Can dogs eat grits?
Yes, dogs can eat grits. It is however not a recommended staple food for any dog. If your dog happens to eat a small amount grits, he or she will not fall ill as long has he or she is not allergic to corn.
What exactly is grits?
Grits are called the ultimate meal in the Southern cuisine that has actually gone from a modest breakfast or side meal to the base for a delicious shrimp meal included on many restaurant menus. Grits in fact have a very long history; the word "grits" describes any grain that was coarsely grounded and was consumed by the Native people. Today, grits are made with either stone-ground corn or hominy and are boiled. After that, it is usually blended with milk and butter for flavor.
Fast Facts About Grits
- History: The word "grits" comes from the Old English word that is "grytt". Grytt means coarse meal.
- Origin: Corn was prevalent in North America way before European Explorers decided to go west. The Indigenous people, ate corn as a mashed corn dish.
- Food Fact: South Carolina's official food is grits.
Different types of grits
There are different types of grits which means you will have to read the package before you purchase any. There are:
- Stone-Ground Grits
- Instant Grits
- Fast-Cooking Grits
- Hominy Grits
Is grits toxic to dogs?
No, grits is not toxic to dogs. However, some dogs are allergic to the ingredients used in creating or preparing grits. Some dogs are lactose intolerant, while some are allergic to corn. Grits is usually used as a side-dish and many people add butter and other ingredients to add to the flavor.
Can dogs eat grits with butter?
Butter is not life threatening to dogs, however, butter is made using milk. Why is that important? Well, some dogs are lactose intolerant and should avoid butter at all cost. If your lactose intolerant dog has consumed grits with milk, you do not have to worry about him or her dying. He or she might get ill if they eat too much grits with butter.
Can dogs have grits?
As long as grits is not the only food you feed your dog, grits should be a good addition as a snack or treat.
Are grits good for dogs
Yes, grits is good for dogs as it has many different nutrients. Your dog is probably very active and grits can provide a portion of the needed protein to keep your dog active throughout the day.
Can dogs eat grits and eggs?
Yes, dogs can eat grits and eggs. Girts has its own nutritional values and so does eggs. Eggs are rich in protein, Vitamin A, and a good source of linoleic acid.
So how can a dog eat grits?
How can a dog eat eggs? Easy, just do not over do it and it would probably be best if you only feed grits as a trreat or as a side meal or snack once in a while.
Can puppies eat grits?
As long as your puppy has been eating hard food and not just milk, you can introduce a small amount of grits into their diet.
Are grits safe for dogs?
Yes, grits is safe for dogs. Just do not overfeed your dog. Just like with humans, if we eat do much of one type of food, we will eventually start to feel ill in some way.
Can i feed my dog grits?
Yes, grits can be fed to your dog but should only be fed in small amounts.
Grits Compared To Oatmeal
Grits and oatmeal have great nutritional value. However, oatmeal is a way better option if you want to give your dog one of the two types of foods.
Nutritional benefits of oatmeal
| Nutrient | Value |
|---|---|
| Calories | 140 Grams |
| Fat | 2.5 Grams |
| Fiber | 4 Grams |
| Protein | 5 Grams |
| Carbohydrates | 28 Grams |
| Sugars | 0 Grams |
Health Benefits of oats
As stated above, oats has many health benefits, below you will find a list of some of the benefits of oats to expect.
- Soothes skin
- Blood sugar control
- Weight Loss
Oats, when boiled, is a great way to help soothe itchy skin, help treat atopic dermatitis, and reduce psoriasis symptoms.
Grits have the ability to help you control yours and your dog's blood sugar levels. Oats is also known to help insulin sensitivity.
Oats will help you with controlling you and your dog's weight.
Nutritional benefits of grits
| Nutrient | Value | Nutrient | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 182 Grams | Protein | 4 Grams |
| Folate | 25% RDI | Carbs | 3 Grams |
| Vitamin B6 | 7% RDI | Niacin | 13% RDI |
| Thiamine | 18% RDI | Zinc | 4% RDI |
| Magnesium | 5% RDI | Iron | 8% RDI |
| Fiber | 2 Grams | Fat | 1 Gram |
| Riboflavin | 12% RDI |
Grits vs. Polenta
There is an Italian version of Grits and it is called Polenta. However, it has a very different flavor and texture from grits as it is made using cornmeal. When it is prepared, it can look similar to grits which is why many people mistake polenta for grits.
What can grits be used for?
Grits is a flexible food and grits can be consumed for breakfast, supper, or lunch. Grits can be made really just with a small amount of butter and a pinch of salt or transformed into something more tasty and fancy. To make grits, boil about five or four times the quantity of water to grits, add a small amount of salt to the water, and after that the grits should be cooked for about 45 minutes, while constantly stirring.
Grits is very nutritious. You will get roughly 4 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, and 182 calories from one cup of cooked grits. You will also get 25% of Daily value of folate from said one cup of grits.
Grits is also known to reduce the risk of Type II Diabetes, Heart Disease, and some Cancers.
Can My Dog Eat Grits?
Yes, dogs can eat grits. But some dogs might find it hard to digest grits as it is made from corn. Some dogs are even allergic to corn which would make it dangerous for them to eat.
Conclusion
Grits is good for dogs as well as humans. It has many benefits for both humans and dogs and can be added to a dog's or human's food intake to improve health.
