One of the most frequently asked questions online regarding pooches is the suitability of corn tortillas for them. It is crucial that you know the answer to this question to ensure that you do not harm your four-legged furry friend.
Yes, dogs can eat corn tortillas, but only in moderation. It is as simple as that. You need to understand the ingredients used for making this meal to realize the reason for this concise answer. You cannot afford to be ignorant regarding any area concerning the grooming of your canine, especially the aspect of nutrition.
This is one of the best articles you will find online regarding whether or not you should give corn tortillas to your pooch. In this guide, you will find every answer you need regarding this sensitive topic and more. This research-based article will provide answers to your questions and also help you to understand the reason for the answers.
Are Corn Tortilla Chips Bad For Dogs?
The suitability of corn tortillas for pooches is an important question. Therefore, it is not surprising that many pet owners want to get an accurate answer to this question.
Due to the impact of food on the health of canines, it is crucial that you know what you can give them and what you should not. Is corn tortilla chips good for them? I will help you to answer this question.
Ingredients For Making Corn Tortillas
The first thing you need to know is the ingredients used in making quality food, to know whether it is safe for your pooch. Here are the ingredients used for making corn tortillas:
Wheat Flour
You should be careful regarding letting a pooch that has a sensitive stomach eat corn tortillas especially when it contains wheat flour. A key thing to note is that wheat contains gluten. Meanwhile, canines do not have the same ability as human beings to digest gluten.
Therefore, it is a huge risk when you allow a pooch that is allergic to gluten or has a sensitive stomach to consume tortillas. Even when your canine is not allergic to gluten or has a sensitive stomach, excessive consumption of corn tortillas can lead to diarrhea.
So, you should never throw caution to the wind on how much corn tortillas you allow your pet pooch to consume.
Corn Kernels
Corn kernels are part of the ingredients used for making corn tortillas. They contain several minerals and vitamins that will nourish your pooch. Yet, you have to be careful because corn tortillas usually contain preservatives that might lead to health complications for your pooch.
Apart from the addition of preservatives, pooches do not have the ability to digest processed corn to a very good extent. Therefore, “moderation” must be your watchword when feeding your pooch.
Excessive corn tortillas will hurt your canine. So, even if you choose to allow your four-legged furry friend to eat them, you have to ensure that the feeding quantity is moderate.
Gluten
Pooches are not capable of taking care of themselves. Therefore, they are not in the best position to determine whether corn tortillas are good for them or not. Generally, canines do not need to eat a lot of carbs. As mentioned earlier, corn tortillas contain gluten, which can be harmful to pooches.
Due to their struggles when it comes to the digestion of gluten, you might notice diarrhea or vomiting when you allow your pooch to consume corn tortillas. A little will not be harmful, especially when your canine is not allergic to the substance.
Gastrointestinal Issues
Corn tortillas should never be part of the daily meal of your pooch. Due to some of the toxic ingredients used in making them, your canine is at risk of health complications such as gastrointestinal issues, upset stomach, allergies, heart disease, and diabetes.
Other health complications that your canine can develop through the excessive consumption of tortillas include dehydration, unwanted eating habits, and obesity. Therefore, you should ensure that tortillas are a fortnight treat if you love your pooch. Anything more than that will result in endangering the health of your canine.
Allergic Reactions
The quality of a dog’s diet depends on what foods you give your pooch, and when in doubt, you should consult your vet for advice. You cannot decide to give corn tortillas to your canine just because the people around you do so. Your pooch is not the same as others. For example, you have to take cognizance of the allergies of your canine.
Before you decide whether it is safe or not to give tortillas to your pooch, you have to be sure that your canine does not react to gluten, for example. A pooch that is sensitive to gluten will have health issues when allowed to consume corn tortillas.
Excessive Calories
Excessive weight gain is dangerous to human beings, and it is the same for pooches. The consumption of corn tortillas is one of the ways your canine can gain extra weight. Processed foods like corn tortillas contain excess calories that can put your pooch at risk of obesity.
Meanwhile, obesity makes your canine susceptible to various diseases. Therefore, you should be moderate regarding the consumption of processed food such as corn tortillas if you care about the health of your pooch.
How Safe Are Corn Tortillas For Dogs?
Corn tortillas are only safe for canines when taken in moderation. Every pet pooch owner must know this.
When it comes to giving corn tortillas to pooches, you have to consider the following factors:
- Older pooches
- Dogs with blood sugar issues
- Obese dogs
Older Pooches
It is not a good practice to give corn tortillas to older pooches. There are a lot of similarities regarding how you take care of canines and human beings. When people get older, there are certain substances they have to either avoid or reduce the quantity they consume. This rule also applies to older pooches.
If some younger canines struggle with carbs, how much more will the older ones do? Therefore, it is common sense to avoid giving high-carb corn tortillas to your older pooches. Younger canines also struggle to digest processed food. Then, it is logical not to give them to older pooches.
Dogs With Blood Sugar Issues
Corn tortillas are bad for dogs with blood sugar issues such as diabetes. It is as simple as that. It is dangerous to sugar-coat it or employ the use of any form of euphemism when answering this question. It is too dangerous to provide an ambiguous answer.
In the same way, you do not bring petrol close to a burning house, you cannot afford to give tortilla to a pooch struggling with blood sugar issues. Acting that way is a sign that you are either ignorant or malicious. Ignorance is no longer a tenable excuse because you have been told now. To avoid aggravating the current issue, you should avoid this.
Obese Dogs
It is not recommended to allow obese dogs to consume corn tortillas. Obese pooches are at risk of developing heart disease and other health complications. So, just like canines that have gluten intolerance or wheat allergies, it is risky to allow obese dogs to eat corn tortillas.
Would you allow an obese kid to eat carbs and other processed foods? Never, right? In the same way, by allowing your pooch to consume corn tortillas, you are doing the canine a disservice. It is irresponsible and insensitive. Therefore, you have to be careful enough to ensure that this meal is not given to an obese canine.
Safe Alternatives To Corn Tortillas
Now that you know that you should only allow your canine to eat corn tortillas in moderation, it is crucial that you know safer alternatives. They include:
- Vienna sausages
- Paprika
- Sour cream
Vienna Sausages
Vienna sausages are safer alternatives to corn tortillas. They are good sources of protein for your pooch. However, you should not make them the main source of protein because your canine should not eat them in large quantities. Just like corn tortillas, your pooch should not consume them every day.
The reason for caution when it comes to the consumption of Vienna sausages is that they contain an unhealthy quantity of sodium and fat. So, it is not recommended that you allow your pooch to consume them in large quantities or daily to avoid health complications.
Paprika
Unlike corn tortillas, paprika is not toxic for canines. It contains capsaicin, which is a compound found in pepper. This substance has antioxidant properties. It also helps in the reduction of the risk of heart disease and cancer. Therefore, paprika is recommended for your canine.
Nonetheless, you should ensure that your pooch does not consume it excessively. If your canine has a history of gastrointestinal problems, you should avoid it altogether. Paprika can lead to diarrhea for such pooches. So, just like corn tortillas, you should not throw caution to the wind when giving your canine paprika.
Sour Cream
Sour cream, especially low-fat and plain ones, are healthier alternatives to corn tortillas. You can add it to many recipes to give your pooch a nutritious meal. Yet, you have to ensure that it is safe for your canine. How? Sour cream can be harmful to lactose-intolerant pooches.
There you go again! The fact that a substance is safe for your canine does not mean that you should be careless. There are always exceptions and you must be aware of them. You cannot afford to be the reason your pooch has to deal with one health complication or the other.
