Mary Allen
Is your dog one of those gourmets who won’t be safe from bread, rolls, toast, or croissants?
Many dogs love bread. Not only when the bread is hard, it magically attracts some dogs. That’s why many dog owners ask themselves the question: Can my dog eat bread?
After all, horses also like to eat old, hard bread. However, there is a key difference here: horses are herbivores and dogs are carnivores.
A completely different danger lurks in fresh sourdough.
What bread can dogs eat?
Bread as food for dogs is not a new invention. Special dog food was already available in ancient times.
Those who had money fed the dog oysters and eggs. On the other hand, working dogs received bread made from wheat, spelled or barley. This bread was crushed and soaked in whey.
When times were good, there was also bone broth. In the Middle Ages, too, bread was used as a substitute for expensive meat, which was reserved for hunting dogs.
All “normal” dogs were given bread soaked in water. If they were lucky, milk or bone broth was sometimes used instead of water.
Over time, classic dog food developed.
Some cheap dry food can still be compared to the dog food of the past. Even today, many types of dry food consist largely of grain instead of meat.
Beware of intolerance
Grain is not bad for the dog. However, it depends on the quantity. And whether the dog tolerates grain.
Some dogs are gluten intolerant. Gluten is contained in classic cereals such as wheat, rye, or spelled.
Gluten intolerance is manifested by severe digestive problems and is usually congenital.
If the dog has such an illness, it must do without bread. If there is no known intolerance, the dog can eat bread.
However, you should pay attention to a few things:
- Dogs are not allowed to eat fresh bread
- Do not feed yeast dough or sourdough
- Watch out for gluten intolerance
- Bread contains a lot of carbohydrates
Is bread dangerous for dogs?
Fresh bread, which may still be warm, is taboo for the dog. The same applies to pizza, rolls, toast, croissants, and the like.
Yeast dough can continue to ferment in the animal’s stomach. The amount increases and gases are formed. This can be very dangerous for the dog.
Especially in large dogs with a deep chest, stomach torsion can occur, which is life-threatening for the dog.
But yeast dough is also forbidden for all other dogs because, in extreme cases, fermentation can even cause cracks in the digestive system.
Slightly hard and stale bread is allowed
Dogs should only eat bread that is dry and hard or at least two to three days old.
Even then, it really should only be given as a treat. In small quantities, such bread is certainly not harmful to the dog.
Now, of course, many dogs come up with the idea of searching through the garbage for stale bread. You probably know the stories when dogs even ate moldy bread that the mistress wanted to throw away.
Bread mold is poisonous. However, no one will die from a slice of moldy bread.
Feeding large amounts of bread is by no means healthy for the dog. Because bread contains a lot of carbohydrates. However, the dog only needs very small amounts of these nutrients.
If the dog now regularly receives pieces of bread, it is getting too many carbohydrates. However, he cannot break them down and so they are stored as fat deposits in the body.
This encourages obesity, which in turn can lead to serious illnesses.
You can easily answer the question of whether dogs can eat bread:
Occasionally a small piece of hard bread is not a problem.
You should rather keep your hands off everything else.
And what many overlooks are the advances in breeding both dogs and in the grains.
Modern wheat varieties contain up to 40 times more gluten than 100 years ago. Maybe the increasing intolerances have something to do with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs eat dry bread?
Can dogs eat dry bread? If you leave the bread for a few days, you can give it to your loved one as a snack. If it is a bit older, a piece of bread is easier for the four-legged friend to digest. However, the food must be prepared without yeast and sourdough.
Are buns dangerous for dogs?
Your dog must not eat a fresh bread roll. The baking yeast and sourdough it contains can ferment in your four-legged friend’s gastrointestinal tract. As a result, the abdomen swells and forms gases. Your dog may experience digestive problems from eating it.
What happens when a dog eats bread?
Feeding large amounts of bread is by no means healthy for the dog. Because bread contains a lot of carbohydrates. However, the dog only needs very small amounts of these nutrients. If the dog now regularly receives pieces of bread, it is getting too many carbohydrates.
Can a dog eat crispbread?
Dogs like to take wholemeal crispbread as a “treat”. Please take care – especially during the summer months – that the grain does not become sour.
Is egg good for the dog?
If the egg is fresh, you can also feed the nutrient-rich yolk raw. Boiled eggs, on the other hand, are healthy for your four-legged friend because the harmful substances are broken down when heated. A good source of minerals is the shells of eggs.
Can a dog eat potatoes?
Boiled potatoes are harmless and even very healthy for your furry friend. Raw potatoes, on the other hand, must not be fed. The green parts of tomatoes and Co. contain a lot of solanine and are therefore particularly harmful.
Why shouldn’t dogs eat cheese?
Attention lactose: Can dogs eat milk and cheese? Dogs do not tolerate milk very well due to the lactose it contains. In large amounts, it can cause bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The same applies to dairy products.
Which is better for dogs cottage cheese or yogurt?
Therefore, only low-lactose milk products are suitable for dogs, including products in which the lactose has already fermented. As mentioned above, these are foods such as cottage cheese, quark, yogurt, and some soft cheeses, but the rind should be removed before feeding.
