No, dogs should not eat Doritos. Even though a chip or two might not harm your dog’s health, the food is generally considered not safe by the veterinary community. High amounts of salt, fat, oils, garlic-based seasonings and artificial flavors can be toxic for your dog if fed in substantial amounts.
Caution: This food is generally considered risky by the veterinary community. Dogs should not eat this food and should be monitored for adverse effects.
| Food Safety | Unsafe, but not toxic in small quantity |
| Nutritional Issues | High in salt and fat content, garlic and onion flavoring |
| Potential Risk | Salt poisoning, heart problems, pancreatitis and obesity |
| Poisoning Symptoms | Vomiting, diarrhea, trembling, seizures |
Common Doritos Ingredients
- Salt – salt is essential for dogs, but in a minimal quantity. An increased salt concentration can cause salt poisoning, leading to vomiting, tremors, fever, and convulsions.
- Trans Fats – fried foods are not safe for dogs. Doritos are fried in vegetable oils which are high in trans-fats which put your dog at risk for problems such as pancreatitis and obesity.
- Garlic and Onion Powder – these are toxic ingredient for dogs. If garlic and onion powder are consumed in large quantities, your dog may become anemic and in severe cases this could be fatal.
How Much Doritos Are Bad for Dogs?
Depending on the size of your dog, a few chips could cause digestive issues (symptoms below). If your dog occasionally scrounges up a few crumbs or droppings from your mid-day Doritos snack, then you shouldn’t worry as a small quantity of Doritos is generally not harmful.
As a dog owner, you must not encourage your dog to eat Doritos. If consumed in high amounts, your dog can end up with serious health problems and poisoning, which can also be fatal in some severe cases.
Signs That My Dog Ate Too Much Doritos
How your dog’s body reacts to Doritos depends on the amount and type of chips they have consumed, but some common symptoms can be seen if a dog has eaten too much Doritos.
General Common Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dry Heaving
- Lethargy
- Trembling
Severe and Rare Symptoms
- Anemia
- Seizures
What To Do If Your Dog Ate Doritos
If you have caught your dog sneaking away a few chips from the bag, you should take them away and hide the bag. Check how much they consumed and monitor them for any symptoms mentioned above. If your dog at a large amount of Doritos and/or is showing any of the above symptoms, have them seen at their veterinarian right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No, the flavor has an overload of cheese and contains lactic acid and lactose, which can trigger an adverse reaction in your dog’s body. These also contain high amounts of salt, which can be toxic for dogs in some cases.
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No, in addition to all the the harmful ingredients in plain Doritos, this flavor has garlic and onion powder that lead to anemia.
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Dogs do not have the same taste buds for salt as we do, so they appreciate flavors other than salt but they are curious about what humans are eating – and the flavor in artificial chips can be addicting to animals, making them want more. Dog owners who commonly snack on Doritos should never be tempted to make Doritos a dog treat.
