“Can dogs eat bread?” is a frequently asked question.
That is why today we’re going to delve deep into this treat.
In this article, we will be perusing through all nutritional facts to see whether your dog should have bread or if this treat needs to be substituted by a different and better one instead.
Can Dogs Eat Bread: Nutritional Point of View
To lay out the harsh truth, we’ll just rip the band-aid right off and tell you this:
Bread has no nutritional value.
Yup, that’s right. Mostly, it just acts as a filler food and provides a little extra volume to the meal than it might otherwise have had. But really, on the whole, it fails to provide any special nutrients to your dog, and other foods can very well substitute for it.
But Dogs LOVE Bread…
Humans and dogs alike love bread.
Take us for instance. We continue to have it as a staple diet across many countries around the world, even though it can be exchanged for healthier grains.
And they love it too. This is why some trainers use it as a positive motivational treat from time to time.
Can Dogs Eat Bread: Training Your Dogs
The thing about bread is that it tastes good. Plus, its soft and chewy exterior makes it comforting to bite into.
So why not use it just like professional dog trainers do and offer your dog some bread treats whenever they do a good job – as good boys/girls do?
The next time you’re running low on cash but need to teach your dog some cool new tricks- or just get them to stop peeing on the front porch, try rewarding good behavior with a bit of bread.
Bad behavior can similarly be met with a strong “NO”.
Raw Bread Dough
Can dogs eat bread? Absolutely.
But should they have raw, uncooked bread dough? No.
The reason for this is simple. Just like other raw foods, the raw dough can be harmful to your dog and have adverse health effects.
Even if your dog wags their tail and begs you for it, raw food should simply never be given to dogs because of all its potential risks.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Bread Dough?
Toxicosis.
When bread dough enters the guts of your pet, it will then continue to rise and expand in there because of the yeast present inside the dough.
The hydrogen potential inside a dog’s stomach offers the optimum conditions for yeast to continue to respire and release ethanol in the process.
All that released ethanol is now simply not going to be digested by the dog and instead lead to expansion which may cause further health complications.
Can Dogs Eat Bread: After Effects of Raw Dough
Sometimes, in spite of our best intentions, our dogs may still ingest some rough dough regardless. If this happens, the key things to look out for are as follows:
- Check to see if your dog has trouble keeping a steady gait;
- If they possess an elevated heart rate and are overly excited;
- Conversely, they could have low blood pressure and look extremely depressed;
- Any sudden seizures;
- Most Important: If they show signs of having an extended abdomen.
If any of these symptoms are present, please contact your local vet immediately.
Can Dogs Eat Flat Bread?
Cultures vary across the globe, so when most of us want to know if dogs can eat bread, the question we’re really trying to answer is, “Can dogs eat bread that is produced locally?”
Well yes, they can.
But we can tell you right now that most dogs will not like what flatbread, or roti, tastes like.
Of course, there are exceptions. But flatbread on the whole is mostly bland in taste, unlike bread loaves which are usually sweetened. This is why, when it comes to offering your dogs a treat and training them, flat bread might fail to do the trick and instead, set you back on your training journey.
Can Dogs Eat Bread if it’s Flavored?
No. Especially if we’re talking about chocolate flavorings. While chocolates might seem delicious to humans, they can be poisonous to dogs. This is in part, due to the high bromine content present in them.
What about Pita?
In general, dogs can eat pita bread. But just like normal bread, it needs to be plain and not contain any additional flavorings.
Should Dogs Eat Bread?
So far, we’ve discussed if dogs can eat bread and not they should.
Yes, bread can be a nice little training guide for your dogs. And hopefully, this article has shown you how to use it to incorporate good behaviors.
At the same time, however, healthier treats such as cheese and shrimp exist and should probably be used more often than filler food.
Can Dogs Eat Bread: Interesting Recipes
Banana Bread Soft Chew Dog Treat
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup coconut flour;
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds;
- 1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree;
- 2 large eggs;
- 1 mashed banana;
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil.
Recipe:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and line a small baking sheet (9×13”) with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a small mixing bowl, add coconut flour and ground flaxseeds.
- Whisk together.
- In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin purée, eggs, mashed banana, and coconut oil.
- Add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
- Mix together with a spoon until thoroughly combined and consistency reaches a thick batter.
- Spoon your thick batter mixture onto the baking sheet, creating an even layer approximately 1/4” thick. Let the mixture set for approximately 5 minutes.
- Once on the baking sheet, use a knife to score both horizontal and vertical lines, creating little squares.
- Bake for 35 minutes.
- Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.
- Once completely cooled, break or cut treats along the scored lines. You will be left with little square treats.
Video Recipe:
Can Dogs Eat Bread: Random Fun Facts About Bread
- The word ‘bread’, actually originates from the word ‘brewing’, which was used to describe the action of yeast on the substrate involved
- Rolled-up pieces of rubber were actually used for erasing graphite before rubber became a thing
- White bread is actually not highly suggested for humans due to the lack of nutrition. Bran or multigrain instead are types suggested by most fitness trainers!
Before you go…
We hope this article helped you answer the question, “Can dogs eat bread?” safely for your dogs.
To get more information about the best dog foods and treats, be sure to check out the following!
Can Dogs Eat Avocado? Is It Safe Or Not?
FAQs:
Can dogs eat bread without excess weight gain?
Yes. Provided that the bread is only fed in moderation.
Can dogs eat bread with other ingredients?
This depends on the type of ingredients involved. Banana bread for instance is good but chocolate bread is not at all.
Can dogs eat bread as a filler diet often?
No. Bread should only be used sparingly and not form a huge chunk of your dog’s diet.
