Tamales are popular in Mexican cuisine, and people worldwide love to eat them. If you also love to eat tamales and have a dog, you’ve probably noticed your canine lurking around, looking for tamale scraps.
Dogs can technically eat tamales in that they are not outright toxic, but they are not suitable for your canine friend either, so you should try to prevent your dog from eating them if possible.
But what happens if you do give tamales to your furry friend? How do they impact their health? Read on to learn more about tamales and their effect on dogs, their nutritional value, and whether it’s safe for your canine to consume them.
Tamales Ingredients
Tamales are definitely tasty for humans, but they contain various ingredients that can harm pets, which is why your dog shouldn’t eat them.
This Mexican dish contains the following ingredients:
Tamales Nutrients
Here’s a list of all the nutrients in a meat-filled tamale:
| Calories: | 257 kcal |
| Protein: | 11 grams |
| Carbohydrate: | 19 grams |
| Fat: | 5 grams |
Taken at numerical value, these nutrients are well-balanced for dogs, as there are high protein and fat levels. However, since tamales contain multiple ingredients that could potentially harm your furry friend, it’s best to keep them away.
Is Eating Tamales Safe for Dogs?
Eating a tiny piece of a tamale every now and then may not harm your dog. However, there’s a possibility that your canine is sensitive and may react badly to tamales after consuming a piece of one. Also, the husk can be particularly dangerous for dogs, which is why you should ensure that your dog never gets ahold of one.
Overall, consuming tamales may not kill your dog, but it can lead to several health problems, so this food is considered unsafe and is simply not worth the risk.
Why Are Tamales Not the Most Suitable Food Choice for Dogs?
Tamales have multiple ingredients that are not ideal for dogs or are even dangerous. After consuming tamales, your furry friend could experience the following health problems:
Onion and Garlic Poisoning
If your dog consumes multiple tamales, they will likely experience the signs of onion or garlic poisoning. These include:
Onion and garlic plants belong to the same family, so their effect on dogs is quite similar in how they can cause health problems. So, if your dog ate a tamale, and you notice any of these signs, you should immediately contact your vet.
Salt Poisoning
Another health concern after a dog eats a tamale is salt poisoning. Salt in large amounts is dangerous for dogs and could cause the following health problems:
Choking and Gastrointestinal Blockage
Consuming the husk from a tamale could cause a choking hazard in your dog, which is potentially deadly. Even if your dog somehow manages to eat the husk without choking, they may still experience gastrointestinal blockage, as it’s not digestible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What Happens If My Dog Eats Tamales?
If your dog consumes a tamale or multiple tamales, it’s best to react promptly and take your canine to the vet. Although they may be fine, it’s possible that your dog may have a bad reaction, which is why you should be cautious.
If you have the ingredient list of the tamales that your dog ate, bring it with you to the vet. Try to remember how many tamales your dog consumed and if they also ate the husk.
Depending on the state of your dog, the vet may need to run blood tests, provide medication, induce vomiting, or prescribe a treatment.
2. What Are the Possible Issues That Dogs Could Experience After Eating Tamales?
If your dog consumes tamales, you should look out for the following signs and react promptly if you notice any of them:
Never delay a vet visit if you notice any of these signs in your furry friend, as you could potentially save their life by reacting promptly.
3. What Should You Do If Your Dog Eats a Corn Husk?
Corn husks can be extremely dangerous to dogs because they can cause suffocation and choking. If your dog consumes a corn husk from a tamale, it’s best to immediately visit your vet to prevent possible problems.
Depending on the number and size of the husks that your dog ate, they will likely experience digestive issues, so your vet may prescribe medication to help ease tummy pain.
4. Can My Dog Consume Canned Tamales?
You should never give canned tamales to your dog because they contain more sugar, salt, and other harmful ingredients that may upset your dog’s stomach or poison them.
Final Thoughts
While eating tamales won’t be fatal for your dog, they’re not healthy canine foods, and you should do your best to keep them away from your pet. There are plenty of other, safer treats that you can give them instead.
Featured Image Credit: Marcos Castillo, Shutterstock
