuffing. Dressing and stuffing are basically the same things and they are both bad for dogs.
Most dressing or stuffing recipes call for garlic and onion. Garlic is especially bad for dogs to eat, and onions can give them a very upset stomach.
Add this to the fact that cornmeal isn’t good for dogs either and you basically have a food that you should avoid giving your dog entirely.
Always look at the main ingredient in whatever you feed your dog. Large quantities of cornbread stuffing could raise your dog’s blood sugar levels, even if you make it without garlic or onion.
Interesting read: Stuffing vs Dressing on Food & Wine.
Cornbread and Dogs: A Sometimes Food
The short answer is that even though basic cornbread is safe for your canine friends since it has such a high sugar content it isn’t a healthy treat for them to eat.
Unless your dog has a grain allergy, it is safe to let them eat food made from cornmeal – like cornbread or corn muffins – occasionally. Since it is void of any nutritional value and so high in calories and sugar, you should avoid letting your dogs eat too much of it.
Always avoid foods that contain garlic and onions, like cornbread stuffing. These are toxic for dogs.
More Dog Food Resources
Here are more resources about what dogs can and cannot eat. Stay informed and keep your dog safe.
- Can Dogs Eat Biscuits
- Can Dogs Eat Blueberry Muffins
- Can Dogs Eat Cabbage
- Can Dogs Eat Collard Greens
- Can Dogs Eat Ginger
- Can Dogs Eat Macaroni
- Nuts Dogs Can Eat
- Can Dogs Eat Tofu
Find lots of articles about food dogs can eat (and ones they can’t) here on Spoiled Hounds!
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Tresa Hart-Williams says
Thanks for the info about cornbread and canned whole kernel corn. I just fed some cornbread to my dog and he loved it and then I thought to check to see if it was OK.
Cheryl Doll says
I am a Celiac. I have to read EVERY label on foods that I purchase. Corn is NOT automatically gluten free; it is QUITE often raised in fields right next to wheat and cross-contamination often occurs. Trucks that haul the grains to market or to food produce companies for processing also share their trucks without cleaning them for the next load of produce; again, cross contamination is quite high. While corn is gluten free in and of itself, occasionally it also is found in canned foods, as well as some frozen prepared meals that have gluten in them from other ingredients, such as wheat, rye, and/or barley, all three of which are gluten-containing grains. No one should ever assume that the cornmeal package they just purchased is gluten free; ALWAYS look for the GF label to be certain it is edible for a Celiac, or for someone who has corn and/or grain intolerances or allergies (note that allergies are NOT the same as Celiac, which is a DNA issue).