More people are turning to healthier options for eating and preparing food at home. Sourdough bread has become exceptionally popular among healthy eaters and home bakers in recent years too.
But if you like to prepare or eat this type of nutritious bread at home, you may be wondering – can dogs eat sourdough bread as well?
The short answer to this question is yes, your pup may have a bite or nibble of your sourdough bread, but only after it has been baked. While it is uncooked, sourdough can be harmful and even dangerous for your four-legged companion.
You should not give sourdough bread or any type of food that contains wheat or grains if your furbaby has an allergy or sensitivity to it.
Plus, even if you decide to treat Fido with some sourdough bread, you should do this only on occasion and in very tiny quantities.
Read on for more information on sourdough bread and how it can benefit or harm your pup.
Why Can Raw Sourdough Be Dangerous For Canines?
Raw sourdough is dangerous for dogs because the fermentation process can continue in the dog’s stomach, causing bloat, which is a veterinary emergency. Plus, ethanol is produced during the fermentation, so your furry companion may suffer from alcohol poisoning after eating this type of dough unbaked.
The symptoms of bloat or alcohol toxicity may appear immediately or quite slowly after your pup has ingested the raw sourdough because of the gradual nature of the fermentation process.
Bloat, also known as gastric dilation volvulus (GDV), is a serious medical condition in dogs that requires emergency care. It is caused by excess gas in the stomach, which forces the organ to twist, causing pain, a blocked blood flow, and tissue and organ damage. Bloating is a dire condition that can lead to death.
Canine alcohol poisoning can lead to disorientation, staggering, diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, or in severe cases, difficulty breathing and a loss of bodily movements in dogs.
Here are some of the symptoms to watch for if you suspect that your four-legged companion has eaten unbaked dough for sourdough bread:
- A distended belly
- Excessive drooling
- Retching or inability to vomit
- Pacing and agitation or other hyperactivity
- Shallow or rapid breathing
- Foamy saliva
- Inability to react
- Anxiety, depression, or restlessness
- Any other kind of unusual behavior
If your dog has eaten raw dough, you should call your veterinarian as soon as possible for professional advice on the best steps to take.
Can I Give My Pup Baked Sourdough Bread?
Unless your dog has allergies to wheat or grain sensitivities, giving it a tiny bite of fully baked sourdough bread on rare occasions is okay.
Keep in mind that this nutritious bread is loaded with carbs that are not as beneficial for canines as they are for us.
Grain can lead to digestive upsets, as well as other adverse effects in some dogs too.
So, overall, you should limit the amount of bread and other grain-based products you give to your furbaby.
If you are determined to give your furry friend some sourdough, then you can prepare some using the various dog-friendly sourdough-based treat recipes available online.
Is Sourdough Starter And Raw Dough Bad For Canines?
Yes, the sourdough starter can be very dangerous for your dog. As mentioned above, when it is uncooked, it can continue fermenting in your pup’s stomach, causing life-threatening bloat or alcohol toxicity.
Some dog treats include sourdough, but since they are thoroughly cooked, they are safe for pups.
Fully baked sourdough is safe for most healthy pups when given only occasionally and in small bits.
How To Prevent Your Pup From Eating Sourdough?
Since the sourdough is left for long outside in order to ferment and rise before being baked, there is a risk that your pup may get its paws on it before it goes into the oven.
To prevent this potentially dangerous occurrence, keep the uncooked sourdough safely out of reach by your furry friend.
You can store it in a well-sealed dough proofer which will help optimize the fermentation process while keeping the dough safely away from your pup.
It is a good idea to keep any bread out of sight and smell of your pet too. Let the bread cool off after baking it, but somewhere far away from your pup’s eyes and nose.
To keep your furbaby safe, you may want to keep its door closed, install a dog gate or train it to stay out of the kitchen as a whole.
This can be essential for your pet’s well-being because, unfortunately, many foods and ingredients that are harmless for humans can be harmful and even toxic to dogs.
Plus, kitchens usually contain cleaning detergents, other chemicals, and utensils, which can also be hazardous for your furry companion.