Can Dogs Eat Bread?

Yes and no! While bread is not harmful to dogs, and sometimes it can help soothe their upset stomach, bread is not very nutritious and doesn’t provide the nutrients they need. Your dog requires protein, fat, and healthy carbs to maintain its health, and bread is mostly just empty calories for it.

Now, this doesn’t mean you did anything wrong to your dog if you gave them some bread! Please don’t worry about that. It just means there are better, more nutritious choices out there for your dog. The first ones to consider are always their complete dog food and lean meats or fish. Also, not all bread is good, and not all bread is bad, so in this article, we’re going to cover several types and discuss what kinds of bread we should never give to our dogs.

Types of bread that we commonly eat, and whether or not they are safe for dogs

Not all bread is good, and not all bread is bad. When it comes to quality carbs, whole grain bread is a better choice, while some types of bread, like sourdough, are easier for dogs to digest. In this article, we’re going to cover several types and discuss what kinds of bread we should never give to our dogs.

Can dogs eat wheat (white) bread?

Yes, dogs can eat plain white wheat bread in small amounts. This is probably the safest option for dogs, as it doesn’t have any nuts or add-ons that can potentially be harmful. This is reassuring since we often use white wheat bread for our toasts, sandwiches, and meals in general—it’s a staple for most households.

However, while white bread is safe, it’s made with refined flour and has very little nutritional value. Don’t give them too much bread, as their stomach will fill up, and they might not eat their real food, which actually benefits their bodies.

Dogs can also eat whole wheat bread, but you need to check the labels to make sure it doesn’t contain too much fiber, flaxseed, or other fiber-rich add-ons, as too much fiber can irritate your dog’s stomach. French bread or baguette is safe for dogs, and actually, anything that’s plain white flour is safe for them. It’s not good or recommended, but it’s good to know it’s safe.

Can dogs eat sourdough bread?

Baked sourdough bread is safe for dogs. Again, it doesn’t provide significant nutrients, so please only give them a small piece if you must. The good news about sourdough bread, or any plain bread, is that no matter how much your dog eats (if they steal it from your table), nothing bad will happen to them!

Sourdough can also be easier to digest, as the fermentation process makes it easier to break down, so that’s good to know.

Raw sourdough and bread dough is toxic to dogs

This is something really important to know if you’re a big fan of homemade baking. Bread dough made with yeast can be highly toxic to dogs when eaten raw.

The warm and moist environment of a dog’s stomach acts like an incubator, causing the yeast to rapidly ferment. This leads to two major problems: the dough expands in the stomach, causing severe bloating and pressure, and the fermentation process produces ethanol, which can result in alcohol poisoning (ethanol toxicosis).

When bread dough expands, it can cause gastric distention, similar to conditions like bloat, which can disrupt blood flow to the stomach and make breathing difficult. The ethanol produced during fermentation can enter the bloodstream, causing symptoms such as lethargy, disorientation, ataxia (loss of coordination), and even more severe issues like seizures, hypothermia, and coma.

Without prompt treatment, these effects can be life-threatening.

If your dog ingests raw bread dough, early signs may include a swollen belly, unsuccessful attempts to vomit, and general lethargy. As symptoms progress, dogs can appear drunk due to the ethanol in their system. If you think your dog ate raw bread dough, it’s essential to get them to the vet ASAP!

Keep raw bread dough out of reach, especially if your dog likes to steal food. Also, avoid making the dough a playful activity that might excite your dog and encourage them to grab it.

Can dogs eat rye bread, Ezekiel bread, and flourless bread?

Dogs can eat plain rye bread, but simple white bread is a better option for them. The main reason is that rye bread is quite dense and contains more fiber, and we’ve mentioned that too much fiber can upset your dog’s stomach. Be careful if you’re buying whole grain rye breads, as they can contain lots of seeds and some nuts, which can upset your dog’s stomach even more.

When it comes to flourless bread made of sprouted whole grains, you shouldn’t really give them to dogs. While dogs can eat Ezekiel bread as it’s not toxic, it’s not recommended because sprouted grains are hard to digest and can cause bloating and gas. While sprouted grain bread like Ezekiel bread is healthier than simple white bread for us, for dogs, it’s actually the opposite—the less fiber, the easier it is on their stomach.

Depending on where you live, you may have heard of pumpernickel bread, a special German bread with sourdough starter and coarsely ground rye. It often has syrup and berries, but even when it doesn’t, it’s incredibly moist and hard. To me, it tastes like wet cement, but it’s healthy; I just don’t think your dog will have the best time if they eat it, so it’s better that your dog doesn’t eat pumpernickel bread.

The worst of them all — why dogs can’t eat garlic bread

Now, you probably already know that garlic is very toxic to dogs. While the amount of garlic is really important, it’s still our responsibility never to give our dogs any garlic in their lives.

Garlic has compounds like allicin and ajoene that can relax muscles, lower blood pressure, and do other good things for humans, but dogs don’t process garlic the same way.

Studies have shown that if dogs are given a lot of garlic—about 5 grams of fresh garlic per kilogram of their body weight every day for a week—it can lead to a drop in red blood cells and other signs of damage, like Heinz bodies and eccentrocytes, which are markers of oxidative stress. None of the dogs in the study developed full-blown anemia, but the damage to their red blood cells was still there.

Bottom line: even small amounts of garlic can start causing issues over time, so it’s better to avoid it altogether to keep your dog safe.

Sweet bread: what dogs can and can’t eat

All sweet bread should be off-limits to dogs, as dogs shouldn’t eat sugar! But let’s be honest, we’ve all had a moment of weak willpower where we gave in to their pleading eyes and shared a piece of banana bread or something sweet. However, you really need to be careful with sweet bread, as some can be downright dangerous for dogs!

I’ve already written in detail about how dogs shouldn’t eat banana bread and why cornbread isn’t great for dogs. While neither is likely to cause serious harm, there are other breads—like brioche or raisin bread—that can be far more problematic. But, for example cinnamon bread and toast are fine for dogs, as cinnamon is safe for dogs. But it has added butter and sugar, which makes it an unhealthy choice for dogs, so you had better skip this one.

Dogs can’t eat raisin bread

Raisins are very dangerous to dogs and are classified as toxic. They can cause health issues and kidney failure, even in small amounts. If your dog accidentally eats raisin bread, call your vet, as this is a serious medical emergency. Other baked goods like brioche with raisins and panettone with raisins are also not safe for dogs. Please pay special attention to these types of breads!

Let’s look into some other sweet breads!

Hawaiian bread is safe for dogs, but it’s super sweet and doesn’t offer any health benefits. It’s made with pineapple juice or chunks and sometimes honey—delicious ingredients, sure, but they can easily upset your dog’s stomach.

Brioche bread and cinnamon raisin bread are both toxic to dogs because they have raisins! It’s hard to believe, but brioche bread with chocolate is actually less toxic than brioche with raisins, and there’s not enough chocolate in brioche for it to be toxic to dogs.

French toast is not toxic to dogs, but it’s not recommended as it has sugar, milk, and sometimes butter and is fried with oil, so it’s greasy, sweet, and overwhelming, and your dog’s stomach may not handle it well.

Zucchini bread is typically sweetened with sugar or honey and often includes butter and oil, which makes it unhealthy for dogs, but at least it’s not toxic. Some recipes also include nuts or raisins, so you need to be careful, as raisins are not safe for dogs.

Specialty baked bread and baked goods

When it comes to specialty baked bread, things get a little tricky. Some types are okay, even if they have lots of seeds, but others can contain ingredients that are dangerous for dogs—think garlic or toxic additives like raisins or xylitol. Let’s break down some popular breads and baked goods.

Olive Garden breadsticks

Plain Olive Garden breadsticks are not toxic to dogs, but they are unhealthy. Since they are high in salt, butter, and oil, they’re a bad combination of fat and carbs and don’t provide the nutrients your dog needs.

Can dogs eat potato bread?

Plain potato bread is safe for dogs, but like all the other baked goods mentioned in this article, it’s not recommended to give your dog potato bread. Be extra careful with artisan potato bread, as it can contain garlic or onions, which are toxic to dogs!

Pita and naan bread

Plain pita bread and naan bread are both safe for dogs. They usually contain just three simple ingredients: flour, water, and yeast. However, some of my favorite pita and naan breads include lots of garlic and spices, which dogs shouldn’t eat. While dogs can have simple pita and naan bread, they should only eat them plain, without any extra add-ons.

Tortillas

I’ve covered this topic in detail! Dogs can eat tortillas, even though they’re not nutritious and don’t offer any real benefits. Where you need to be careful is how you prepare your tortillas, as most of what we put in them is either unhealthy for dogs (cream cheese, mayo, dressings) or outright toxic (onions, garlic, pico de gallo, and other common fillings).

Can dogs eat keto bread?

Keto bread is usually made with almond meal, which is fine since almonds are not toxic to dogs. However, you need to be careful with sweet keto bread, which is often made with almond and coconut flour. While coconut is safe for dogs, these types of keto baked goods often contain sweeteners like xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs!

Focaccia bread

Focaccia bread often contains harmful ingredients like garlic, onions, or herbs that can upset your dog’s stomach. Even plain focaccia is high in oil and salt, making it a really bad choice for your dog.

While bread is a staple of our diets, it’s not the best treat for dogs. What is important to know is that not all bread is the same, as some types, like plain white bread, are harmless for dogs in moderation, while sweet bread with raisins can be toxic to dogs. As a general rule, stick to your dog’s regular diet and save the bread for yourself!

FAQs

Can dogs eat multigrain bread?

Multigrain bread is safe for dogs, but you should limit how much you give them. Since multigrain bread contains lots of seeds and fiber, too much of it can upset your dog’s stomach. Regardless of the grains, you shouldn’t give your dog too much bread anyway.

Can dogs eat honey wheat bread?

Honey wheat bread is not toxic to dogs and can be considered safe, but along with carbs, it also contains added sugar from honey, making it an even worse option for dogs.

Can dogs eat moldy bread?

No, dogs should never eat moldy bread! If your dog had some by accident, watch for signs of distress. Mold can produce mycotoxins, which are highly toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or seizures. If your dog ate a lot of moldy bread, call your vet immediately.