Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Bread?

Sourdough bread is safe for dogs in small amounts, but they shouldn’t eat it regularly. Uncooked sourdough is dangerous for dogs as it can expand in the stomach, causing bloat. It can also ferment inside of your dog and give them alcohol poisoning.

If your dog eats uncooked sourdough, call your nearest emergency vet clinic right away for help.

Keep reading to learn more about whether dogs can eat sourdough, the dangers of uncooked dough, and more.

Is Sourdough Bread Safe for Dogs?

Sourdough bread isn’t toxic, but it also isn’t healthy for dogs. While a bite is okay to feed occasionally, it’s not recommended to feed your dog sourdough bread all of the time.

The same goes for sourdough crackers. Sourdough pretzels are less safe for dogs due to their high salt content.

The worst thing likely to happen if your dog eats a lot of sourdough is that they feel sick. They’ll show symptoms of stomach upset like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Have extra patience with your dog during this time, and be understanding if they vomit or poop in the house. Remember that they likely can’t help it, and that they aren’t the ones who left the bread within reach!

The last thing to do if your dog eats sourdough behind your back is to reevaluate the way you dog-proof your home. Luckily, cooked sourdough is safe, but your dog may get into something more dangerous next time. Remember that it’s your responsibility to keep them safe!

How Much Sourdough Bread Can My Dog Eat?

How much sourdough bread your dog can eat depends on their size and health. For instance, small dogs who are on a diet to lose weight shouldn’t eat bread at all.

Large, healthy dogs who are at a good weight can eat small pieces without a problem, so long as the bread is cooked.

A good rule to follow with treats is the 10% rule, which means only 10% of your dog’s diet should consist of treats. The rest should be high-quality dog food.

Of course, you don’t want 10% of your dog’s diet to consist of bread! Instead, try to focus primarily on healthy treats like vegetables, fruits, and cooked, unseasoned meat.

The Dangers of Raw Dough for Dogs

While cooked sourdough is safe, raw sourdough can cause major health problems or even death.

Bloating

The biggest danger of raw dough is the yeast, which causes the dough to expand inside of your dog’s stomach. This can make their stomach appear distended or bloated. Of course, their tummy also won’t feel good!

They might show symptoms like pacing, vomiting or retching, excessive drooling, and difficulty breathing.

Alcohol Poisoning

Another threat of uncooked bread is that it can get your dog drunk. While this might sound funny, it’s actually very serious and can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Drunkenness or alcohol poisoning can happen when the bread ferments in your dog’s stomach. Alcohol is toxic to dogs, and dogs with alcohol poisoning may show symptoms such as:

• Lack of coordination
• Confusion
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Tremors
• Trouble breathing

How to Stop Your Dog From Eating Raw Sourdough

If you’re baking sourdough, it’s important to keep your dog from eating it. But you might wonder how you can do that!

Firstly, this is a situation where it’s best to keep your dog out of the kitchen. If you can close a door or put them in their crate, I suggest doing that.

You can also keep the dough far out of reach. This is easy with small dogs who can’t reach the counter, but might prove tricky for larger ones. You might need to set the dough on a high shelf before turning your back or leaving the room.

Of course, there is also training you can do to prevent your dog from grabbing food from the counter or table. This is an important skill for any dog to learn–but remember, it’s ultimately not their responsibility.

Leaving your dog with temptations, even if they’re well-trained, can end in disaster. This is why managing the situation by removing either the bread or your dog from it is key.

What to do if Your Dog Eats Raw Sourdough

If your dog eats raw sourdough, call your nearest emergency vet clinic and have them seen immediately. Fast treatment can be the difference between life and death.

As we discussed above, raw dough can cause both alcohol poisoning and bloating in dogs. Both can be deadly if left untreated.

Up Next:

• Can Dogs Eat Bread Safely?
• Can Dogs Eat Garlic Bread?
• Can Dogs Eat Cornbread?

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