We’ve lined numerous myths about grains as a bunch up to now, however because the summer time ends (candy corn!) and we shift into fall (cornbread, corn stalks, corn mazes, sweet corn!), it looks as if an applicable time to debate the frequent myths about pets and corn. Now, clearly sweet corn will not be possibility on your canine or cat, however what about actual corn?
Corn has an unearned repute as being one thing that must be prevented for pets. Some pet meals particularly promote that they’ve “no corn” as if this can be a badge of honor and plenty of non-veterinary sources counsel that corn isn’t digestible and “goes straight via” a canine or cat or is a “low cost filler”. Let’s unpack a few of these myths and set the document straight.
- Can canines and cats digest corn?
Whereas complete candy corn kernels could make it intact via the intestines of each canines and cats (and people!) and be seen within the feces, particularly if not totally chewed, this doesn’t imply that corn isn’t a secure and nutritious meals. Like all grains, the digestibility of corn is tremendously elevated by grinding and cooking – corn meal or floor corn are frequent pet meals substances which have been proven to be extremely digestible (the starch element is 90-99% digestible in research). One kind of corn that ought to by no means be fed to canines is corn that’s nonetheless on the cob. Canines fed corn on the cob, or who entry cobs from the compost or trash, typically swallow giant parts of the cob which incessantly trigger gastrointestinal obstruction and require surgical procedure to resolve.
- Does corn trigger allergy symptoms in canines or cats?
Whereas grains and particularly corn are sometimes regarded as frequent allergens by pet house owners, the scientific information doesn’t assist this notion. General, food allergies are unusual in pets and the overwhelming majority of pets with meals allergy symptoms are allergic to animal proteins, to not plant proteins or grains. Corn isn’t confirmed to be the reason for allergy symptoms in canines or cats; in most conditions the place a pet’s household thinks that corn is the wrongdoer, it seems to be a special ingredient, sometimes an animal protein (or, extra generally, unrelated to meals allergy).
- Does corn trigger irritation?
Corn is a wonderful supply of the essential fatty acid, linoleic acid. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid and it’s required to be supplied by the weight-reduction plan in canines, cats, and people. Nevertheless, it must be balanced with different varieties of fat like omega-3s – if a weight-reduction plan has excessive quantities of omega-6s with little or no omega-3s, that may encourage the manufacturing of extra inflammatory compounds. Skilled pet meals formulators know what combos of substances to make use of to end in a weight-reduction plan with sufficient quantities of important fatty acids and a wholesome omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. The upper omega-6s from corn could also be offset by fish or fish oil, algal oil, flaxseed or flaxseed oil, and even chia seeds. So, whereas corn as the one supply of fatty acids in a pet meals isn’t excellent, most meals can have quite a few different substances offering different varieties of fats to stability all of it out.
- Do canines and cats get any vitamins from corn?
Corn could be a good supply of power from each starch (carbohydrate) and from fat (as talked about above). Complete floor corn additionally comprises some corn bran, which is an insoluble fiber supply which might contribute to good fecal high quality. Corn can be supply of a number of B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium. It’s additionally a superb supply of carotenoids – compounds which can be made by crops and suspected to have substantial well being advantages – like lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene (a vitamin A precursor). We don’t know the way a lot of those compounds pets (or folks) ought to get from their weight-reduction plan optimally, however they’re thought to contribute to why elevated consumption of vegatables and fruits is related to improved well being in most research in folks in addition to some in canines.
- Does corn include gluten?
Whereas the protein element of corn known as “gluten”, it’s fairly totally different from the protein present in wheat, rye, and associated grains that’s related to gluten-intolerance. Gluten intolerance is fairly uncommon in pets and has been confirmed solely in a number of households of particular canine breeds. However, even when a pet got here from a breed with identified gluten-related points (reminiscent of a border terrier or Irish setter), there must be no motive why the pet gained’t tolerate corn or corn gluten.
- Is GMO corn dangerous for pets?
Nearly all of corn that’s used for human and animal feeding within the US is genetically-modified (GMO) to be proof against frequent herbicides. Whereas discussions of the “evils” of GMO meals are simple to search out, precise information to assist any well being dangers to pets or individuals who eat GMO corn are scarce. Genetically-modified organisms require intensive security testing previous to FDA approval. GMO corn strains have been obtainable for greater than 20 years, but no antagonistic well being results have been confirmed. Based mostly on present information, there are not any causes to keep away from GMO corn in pet diets.
The underside line is that corn is a secure and wholesome ingredient in pet meals. Keep away from giving your canine entry to corn on the cob or empty cobs, however in any other case, don’t be involved to see corn meal, corn gluten, or floor complete corn in your pet meals ingredient record. It’s additionally okay to present your canine unflavored popcorn, cooked recent corn that you just’ve lower off the cob, or cooked frozen corn kernels as a deal with – simply don’t freak out for those who see a number of the kernels within the feces whenever you’re cleansing the yard!
Cailin R. Heinze, VMD, MS, DACVIM (Nutrition)
Dr. Cailin Heinze is a Board-certified Veterinary Nutritionist® and the Government Director and Chief Educational Officer of the Mark Morris Institute, a non-profit group whose mission is to advertise optimum companion animal well being by offering academic alternatives for veterinary college students and veterinarians in medical diet. She has additionally achieved some consulting work for Steadiness IT, an organization that makes software program and dietary supplements for home-cooked pet diets. She is an professional in home-cooked weight-reduction plan formulation and common pet diet and has a particular curiosity in feeding pets with kidney illness and most cancers.
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