Many people question whether or not dogs are able to have corn tortillas, due to their taste for the wheat variety. Luckily, we have some definitive information about this!
Many dog food brands offer low-corn diets as an option for healthy eating. These foods usually do not contain any processed grains such as wheat or corn tortilla chips. Instead, they use chicken or fish meal as a source of protein instead.
Some owners may feel that these recipes are too expensive, however. Fortunately, you can make your own high quality cooked meat snacks in our recipe section!
In this article, we will be looking at the ingredients for canine corn tortillas and if possible, what changes needed to be made to make them more suitable for dogs. We will also look into potential side effects, risks, and complications related to feeding dogs raw vegetables.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only, never against diet recommendations or laws. It should always be conducted with full awareness of local regulations and health codes. Contact your doctor, nurse, veterinarian, or other relevant professional before changing anything about your current lifestyle.
What Are The Components In A Dog’s Food?
Most packaged dry pet foods include either chicken powder or beef stew powder as a major ingredient. Both of these powders help lower blood cholesterol levels by acting as a source of lean red meat protein.
What is corn tortillas made of?
Although most people probably know what kind of ingredient rolls in the dough of a plain old wheat or brown bread, few are aware that there are actually two main components of a Mexican-style tortilla.
The first component is usually referred to as “the masa” (yes, like the batter for tacos). The term comes from the Spanish word for this element which is maso. It can be tricky to tell when the article has been left out and so it was given its own unique spelling!
After the masa, the second key element is something called lard. This is typically soft fat retrieved from around the meat you would cook with the taco shell, such as pork belly. When heated together, both these ingredients will combine into something slightly thicker than either one alone.
These days, most commercially produced tortillas do not contain lard nor dried milk, instead they use vegetable oil and water to create their matrix. These types of tortillas are much more nutritious but may not taste quite right to some. We will discuss other ways to make your dog happier and healthier later in this article!
If you give your dog food and drink products that are free of those additives, she/he may still enjoy the texture of a crispy, warm tortilla once in a while. There are several brands of vegetarian-based tortillas available at most grocery stores.
Do all corn tortillas taste the same?
While some people may agree that there is no one specific type of tortilla that tastes better than the others, do not assume that every batch will feel the same when you bite into it.
There are many different factors that can affect how salty or spicy a particular tortilla flavor is, including what kind of tortilla product you use and whether your dog has sensitive teeth.
Tortilla brands make frequent changes to the recipes for their products so try looking at pictures and reviews to get an idea of what each one looks like before buying them.
Can dogs have corn tortillas?
Technically, yes! There are some brands of soft wheat bread that contain enough gluten to be considered “tortilla-like” slices. These types of products can be cut into thin strips or squares and served either like chips or in recipes (think: tacos)
TIP: Just make sure your dog does not eat them all while you’re away!
Hardbreads such as breads and rolls made from barley, rice, or potatoes do NOT contain enough gluten for them to be categorized as a true tortilla. However, they may still be palatable for some dogs who suffer from grain allergies.
You should always check with your vet before giving your dog any new food, but we know what kind of reactions can occur when puppies try new foods!
Interpretation: Most dogs cannot tolerate wheat even if it is mixed into other foods or cooked as pasta. Because most dogs are built more starch than meat metabolisms, they will actually absorb MORE glucose (the fuel source for cells) eating too much wheat!
A very small percentage of dogs are allergic to Gluten which is a protein found in Wheat. This would cause an adverse reaction after ingestion which usually includes vomiting, diarrhea, hives, and/or respiratory issues.
Does the shape matter?
While some people believe that only dogs with wheat or rice coats are good candidates for corn tortilla treats, it really does not make much difference! This is because the rolling process removes most of the starch that could potentially cause issues.
Dogs that have a wheat coat tend to have slightly softer fur so they may feel more comfortable eating this type of treat. However, your dog’s skin can still retain some amount of starchy moisture which may cause problems if your dog has an allergy.
Sensitive noses can detect small amounts of leftover starch, making a bad situation worse for your pooch. If you are ever in doubt about whether or not your dog needs a special diet, talk to your vet! They can help determine if there is a nutritional deficiency or an allergic reaction.
**If your dog seems sick after eating a snack made from corn tortillas, stop giving them those snacks immediately! Sometimes allergens will remain in the body longer than expected, especially when symptoms seem to “wobble down”.
Does the brand matter?
For some people, this article is not going to be important or relevant. Others will feel very passionate about it! There are many brands of corn tortilla snacks that dogs cannot eat due to either gluten or casein being in them.
A small amount of both foods can cause serious health problems for your dog. If you notice your dog acting sick or suffering from weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea or other symptoms, take him to the doctor right away.
You may also see if he has food allergies as a possible cause.
Some popular brands of canine snack products contain wheat, barley, rye, milk, chicken, beef, duck or egg protein, or trace amounts of yeast or salt made with wheat flour.
These foods have unfortunately become controversial because they include casesinc and glutien which can be problematic for some dogs.
Are they any health benefits?
While some may think that eating corn tortillas is only healthy for dogs with wheat or digestive issues, there are actually many more benefits to offering these dogs corn tortilla treats!
Tortillas can be made from either soft or hard durum flour. Soft-tortilla recipes usually do not contain yeast or baking agents such as milk, butter, or lye. Hard-tortilla recipes often include these additives.
Some theories suggest that the starch in the tortilla helps keep dogs’ digestion moving and regular. This could help reduce symptoms of gastrointestinal (GI) disease in dogs, like frequent vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or both.
Because most dogs were fed kibble up until very recently, we don’t have much data about how well this theory holds true. But it’s an interesting hypothesis!
So what kind of tortillas are best for giving your dog?
You want to make sure their diet is balanced, but beyond that you don’t need to worry too much about ingredients. Just make sure they aren’t chocolate flavored, since most dogs aren’t able to taste flavorings yet. 😉
Since most dogs eat less than half a roll per treat, one small, thin slice of bread will go a long way. You also want to check that it doesn’t smell heavily processed, which might indicate using leftover scraps instead of fresh bread.
What should you look for when buying corn tortillas?
Most dogs do not eat cooked whole wheat or white flour products, so they cannot have those as an ingredient in most recipes. They can however, be made with corn!
Many dog food manufacturers use processed “corn” flours that are not true masa (maize) doughs. These types of flours are usually mixed into the recipe with dry baking soda as an acid catalyst to create what we know as tacos or Mexican-style bread.
That is why it is important to read your labels carefully before giving your dog any type of manufactured product. More information about potential harmful ingredients can be found here.
It is also very important to research which brands are safe for your dog. There are many different certification programs that evaluate meat and grain content, as well as nutritional value. You can find out more about these here.
What should you serve with corn tortillas?
If you are having dogs that like to eat dry food, there is an easy way to make sure they do not go hungry! You can mix some of their favorite foods together in a baking dish and use the burnt bits as a topping for the tortilla chips.
Many people start doing this when puppies come home. They give the puppy the cooked dog food and then let them roll the crispbreads in the dried dog food as an extra treat. This works very well if you have to put down your pet, because you can feed the rest to the next animal in need.
For more tips about feeding dogs, read our article: How To Make Sure Your Dog Is Nut-Free.
