As humans, we often enjoy sharing our food with our furry friends. They’re family, after all! But it’s always important to check that food is safe for your dog before giving it to them, especially if they’ve never tried it. Quesadillas are a popular food for humans. But can dogs eat quesadillas?
Quesadillas are a favorite among children and adults alike. They’re cheesy, warm, and they make the perfect comfort food. But that doesn’t mean you should give your dog one. In general, it’s not safe to give your dog quesadillas, as it can cause them to become ill.
This article will go into more detail to help answer the question: “Can dogs eat quesadillas?” Let’s dive in!
Before you scroll down to a more in-depth answer to the question, “Can Dogs Eat Quesadillas,” you can check out these other dog-related questions answered by our team at We Love Doodles: Can Dogs Eat Raw Chicken Breast? and Can Dogs Eat Pork Rinds?.
About Quesadillas
Quesadillas are a savory Mexican dish that consists of a tortilla filled with cheese. You can add various ingredients to a quesadilla, including meats, vegetables, and spices.
The main ingredient in a quesadilla is cheese, which makes sense when you look at the name of this dish. In Spanish, queso means cheese, and quesadillas have a lot of cheese! The most popular types of cheese used in quesadillas are Monterey jack, mozzarella, Oaxaca, or Chihuahua.
Can Dogs Eat Tortillas?
Tortillas are a type of flat unleavened bread that is prepared using wheat or corn flour. There are several different tortillas available on the market, such as corn, flour, and whole wheat.
Tortillas are generally safe to feed your dog in small amounts as long as they aren’t fried. Excessive consumption of tortillas can cause health problems for your dog, such as heart disease and diabetes. Too many tortillas may also lead to vomiting or diarrhea.
Further, you should keep tortillas away from puppies since their stomachs are more sensitive. Tortillas are also not suitable for sick dogs. It’s also best to avoid giving flour tortillas to gluten-intolerant dogs.
If you choose to give your dog tortillas from the store, be aware of their ingredients. Store-bought tortillas can contain substances that are harmful or toxic to dogs. Always check the nutrition label and be on the lookout for the following:
- Oil. Tortillas that contain oil can increase your dog’s cholesterol to unhealthy levels.
- Amylases and Xylanases. These are popular additives that many brands use to increase the shelf-life of their corn tortillas. Ingesting too much of either can lead to pancreatitis in dogs.
- Salt. Check the sodium content of any store-bought tortillas before feeding them to your dog. While dogs should maintain healthy salt levels, packaged tortillas often have large amounts of sodium.
- Transglutaminases and Proteases. These are used to increase the potency of gluten as a binder in flour tortillas. They are especially harmful to gluten-intolerant dogs.
- Spices. Some flavored tortillas contain different spices and flavors. Always be cautious when giving these to your dog. Garlic, onion powder, and chili powder are all toxic to dogs.
Overall, we do not recommend giving tortillas to your dogs. They offer no nutritional value and are more likely to harm your dog than help them.
Can Dogs Eat Cheese?
In short, dogs can eat cheese. In fact, many people use small amounts of cheese to train puppies. However, there are some essential things to remember if you want to give cheese to your pup.
When introducing cheese to your dog, it’s best to start in small quantities to gauge how they react to it. If your dog does not experience any side effects, you can continue to feed it cheese in moderation or as a small treat.
However, most dogs are lactose intolerant. Their digestive systems lack the enzyme lactase, which is essential in breaking down lactose. Just like lactose intolerant people suffer an upset stomach when they consume dairy products, your dog may also suffer gastrointestinal problems after eating cheese.
Another reason to feed your dog cheese in moderation is its high-fat content. Feeding your dog too much cheese may lead to excessive weight gain and, eventually, obesity. This could be harmful to your dog’s health, especially if it’s not active. You should also avoid giving your dog any spicy or flavored cheeses.
A good low-fat, lactose-free alternative to cheese is cottage cheese. It’s rich in calcium, which helps promote bone density and strength in your dog. However, you should still only give it to your dog in moderation.
Can Dogs Eat Quesadillas?
In general, quesadillas are not good for your dog. They contain more than just a little bit of cheese, which can cause issues for your dog, who is most likely lactose intolerant on some level. Feeding your dog quesadillas may result in severe gastrointestinal issues.
Another reason why dogs cannot eat quesadillas is their high calorie and fat content. Quesadillas often contain lots of cheese and are cooked in oil. Eating too much fat or calories can cause canine obesity in dogs and affect their health, leading to higher cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.
The spices used to season quesadillas may also negatively affect your dog’s digestive system. If you want to avoid those frequent visits to the vet for your dog, skipping quesadilla would be a wise move.
Further, many store-bought or restaurant quesadillas contain garlic, onions, and excess sodium, all of which can be poisonous to dogs. These quesadillas may also have additives and preservatives that can cause adverse effects on your dog’s health.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should avoid giving your dog large amounts of cheese or food high in fat or calories. For these reasons, it’s not a great idea to give your dog a plain cheese quesadilla, no matter how much you may want to!
We do not recommend giving your dog queso dip. Most dogs are lactose intolerant, so giving them large amounts of cheese can cause an upset stomach and other gastrointestinal issues.
A tiny bit of salty cheese won’t be harmful to your dog. But it’s best to avoid giving your dog a lot of salty cheese, as consuming too much sodium can be dangerous.
Can Dogs Eat Quesadillas? They Shouldn’t!
It is important to understand that just because a particular food is not toxic does not mean you should give it to your dog. While quesadillas are not inherently poisonous to dogs, their high fat, cheese, and caloric contents can lead to a slew of health problems. For this reason, you should never give your dog a quesadilla.
Your dog can survive without eating quesadillas, and it’s better if they do. Trying to override the harmful effects of feeding your dog quesadillas and tortillas can set you back hundreds of dollars in treatment if your dog gets sick.
Instead of giving your dog a quesadilla, give them a nice bone or treat made just for them!
If you find this guide, “Can Dogs Eat Quesadillas,” helpful and informative, you can check out these other dog-related guides from our team at We Love Doodles:
Instead of giving your dog quesadillas, you can learn more about what to feed your dog by watching “10 Human Foods Your Dog Can Eat – A Taste Test!” down below:
Garrett loves animals and is a huge advocate for all Doodle dog breeds. He owns his own Goldendoodle named Kona. In addition, he volunteers at the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, where he fosters dogs and helps animals. Garrett enjoys writing about Doodles and believes that dogs can teach humans more about how to live than humans can teach a dog.
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