A golden adage says that “A life without Mexican food is like no life at all.” Whether or not we agree to this precept, we are still united to the thought that nachos, tacos, and burritos are our all-time favorite snacks — transcending us to Mexico through our taste buds.
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With all the “-os,” here comes Tortillas — a flatbread that is a staple in the kitchen of every Mexican. This food is ubiquitously seen on the tables of breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
It is also an essential ingredient in dishes such as enchiladas, flautas, quesadillas, sopes, and chilaquiles. This food is good for our stomach, but does that mean it is also best for your dog?
So, come on, vamonos! In this article, we will guide you on preparing tortillas and answering the question: “Can dogs eat tortillas?”
What are Tortillas?
Tortillas are Mexican food that is essentially flatbread. This dish can be eaten with many items such as beans, cheese, and meat.
The Tortilla has been around for centuries and represents life itself in Mayan mythology because it rose from water when cooked. Today, tortillas come in various forms, including tortilla chips, wraps, and plates.
Tortillas are used to make tacos and burritos, as well as many other Mexican dishes. They are a good source of carbohydrates and contain vitamins such as B-vitamins, which can help with energy.
Nevertheless, you may see Tortillas being consumed with other dishes in the United States. For example, they are used to make wraps, enchiladas, and even pizza crusts.
Food family of Tortillas
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Since Tortillas are baked, this food belongs to the bread family, primarily made up of carbohydrates. However, the bread family also includes items such as bagels, toast, and muffins, to name a few.
On average, the bread family provides healthy nutrients, such as Vitamin B, for energy metabolism and the health of your skin, hair, and nails. Also, it comes with iron that helps transport oxygen throughout your body, and maintains a healthy energy level.
Plus, fiber regulates weight management, blood sugar regulation, and gastrointestinal health.
Can Dogs Eat Tortillas?
Yes, dogs can eat tortillas, and it’s even recommended for dogs to eat since this food contains many nutrients that can be beneficial to their health. Tortillas are unlikely harmful to your dog’s diet. Here, the food is baked and therefore contains no significant fat or grease.
However, too much feeding of tortillas can be perilous, bringing more risk to your dog’s health. In addition, tortillas contain ingredients such as cheese or meat, which may not be healthy for your dog to ingest.
Also, it may include garlic powder and other potentially harmful items if consumed in large quantities by dogs.
To avoid any risks in feeding this food, we collected the best ways to feed your dogs with Tortillas.
Best Ways to Feed your Dogs with Tortillas
Go for homemade tortillas.
When feeding your dogs with tortillas, it is best to prepare the food yourself. This guarantees that you know what ingredients are included in preparing these dishes, so there will be no risk of poisoning or any other health hazard for your dog.
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The best way is to use organic, measured ingredients suitable for your dog’s appetite, such as chicken, rice, and vegetables.
Measure the amount of garlic powder and onions added.
Garlic powder increases a dog’s appetite but can also cause gastrointestinal upset. Take note that onions contain “thiosulfate,” which causes hemolytic anemia in dogs when ingested.
It is best to measure and monitor how much garlic powder and onions you use for your recipe so that they will not be harmful to your dog’s health if consumed in large quantities.
Stay away from greasy or oily tortillas.
Avoid feeding your dog with greasy or oily tortillas. It can cause gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea and vomiting in dogs more sensitive to these components. You might also consider asking the shop you buy tortillas from to use a different brand that does not have too much grease in it.
Reasons Why Dogs can Eat Tortillas
As already mentioned, tortillas are unlikely to harm your dogs. With that being said, we now bring you to reasons why tortillas are beneficial for your dogs:
Tortillas are rich in protein and carbs.
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Tortillas are rich in protein. They contain around twenty-five grams of protein per serving, significant for dogs who need quality energy sources to maintain an active lifestyle.
Also, it contains complex carbohydrates that can meet your dog’s daily carbohydrate needs. These components play a vital role in weight management as well as digestive health for your dog.
Tortillas contain essential nutrients and antioxidants.
As already mentioned, Tortilla has specific components that can provide health benefits to dogs, such as dietary fiber. Vitamin B complex includes folic acid and thiamin, which aid in digestion and metabolism; iron responsible for oxygen transportation throughout the body; Potassium and magnesium ions needed by the cells for proper function.
These nutrients can help your dog achieve a healthy weight and maintain a good energy level to ensure an active lifestyle.
Tortillas have a long shelf life.
You do not need to worry about wasting money if you buy in bulk because tortillas can last for up to two weeks when appropriately stored without any significant decrease in quality or taste.
As mentioned, it is best to buy the ones that are not greasy or oily to prevent gastrointestinal problems in dogs. Thus, if you are running out of time, buying tortillas in bulk is a wise decision.
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Possible Concerns When Eating Tortillas
Not all dogs are suitable for this specific dish. Some dogs may have special dietary needs that tortillas may not be able to provide. With that, we are listing possible concerns your dog may experience:
Some dogs may have an allergic reaction to tortillas.
Due to the high content of complex carbohydrates in Tortilla, some dogs may not digest it properly. In this case, your dog will experience gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead them to dehydration if left untreated for an extended period.
Tortillas can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop.
Carbs are responsible for increasing glucose concentration in our body which is used as an energy source by cells, tissues, and muscles. However, this does not mean that dogs need carbs because they primarily rely on protein to provide energy.
A sudden spike in blood sugar level can trigger insulin production, which leads to the cells absorbing glucose excessively. This concern is valid, especially for diabetic dogs who are more sensitive to changes in their blood sugar levels.
Thus tortillas should be fed moderately or not with diabetics depending on your dog’s condition and vet recommendation.
Tortillas can cause bloating.
Bloating happens when the stomach is unable to break down specific components in food. In this case, it could be complex carbohydrates from Tortilla that cannot be fully digested by your dog’s digestive system, resulting in the excess gas build-up, leading to painful abdominal distention if left untreated for a long time.
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Signs Your Dog is Sick When Eating Tortillas
Red warnings may appear at the earliest period. And the best way to respond is to recognize some signs your dog is sick when eating tortillas. If your dog manifests the following symptoms, it’s time to deliver them to the nearest vet clinic:
Reddish urine discoloration
Blood in the urine is the most common symptom of urinary tract infections. And if your dog experiences this, it’s best to consult a vet as soon as possible for a proper medication and treatment plan that includes tortillas intake limitation or complete discontinuation, depending on your dog’s condition.
Vomiting followed by diarrhea.
When dogs suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, you need to know they are not feeling well. And the best thing for them is to deliver them immediately to a veterinary clinic so that proper medication can be given depending on the symptoms exhibited by your dog.
Unwanted eating habit
If your dog begins to eat non-food items such as furniture, shoes, or plastic bottles, it’s time to consider the possibility of them suffering from some digestive disorder.
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And in this case, they may need medical treatment, which necessitates tortillas intake limitation until their condition stabilizes, and you seek professional veterinary help for further instruction regarding this issue.
What to do if your dog is sick from eating Tortillas?
Your best emergency response comes in a calm, cool, and collected manner. So, don’t panic. As soon as your dog manifests possible concerns and sickness mentioned above, don’t hesitate to ask for professional assistance and have your dog a 360 check-up.
If you can’t do anything immediately, call your veterinarian to know what’s going on with your dog. In this way, they will give complete guidance and check-up over the phone, which helps prevent unnecessary time loss that could seriously affect your pet’s condition.
Avoid these similar foods from this family.
Eating too many tortillas is hazardous for your dogs. In a similar fashion, here are some foods also to consider:
Nachos
Nachos are hard to avoid because they make a perfect appetizer for any celebration. But, what makes them risky is that nachos contain high levels of fat and salt, which can seriously affect your dog’s health in the long run.
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In particular, this food can cause pancreatitis, which is known to be very painful.
Chips and salsa
Pork rinds are among the most popular snacks in America, so it’s only natural for dogs to get tempted by them. But beware of their salt content because too much consumption can result in electrolyte imbalance in your dog’s body which causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Tacos
Tacos can also be dangerous for your dog’s health despite their meat filling. They contain high levels of complex carbohydrates, which are difficult to digest by dogs’ digestive systems, leading to bloating and abdominal distention if left untreated over a long period.
How to Make Tortillas Safe To Eat
Just imagine how far you have been through reading this article. You really are taking care of your dog’s health. With that, here are tips for applying to make Tortillas safe to eat:
Consult a diet table for dogs before buying Tortillas
Not all tortillas are safe for your dog’s health. You need to know which brand is appropriate for them based on their age, size, and weight so that you can prevent unnecessary risks of exposure to dangerous ingredients contained in some brands.
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Avoid overfeeding tortilla chips.
It may be tempting because the food tastes so good, but tortilla chips are also high in salt and fat, which is not healthy for your dog’s health. So never give them too much of this food, or they will get sick, just like what happens with humans when we eat more than the recommended amount of these snacks.
Limit consumption to a moderate level only
It can be challenging to stop your dog from eating tortillas because they are tasty, but you need to limit their consumption only up to a moderate level.
In this way, even if your dog can’t stop themselves at all times when getting hold of the food item in question, they still won’t get sick too quickly with just one piece.
Key Takeaways
You can taste the rich culture and value for cuisine and dining among Mexican foods that we’re now enjoying without going to Mexico. Nachos, tacos, burritos help us transcend going to Mexico through our taste buds.
Plus, Tortillas are a clear frontrunner in bringing the best respect for Mexico delicacies — so much respect and adoration to our friendly neighborhood!
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Indeed, dogs can eat tortillas. Unlike other varieties under the bread’s family food, tortillas are unlikely harmful and less hazardous to your dog.
Tortillas have a long shelf life that contains essential nutrients and vitamins sufficient for your dog’s health. But, when fed excessively, your dog may experience allergic reactions, a sudden drop of blood sugar, and bloating.
So, it’s best to limit consumption moderately and consult with your vet for a table diet.