Have you ever looked at the ingredient list on your dog's kibble? Did you see corn on it?
Corn is a common ingredient in dog food. This is because it's very economical, about 5 times cheaper than meat. It's therefore a choice ingredient for producing affordable kibble.
However, corn, which may seem harmless at first glance, hides unsuspected dangers.
Today, I'm going to explain why you should avoid giving your dog food containing corn as much as possible.
I'll tell you more about it below, but you'll find the same information in this short video.
The primary reason to avoid corn is its low protein content, which is essential for your dog's health. Dogs need high-quality protein to support their heart, muscles, and immune system. Corn contains only 8% protein, far less than the over 60% protein found in meat.
Beyond its low protein content, corn presents another worrying problem: its high sugar level. In fact, corn contains over 80% sugar. Such a high sugar level can lead to several issues in your dog, such as obesity and inflammation. Sugar should generally be avoided as much as possible in a dog's diet, as it can greatly harm their overall health.
By digging deeper, you'll discover that most corn is genetically modified (GMO). Corn has been genetically modified, among other things, to make it more resistant to pesticides. The health impacts of these GMOs are still unclear, but their presence in pet food raises concerns.
Another issue with corn is that it often contains glyphosate (better known as " Roundup "), a pesticide classified as potentially carcinogenic by the World Health Organization (WHO). One study found that 100% of the tested kibble contained glyphosate. Studies have also shown that pets like dogs and cats have 32 times more glyphosate in their urine than humans. Dogs fed a raw diet, however, had very little glyphosate in their urine.
Ultimately, mycotoxins, produced by molds present in corn, can cause various health issues, including cancer. In 2020, aflatoxin contamination even led to the deaths of dogs. To date, nearly 100% of corn contains these toxins.
In short, although inexpensive, corn isn’t suitable for your dog's diet. Opt for healthier options to maintain your dog's health.
Choosing a raw food diet is my top recommendation for dogs. If you're not very familiar with raw food, I invite you to check out my YouTube channel where I explain in several videos what it involves and the benefits I've observed in dogs fed a raw diet (you can start with my brief introduction to raw food).
If you're familiar with raw food but it's out of your budget, or you don't feed it to your dog for other reasons, I completely understand. But don't worry, there are alternatives. You now know how to shop for better kibble in the future by choosing kibble with as little corn as possible. I also offer training, "How to choose the right kibble for your dog," which covers in detail all the aspects to consider when buying kibble.
Thank you, and I'll see you soon for more articles on dog nutrition!
Karine, agronomist
