If you’re wondering whether dogs can eat tortillas, unfortunately, pets don’t have the best digestive systems for processed flour and corn-based foods. While not poisonous or toxic, flour or corn tortillas and chips are bad for dogs, at least if you want your puppy to be the healthiest and fittest she can be. Furthermore, some dogs have allergies or sensitivities to grains, meaning tortillas can pose health risks to pets.
Ultimately, with minimal nutrition value and the potential for dangerous outcomes, we can’t recommend that dogs eat tortillas. While occasionally feeding your puppy tortillas or corn chips is safe, here’s why we’d avoid giving dogs any processed corn or flour-based snacks.
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Why Tortillas Are Bad For Dogs
While tortillas aren’t dangerous or extremely unhealthy for dogs, they don’t contribute to a healthy, well-balanced canine diet. Dogs have very sensitive digestive systems, and if they eat too many tortillas or chips, it can lead to a very upset stomach and other potential health issues. Moreover, dogs process grains and corn differently than how humans do, so these types of foods can lead to health problems.
Tortillas are also a processed food, and those are never good for dogs. They can contain a number of ingredients and preservatives that are unhealthy for dogs. This is the reason why corn tortillas are also bad for dogs although fresh corn is not. Tortillas are also high in calories with very little additional nutrients, which can increase your dogs’ risk of developing obesity or other health conditions like diabetes and pancreatitis.
Can Dogs Eat Tortilla Chips?
Tortilla chips are no better for dogs than regular tortillas. In fact, tortilla and corn chips can be even less healthy for dogs to eat. For one thing, most tortilla chips are loaded with salt, which is not good for dogs. Too much salt can lead to many health issues, including kidney problems, so it is best to avoid giving your dogs any type of chips.
Tortilla chips are also fried which means they have high fat and oil content. This can also increase your dog’s risk of developing obesity. The same goes for corn chips as they are also high in sodium and often flavored with seasonings and other additives that are unhealthy for dogs to consume (e.g. onion or garlic powder).
Another reason to avoid giving tortillas to dogs is that they might contain gluten. Some dogs, just like humans, are sensitive or even allergic to gluten. If your pet has a gluten sensitivity, it is definitely best to avoid giving her any bread products, including tortillas.
Typically, you have nothing to be concerned about if your dog accidentally eats a few chips. However, tortilla chips and corn chips should never be given to your dogs on a regular basis.
No, Dogs Can’t Eat Tortillas
If your dogs love crunchy treats, there are several better options available than tortillas, regardless of whether they are made from flour or corn. In fact, it’s actually much safer to give your dogs bread (as long as they aren’t allergic to gluten). Your dogs won’t know the difference and they’ll be just as happy with this tasty treat (in moderation).
