Can Dogs Eat Popcorn? Yes, in moderation: Safe Amount by Weight

In moderation

Yes, in moderation

Plain, air-popped popcorn is okay for dogs in small amounts. Movie or microwave popcorn with butter, salt and flavorings is not. Unpopped kernels can damage teeth and be a choking risk.

Popcorn for dogs at a glance

Can dogs eat it?	In moderation
Calories	About 31 kcal per cup of air-popped popcorn
Main benefit	Plain popcorn is low in calories
Main risk	Butter, oil and salt can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis
Puppies?	In tiny amounts once on solid food; puppies have sensitive stomachs

How much popcorn can a dog eat?

Vets recommend keeping all treats under 10% of daily calories. One cup of air-popped popcorn has about 31 kcal. The chart shows the most a typical spayed or neutered adult dog could have in a day if popcorn were the only treat.

Dog weight	Daily treat budget	Max popcorn per day
10 lb (4.5 kg)	35 kcal	1 × cup of air-popped popcorn
20 lb (9.1 kg)	59 kcal	1.5 × cup of air-popped popcorn
40 lb (18.1 kg)	98 kcal	3 × cup of air-popped popcorn
60 lb (27.2 kg)	133 kcal	4 × cup of air-popped popcorn
80 lb (36.3 kg)	166 kcal	5 × cup of air-popped popcorn

Benefits and risks

Benefits

Plain popcorn is low in calories
Contains some fiber
Light, crunchy treat

Risks

Butter, oil and salt can cause stomach upset or pancreatitis
Unpopped kernels can crack teeth or cause choking
Hulls can get stuck between teeth

How to feed popcorn to your dog

Air-pop with no butter, oil or salt
Remove all unpopped kernels
Offer a few pieces at a time

What if my dog ate too much popcorn?

Eating more than the recommended amount usually causes nothing worse than an upset stomach: soft stool, gas or vomiting. Skip treats for the rest of the day, keep fresh water available and call your vet if vomiting or diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours or your dog seems unwell.

Planning treats? Check your dog's full daily needs with the dog food calculator or dog calorie calculator.

Popcorn and dogs: FAQ

Can dogs have popcorn?

Plain, air-popped popcorn is okay for dogs in small amounts. Movie or microwave popcorn with butter, salt and flavorings is not. Unpopped kernels can damage teeth and be a choking risk.

Can dogs eat microwave popcorn?

It is best not to. Most microwave popcorn is high in salt, fat and artificial butter flavoring.

Can dogs eat caramel or kettle corn?

No. They are high in sugar and some flavored popcorns contain chocolate or xylitol.

What if my dog ate a bowl of buttered popcorn?

Watch for vomiting, diarrhea or a painful belly. Call your vet if your dog has a history of pancreatitis or shows these signs.

Can puppies eat popcorn?

Yes, in very small amounts once they are eating solid food. Puppies have sensitive stomachs, so offer a tiny piece and stop if you see loose stool. Most of their calories should come from a complete puppy food.

More "can dogs eat" guides

Browse lists: human foods dogs can eat · foods dogs can't eat

Sources

This guide is general information for healthy adult dogs. Dogs with medical conditions (such as diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney disease or food allergies) may need different advice from their vet.

Can Dogs Eat Popcorn?