Dogs are often used as a living vacuum for humans who don’t want to waste food. This leads to dogs chowing down on half eaten sandwiches and a wide variety of bread-based foods. But is this safe? Is bread good for dogs? Today we will determine the safety of this widely popular carb.
Can Dogs Eat Bread?
Personally, I am a huge fan of never-ending bread bowls. But is it safe for dogs to enjoy a few bread scraps? There’s good news for all you carb lovers out there. The American Kennel Club (AKC) determines that bread is safe for dogs to eat.
It is not toxic for dogs to eat bread, and plain white bread shouldn’t cause any stomach issues. However, there are safe serving methods to be aware of. It’s also important to remember that all dogs are different and some might have allergies that prevent them from eating bread. Read on to find out more about which bread is safe for dogs.
Is Bread Good for Dogs?
Now you know it’s safe for dogs to eat bread. But is bread good for dogs in the first place? The AKC determines that while it won’t harm your dog to eat some plain white bread, it also won’t provide any benefits.
Think about it this way: do humans eat bread because it is good for them? Not really. We eat bread, because it is delicious. So if you’re looking to give your dog some scraps or a bit of plain bread as an occasional treat, you have nothing to worry about. It is merely a tasty snack.
Bread won’t supply your dog with any nutrients that dog food doesn’t already provide. This is because bread is a filler food. However, bread is also very high in carbs, so it is not a good choice for dogs struggling with weight issues.
Overall if your dog is active and eats a balanced diet, a bit of bread now and then shouldn’t do any harm.
Risks of Dogs Eating Bread
Though bread is not toxic for dogs, the AKC rules that there are some exceptions. For one, never feed your dog bread dough. The yeast in the dough will continue to rise in your dog’s stomach, which could be extremely dangerous.
There are obvious bread choices to avoid feeding dogs. Dogs should never eat bread that is seasoned or dripping in any butter or oils. It is also crucial that dogs never eat any forms of onion or garlic. All members of the allium family are toxic to dogs.
Additionally, grapes are extremely toxic to dogs as well. Therefore, any breads containing raisins should never be served to dogs. Never feed raisin bread to dogs regardless of whether there is a raisin present in the part you are serving.
Then there are breads that contain nuts and seeds. Though some nuts are considered safe for dogs, it’s best to avoid these breads entirely. Nuts can lead to pancreatitis or stomach issues in dogs due to their high fat levels. Dogs should also always steer clear of macadamia nuts, which are not safe for dogs to eat.
You should also be on the lookout for artificial sweetener xylitol, which can be found in some peanut butters. Dogs can never eat xylitol. Lastly, always serve bread in moderation. Dogs do not need to be eating a lot of carbs.
Final Thoughts
Is bread good for dogs? No. But it’s also not bad for dogs. Provided your dog doesn’t have any allergies, plain white bread is safe to serve your canine as an occasional treat. However, there are plenty of breads to avoid serving. If you’re looking for a bland meal for you dog’s upset stomach, consider plain rice and boiled chicken instead.
To read about carbs that are more beneficial to dogs, check out how sweet potatoes can be healthy for canines.
