Are you cooking up some grits and wondering if you can feed this tasty grain to your dog as well? First, you may want to know, can dogs eat grits?

In this article, you will learn whether or not grits are a safe food for dogs to eat. You’ll also learn if this food has health benefits or if it has harmful effects on our dogs. 

Can Dogs Eat Grits?

The short answer is maybe. Yes, dogs can eat grits. It is an okay food choice for dogs. But at the same time, you have to be careful because they can also be harmful food.

Keep reading to find out why. 

More on What Grits Are Made of 

Grits are made out of rinsed corn. They have a significantly smoother texture than other cereal grains like wheat or barley as a result of this technique. 

Although cornmeal has been used as a filler in dog food for years, corn is not a natural and necessary part of a dog’s diet. They are pretty much just fillers or extra calories for dogs who need a high-energy diet. 

Overall, grits are not necessarily bad food for dogs. Yet, at the same time, they offer little nutritional value. 

Benefits of Grits for Dogs

As mentioned, grits may also deliver some nutritional benefits to dogs. For example, they are rich in Vitamin B, fiber, protein, and calcium. 

First, grits are a great source of fiber. Fiber can help in solving a dog’s digestive problems. Foods rich in fiber, such as grits, can help against bowel movement troubles. 

Second, grits are a good source of protein. Protein is an essential nutrient that can contribute to muscle development and tissue repair.

Last, grits are also rich in calcium, which helps develop bones and teeth. To add to that, they can be a good source of calcium for lactose-intolerant dogs.

Precautions Against Feeding Grits to Dogs

Most of the time, grits will only harm dogs if they eat too much of it. Consuming a small amount of grits should not have any bad effects on your dog whatsoever. 

However, it is important to know that some store bought grits varieties come with added ingredients. And this could be very dangerous to dogs. 

That is especially true if you feed them large amounts of grits with added sugar. Feeding too much sugar to dogs can cause trouble for their health. It puts them at risk of having diabetes, Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), or even weight gain. 

In fact, some people even add both sugar and butter to their grits for flavor. It is best not to share grits with dogs if it contains these ingredients.

Additionally, your dog may be allergic to corn. In that case, avoid feeding them grits at all costs. 

How to Best Serve Grits to Your Dog

If you do choose to feed your dog grits, the safest way to do so is to cook them and serve them plain, without seasonings or added ingredients. Uncooked grits are also very difficult to digest. Read this article to learn how to best prepare simple grits!

In conclusion, grits are an okay food for dogs. But do not overfeed them grits as they are not what your dog needs.

Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful for Dogs

This article is a part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?”

Up next, find out can dogs eat vanilla ice cream.

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