Can Dogs Eat Tortillas?

Can dogs eat tortillas? As a pet owner, you’re likely always looking for a new treat to feed your canine friend. But not all foods we can eat are safe for our furry little companions. So if you’re looking through your fridge and see a pack of tortillas, you might wonder if it can be a healthy part of their diet.

Can Dogs Eat Tortillas?

Can dogs eat tortillas? For most dogs, the answer is yes, although there are some caveats you’ll want to consider. While your dog can safely digest a tortilla, it might not be the best choice for a healthy meal. In most cases, tortillas are made from either wheat or corn and are high in carbohydrates.

This means that for dogs, tortillas will offer almost none of the nutrients they need to stay healthy and fit and can lead to your dog becoming overweight.

Wheat flour tortillas are worse in this aspect, as they have far more carbs, fat, and calories than their corn-based counterpart. And while one tortilla obviously won’t make much of a difference, you probably shouldn’t make it a regular part of your canine’s diet.

Potential Health Hazards

Although most dogs can digest one or two tortillas perfectly, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind. Like humans, dogs have the potential to have allergic reactions to food.

When it comes to tortillas, that means dogs with allergies to grains or corn should stay far away from this type of food.

With any potential treat, you’re interested in giving your canine pal; you should always start by giving them a small piece to see how they react before giving them the whole thing.

Salt, Oil, and Fats

You should avoid giving any dog hard-shell or fried tortillas, as these will contain far more fats and oils than their soft counterparts. You should also avoid feeding them any flavored or salted tortillas.

While all dogs need some sodium level in their diet, they should be getting it from their main food source and not any of their treats.

Too much sodium can result in a condition known as hypernatremia which is a life-threatening condition caused by a high sodium level in the blood. If this does occur, you should get your dog to a vet as soon as possible, as it can result in difficulty walking, lack of coordination, and even seizures.

Can I Make a Meal Out of It?

If you’re interested in doing something special for your furry little friend, then with a tortilla, there are a few ways you could go about it. While a burrito served to a human commonly contains ingredients that would be toxic to a dog, like garlic or onions, it’s entirely possible to make a dog-friendly version.

A Dog-Friendly Burrito

Firstly, you’ll want to choose a source of protein like chicken or beef. You should stick mainly to lean cuts and be sure to cut out any visible sections of fat. Removal of bones is also necessary, as a failure to do so could result in your dog choking or a rupture in their intestines later on.

During cooking, make sure not to add any spices to the food; while a few might be safe for dogs, far more can end up hurting them. So avoiding them altogether is going to be the safest option. You can add some boiled beans; pinto, black, kidney, and garbanzo beans are safe for veggies.

Bell peppers are also an option, although other peppers should be avoided, as dogs cannot digest spicy peppers. As long as you ensure that 90% of the burrito is meat, this can be an excellent treat for your companion.

So, Can Dogs Eat Tortillas?

So, as long as you’ve squared away all the potential hazards like added salt or allergies, your dog should be perfectly capable of eating a tortilla.

But with any food you might give your dog, it’s vital to remember that 10% or less of its total nutrition should come from vegetables and fruits. A healthy diet is one of the most important steps toward ensuring your furry pal is around as long as possible.