Most dogs tend to eat anything that people consume. However, as a pet owner, you should be abided by the fact that some human foods are not safe for dogs. Thus, it is always crucial to know what foods to avoid and what foods you can feed to him.
How about bread? Are they safe to eat by my dog?
Bread seems like quite safe food to give to your dog. However, hold on before feeding him a whole loaf of bread!
Can My Dogs Eat Bread?
Bread is in most people’s table. It is already in the list of our breakfast snack – be that french toast or sandwich. It is made by dough which can be of various types, sugar, and salt. Other ingredients are included depending upon the bread’s taste and type.
You might have shared a small bite with your canine friend at one point or another. Just because he likes specific food doesn’t necessarily mean it is good for his body and health.
Most dogs will possibly like bread and want to consume as much as they can. However, is it safe for them to eat?
Let Your Puppy Eat Bread
Yes, bread is safe to eat by dogs, though in small quantities and on an occasional basis only. Too much is not good because it can lead to digestive problems. It is okay to give him bread as a special treat providing he is getting enough exercise and eating a balanced diet.
Sure, the bread won’t hurt your dog, but it won’t help him either as some bread doesn’t contain nutritional benefits. It is generally a filler with a high carbohydrate content, potentially causing your dog to gain weight.
Only give your Fido a small bite. There is also gluten-free bread available for dogs with a gluten problem.
Health Benefits of Bread for Dogs
As have mentioned earlier, some bread has no nutritional value. Other varieties might be essential from the nutritive
point of view.
- Whole grain or whole wheat bread is nutritious and has low sugar content
- Some bread contains dietary fiber and ad well as a high content of magnesium, omega-3 fatty acid, protein, and iron
- Bread like barf helps a dog having diarrhea or stomach discomfort
The benefits don’t just end there!
Bread is also considered helpful for a canine’s digestion. There are several situations in which feeding bread to your dog can be beneficial:
- The dog has a mild troubled tummy
Many people eat bread when their stomach reacts poorly and feels acidy. It is said that bread acts as a trap and sponge whatever irritates the stomach.
The same case might also occur with dogs. You can give him some bread if you think his tummy is quite off.
- The dog has eaten something with sharp edges or points
Aside from bones, dogs are also known for biting nails, needles, and other things with sharp points or edges. You can feed your dog a big meal of bread after he ingested something sharp.
Doing so will coat the foreign material, enabling it to lead through the GI tract carefully. White bread and whole grains are the most recommended to eat in this scenario.
- The dog has eaten a long piece of thread or something similar
When ingested, a long piece of yarn, thread, string, etc., can result in a severe intestine issue. Feed your dog a meal of bread to move the material up in a clump and go through the GI tract.
Is bread Bad for dogs?
While there is good news to allowing your dog to eat some bread, it has a share of disadvantages too.
- Dangerous bread dough
Preparing bread is not that easy as it seems. Aside from having the right ingredients and tools, you need to ensure an environment that is warm and free from draft and moist.
Bread dough is known as a food hazard for dogs. The yeast keeps the dough rising when a dog consumes bread dough, bloating his tummy and discharging toxic ethanol levels in his bloodstream.
In addition to stomach bloating, the pressure from the rising dough can also lead to alcohol toxicosis. Call a vet immediately if your dog has fed bread dough or he unintentionally ate one.
Among the common symptoms of alcohol, toxicosis includes depression, seizure, weakness, drunken, unsteady gait, hypothermia, depressed central nervous system, and coma.
- Toxic or harmful ingredients
Plain white bread is typically fine for your canine to eat providing he doesn’t have any form of allergies. On the other hand, flavored bread can be a problem since they have ingredients that are harmful to dogs, including onion, raisins, seeds, nuts, garlic, tomato, chocolate, and xylitol.
Sugar and carbohydrates are other ingredients contain within some bread that is not good for dogs. Carbohydrates can cause weight gain and digestive problems, while sugar can have main consequences for ill health and of course, weight gain.
Is bread safe for dogs?
If you want to give him a few pieces or slices of bread as a treat, consider homemade bread. That would be your healthiest and safest option.
Whole grain bread is the best for your poodle. It is a type of brown bread, consists of dietary fiber, and has low sugar content. It might improve his bowel movement too.
Pumpkin bread could also be a good choice. Your dog will surely love eating and chewing some.
Banana bread can also be on your list for the nutritious, safe bread for your dog. Use it only as a treat.
Peanut butter contains nuts and sugar, but can also be useful for dogs (in small quantity and moderation). Make or buy peanut butter with less sugar content and doesn’t include nuts. Apply some on bread as a treat.
Peanut butter is good as it consists of vitamins, proteins, quality fats, and antioxidants. All of which your pet would benefit from eating.
If your poodle is allergic to wheat, substitute it with rye or rice flour. Choose high-quality bread if you want to prepare some homemade. This is often made with flour from cereals, rice, flax, barley, oats, or whole grains.
Bread that should NOT be allowed to dogs
We have mentioned the ingredients that are unsafe to dogs, so make sure to ignore them when choosing or to prepare bread.
Raisins cause kidney failure and worse, death. Bagels are packed with calories and are very dense that even a small piece could make a huge difference.
Seeds and nuts irritate the digestive system of a dog. They might even deadly to other dogs. Pet owners should be explicitly aware of macadamia nuts because they can lead to weakness, vomiting, depression, ataxia, and hyperthermia.
Garlic is another toxic bread ingredient that you should never allow to be eaten by your furry friend. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, and even collapse.
Onion is prohibited. It tends to harm red blood cells in the dogs, which restricts their blood supply. So, better keep your onion bread away!
Chocolate bread is something you’d want to avoid giving to your poodle because it will put added pounds on him. Even having small chocolate chips is a no-no.
How much bread can your dog eat?
Now that you know that bread is also a safe food to feed your Dog, the critical question is how much should you give.
Moderation is key. You can feed him once in a while as a snack or treat in just small amounts. However, keep in mind that you must avoid specialist bread with raw dough and unusual ingredients at all cost.
Risks of Feeding Bread to Dogs
Just because bread is commonly good for dogs, it doesn’t mean you should immediately give some portions to your Dog. Please take into account his gluten intolerance, allergies, etc.
- If your pet has a prejudice, it is necessary to remove grains from the diet and ensure to avoid bread.
- Check your dog’s weight. Be sure you are not adding tons of calories into his diet.
- Do not feed your dog with bread made with wheat if he is gluten-allergic.
- As possible, try to get or buy bread that only contains a small quantity of sugar.
- Moreover, of course, be sure not to feed him any bread with toxic ingredients mentioned above, like raisins and nuts.
Can Dogs Eat Bread? Conclusion
Dogs can have bread, though as a snack treat and in small quantities only. All pieces of bread are not created equal, so make sure it is free from any toxic components.
Garlic, onion, nuts, raisin, and chocolate bread can be toxic, while whole grain or whole wheat bread is safe to eat.
You don’t need to rush to the emergency veterinary clinic if the dog has accidentally eaten bread. Although, it is always best to consult a professional before giving him some pieces.
Use it only as an occasional treat because too much consumption can make your dog overweight, which can result in other health issues. You can always try and choose healthier options if you want.
