Can dogs eat grits? Corn grits and hominy grits are dishes made from ground yellow corn kernels or hominy (also known as maize). Grounded corn grits have a smooth, mild texture and a bland taste that works well with other flavors. Depending on how sweet or savory they want the dish to be, cooks might add butter, cream, milk, salt, cheese, sugar, cinnamon, or other ingredients.
Grits are made by boiling ground corn in water or another liquid until it thickens. In the South of the United States, yellow grits are often served for breakfast or as an appetizer.
Can Dogs Have Grits?
So, can dogs eat grit? Grits are made mostly of corn, which is a safe food for dogs. Dogs can usually eat small amounts of plain grits without hurting their health. A medium-sized dog shouldn’t eat more than a tablespoon of grits per day.
Depending on what you put in the dish and what kind of pet you have, it could be bad for your dog to eat. Thus, make sure the food doesn’t have any extra seasonings or ingredients. Moreover, cheese grits, instant grits, and other popular types of grits have simple carbs and toppings that are bad for dogs.
Don’t give your dog high-risk grits recipes if you want to avoid health problems, like poisoning or stomach problems. Thus, no matter how healthy they are, human foods shouldn’t make up more than 10% of your dog’s daily diet. This is important if you want them to get a balanced diet. Moreover, don’t put grits in place of your dog’s regular food or kibble.
Health Benefits of Feeding Grits to Dogs
Dogs might like a small number of grits. Think about the following possible health benefits of grits:
When dogs eat hominy (corn), they get folate and other B-complex vitamins, which could help fight free radicals in their bodies. Moreover, this could slow down the rate at which cells in adult dogs break down. Leucine and arginine, two amino acids that could be important for cell health, are also found in grits.
Grits have a lot of iron, which is an important mineral that your dog’s body needs to make red blood cells and keep its circulatory system healthy. Furthermore, the key to getting these health benefits is to eat grits in moderation since giving a dog a lot of grits could cause its blood sugar levels to rise, which could be bad for its health.
Two antioxidants in grits, lutein, and zeaxanthin, could protect your pet’s eyes from free radicals. Thus, this could help your pet keep their eyesight as they age.
Health Risks of Feeding Grits to Dogs
Now, you know, can a dog eat grits? Even though corn is the main ingredient in grits, that doesn’t mean that all grits are safe for dogs. If dog owner wants to give their dog grits, they should consider the health problems this pet food supplement could cause. Among the bad results are the following:
If dogs eat grits with unsafe seasonings, it could mess up their digestive systems. Your dog could also have an allergy to corn, which could cause an upset stomach. You might lose your appetite, throw up, or have diarrhea when your stomach hurts.
If your pet eats too many carbs on a regular basis, it could gain weight quickly. If your dog is overweight, he or she is more likely to get dangerous diseases like diabetes and pancreatitis.
Grits are often very salty and giving your pet too much salt can be dangerous. If possible, give your dog only plain grits and no more than one small spoonful per meal. After that, watch them closely for any strange behavior. Salt poisoning can cause drowsiness, frequent thirst, and urination; in the worst cases, it can cause tremors or seizures.
FAQs: Can Dogs Eat Grits?
Is It Okay For A Dog To Eat Grits?
If your dog does not have a corn allergy or an obesity problem, he or she can safely consume grits in moderation. Grits should be served hot and unsalted if fed to a dog. There are no sweeteners or salty or fatty seasonings included.
Why Do Dogs Eat Grit?
Anemia is not necessary for a nutritional imbalance to cause your dog to eat dirt. If your dog is eating dirt, it may be because it isn’t getting enough of the minerals it needs.
Will Cooked Grits Hurt My Dog?
Even a tiny bit of cooked grits are fine for dogs to eat. If you plan on feeding the grits to your dog, it’s best to prepare them in their most basic form. Avoid adding any flavorings to the grits. Your dog will be safer if you do this.
Parvaiz Yousuf is a senior SEO writer and editor with an experience of over 6 years, who also doubles up as a researcher. With an MSc zoology degree under his belt and possessing complete Search Engine Optimization (SEO) knowledge, he works as a science journalist for a US-based website and Asian Scientist (A Singapore-based magazine). He also works as Director of Wetland Research Centre, Wildlife Conservation Fund YPJK since 2018. Besides, he has several publications to his name on cancer biology and biochemistry in some reputed journals such as Nature & International Journal of Molecular Sciences, & magazines such as Science Reporter, BUCEROS BNHS, and has an abiding interest in ornithology. He also worked as a Research Associate for JK Policy Institute.