Can I Give My Dog Bread?

A small piece of sandwich, a toast forgotten on a coffee table... Your dog may have already begged you for some bread. Is it a beneficial food for their diet? Is it better to opt for varieties rich in grains or gluten-free?

Let's take a look!

Is White Bread Safe for Dogs?

White bread is a calorie-dense and carbohydrate-rich food that is hard for dogs to digest, but it isn't immediately dangerous. If your companion has nibbled on a slice of baguette, there's no need to worry. However, bread can impact your dog's overall health, potentially leading to significant weight gain.

Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not carnivores but omnivores. While their distant ancestors, wolves, only ate meat, the diet of domestic dogs has evolved over the centuries to adapt to what we,humans, consume.

Dogs have "learnt" to digest vegetables, fruits, and grains from eating our leftovers. Nevertheless, it's better to avoid white bread. Stick to a balanced and complete diet that provides energy, vitamins, and fibre.

Can I Feed My Dog Specialty Breads

Some specialty breads can be much more problematic. Some varieties are "flavoured" with foods toxic to dogs, such as onions, chocolate, blue cheese, or raisins.

Even in small quantities, these ingredients can cause stomach upset, vomiting, etc. Best to avoid any kind of fancy bread.

Is Homemade Bread Better for My Dog?

Even if your homemade bread is delicious, it can be dangerous for your dog, especially when it's still raw.

Bread dough is rich in starch and yeast. During digestion, the yeast causes the dough to expand in the stomach while fermenting, producing ethanol that can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can be more or less dangerous depending on the amount ingested by your pet.

How to tell if your dog has ingested raw dough? The symptoms are similar to those of human drunkenness: unsteady or staggering walk, extreme fatigue, general weakness or apathy, vomiting, or convulsions. If you suspect your dog has eaten raw dough, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Some owners give hard bread to puppies to help them with teething and to prevent them from chewing on furniture legs. While the abrasive properties of bread are useful, it's better to choose suitable treats. Besides appropriate biscuits or a small chew toy, you can give your dog small slices of carrot, zucchini, or raw apple—foods that are rich in vitamins and satisfyingly crunchy!

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The Doggy Grub blog is dedicated to helping dogs and their owners achieve happier, healthier lives, changing the way we feed our dogs one bowl at a time! If you would like to know more about our fresh food head to Doggy Grub