Shun NagaiToday, there are countless dog food brands, ingredients, and manufacturing methods on the market. As a result, many myths about dog food have spread over time. In this article, we take a closer look at some common questions and concerns about corn.
Can dogs digest corn?
It is true that giving dogs corn cobs is not recommended. The hard cob can cause a life-threatening intestinal blockage. Raw corn itself is also harder to digest, so it is not ideal as a casual snack.
However, the idea that corn included in dry dog food is difficult for dogs to digest is not accurate. Animal nutritionist Linda Case argues that, like humans, dogs are capable of properly digesting starch from plants such as corn. According to her, raw starch is about 60% digestible, whereas refined and processed starch is about 95% digestible.
This difference comes from the fact that, in raw starch, mammalian digestive enzymes cannot easily penetrate the starch granules. Once corn is processed into dog food, however, the starch granules become gelatinized, allowing digestive enzymes to access the starch molecules more easily. As a result, the corn becomes much more digestible.
Not just a filler ingredient
Corn is often said to be just a filler in dry dog food because it is inexpensive, widely available, and commonly used in mainstream products. In reality, however, corn is not without nutritional value.
Corn can serve as a carbohydrate source in complete and balanced dog food. These digestible starches mainly function as an energy source, and depending on which part of the corn is used, it can also provide certain vitamins and minerals. Corn is also a valuable source of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid.
In addition, the fiber in corn can support healthy bowel movements. One study found that dogs fed dog food containing corn had lower levels of ammonia in their feces, suggesting that they were absorbing dietary protein effectively.
Is corn gluten really bad?
Some dry dog foods list “corn gluten meal” as an ingredient, but does that make it a bad raw material for dog food? Corn gluten meal is what remains after the starch, fiber, and bran have been removed.
In some dog foods, corn gluten meal is used not as a carbohydrate source, but as a plant-based protein source. It contains about 60% protein, which is comparable to other plant protein ingredients.
On the other hand, corn gluten meal is not considered a high-quality protein source for dogs. This is because it lacks sufficient amounts of several essential amino acids, including lysine, arginine, and tryptophan.
Therefore, when corn gluten meal is used, it needs to be balanced with other protein sources to ensure that all essential nutrients are provided. Corn gluten meal is also less digestible than regular corn meal.
Does it cause allergies?
Corn is often said to cause allergies in dogs, but the most common food allergens are beef, dairy, soy, and wheat.
Any food can potentially trigger an allergic reaction, but corn allergy in dogs is considered rare. In fact, corn is sometimes used as an alternative ingredient for dogs that react to certain animal proteins.
Too much corn should be avoided
Corn itself is not a poor-quality ingredient. However, dog food with a high proportion of corn may be best avoided. When grains, especially gluten meal, are included in excessive amounts, protein digestibility may decline.