Can Dogs Eat Tortillas? 3 Risks of Feeding Tortillas to Dogs

Tortillas are not dog food and provide little to no benefit to dogs. Dogs can digest wheat flour tortillas without additives, assuming they don’t have a gluten intolerance, and most dogs aren’t allergic to corn and can have a bite or two of plain corn tortillas. However, the minimal nutrients they offer (they are a source of calcium and dietary fiber) do not offset the high amounts of fats, salt, and carbs found in most tortillas. Additionally, many kinds of tortillas found in supermsrkets are processed foods, with preservatives to increase their shelf-life that can be toxic to dogs. Do not give your dog fried tortilla shells, tortillas with fillings, or store-bought tortillas with preservatives, as these can cause a host of health issues.

How dogs respond to small quantities of tortillas will vary—some dogs might be able to digest a bite or two of a tortilla wrap without a problem, but it may trigger side effects such as vomiting and diarrhea in dogs with sensitive stomachs. Learn more about the health risks of feeding tortillas to dogs.

1. 1. Processed tortillas may contain toxic ingredients for dogs. Many types of tortillas come laden with preservatives or seasonings that can upset a dog’s digestive system. Certain preservatives such as amylases and xylanases can harm your dog’s pancreas when consumed in large amounts.
2. 2. Tortillas contain large amounts of carbs, fats, and salt. Tortillas are human food and contain significant amounts of salt, carbohydrates, and fats. These can contribute to weight gain and long-term health problems like pancreatitis and heart disease for your furry friend.
3. 3. Tortillas can trigger an allergic reaction in some dogs. The core ingredient in tortillas—both store-bought tortillas and homemade tortillas—is flour or corn. Some dogs have wheat allergies (such as gluten allergies), which means wheat flour will cause an upset stomach or worse. Few dogs have issues with the corn flour found in corn tortillas and corn chips, but this flour has minimal nutritional value.

The occasional tortilla chip will not hurt your dog. However, tortilla chips contain high quantities of salt, which is harmful to your dog’s health if given in excessive amounts. Additionally, tortilla chips are fried foods that are dense in calories. This means that all types of tortilla chips—even seemingly healthy options like blue corn taco shells—can quickly lead to obesity in dogs. Fried tortillas, like those used in fried burritos, should never be served to dogs.

Some pet stores sell dog tortilla chips which are specially concocted to suit a dog’s diet. These tortilla chips are a special dog treat, and not a substitute for traditional dog food.

Certain human foods and beverages can cause adverse reactions in canines, so always consult your veterinarian to determine whether it is safe to add these items to your pet’s diet. This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

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