Can Dogs Eat Bread or Will it Make Them Sick?
Sonja Henrikseen
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I often refer to my oldest dog as a “bread dog” because he will do almost anything to snag a glutenous slice, roll, or crust. This is a story I’ve heard from many other dog owners—their dogs just love bread, and some will even beg when they hear the crinkle of a bread bag.
Ben The Wonder Dog on TikTok has helped to spread the word about dogs who love bread. Ben is so obsessed with bread that he will cry until he’s given a slice. Ben doesn’t eat the bread but just carries it around, snuggles it, and sometimes licks it to comfort himself —he won’t even go to sleep if he doesn’t have at least one piece of bread with him!
@benthewonderdog The before bed routine …. Feelin like i need some extra comfort tn
♬ original sound – Ben🥖
Of course, most dogs would be quick to gobble up a slice of bread, which begs the question: Can dogs have bread, or is it bad for them?
The good news is that most plain bread is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts alongside an otherwise balanced diet. However, there’s more than one type of bread—so what about things like rye, sourdough, or pumpernickel?
Here, we’ll answer all your questions and more about feeding your furry friend bread plus advice and information on ingredients to avoid at all costs.
Is Bread Good For Dogs? Nutrition & Health Facts
The basic ingredients in bread are wheat flour, water, yeast, and salt. Commercial breads also often include sugar, dough-conditioning ingredients, and preservatives. None of these ingredients are dangerous for dogs to eat in small quantities, but are there any health benefits to feeding your dog bread?
The short answer is no, bread isn’t healthy for dogs, but it’s not dangerous, either. Of course, there are ingredients in bread that could theoretically benefit your dog, but bread should only be an occasional treat and not a key feature of their diet. Because you should only feed your dog a small piece of bread occasionally, they won’t consume enough to enjoy any nutritional benefits.
Can Dogs Be Allergic To Bread?
Yes, dogs can be allergic to bread. The most common reason a dog might have an allergic reaction to bread is because of a wheat allergy. Wheat is a fairly common allergy in dogs, presenting in about 10–13% of dogs in canine food allergy studies. Some dogs may only experience an upset stomach from their allergy, but others can develop skin irritation, hot spots, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, and anaphylaxis.
If you notice that your dog shows any signs of an allergic reaction, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Can Dogs Have Bread Containing Artificial Sweeteners?
No—I don’t recommend feeding your dog bread containing artificial sweeteners. While some artificial sweeteners—like aspartame and sucralose—are considered non-toxic for dogs, they can still cause gastrointestinal issues. Other artificial sweeteners—like xylitol—are toxic and potentially deadly for dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
How Much Bread Can Dogs Eat Safely?
You should only feed your dog a small piece of bread as an occasional treat. A whole slice is too much for even a large dog, and you shouldn’t make bread an everyday treat to avoid creating digestive issues for your dog. Feeding bread to your dog daily could lead to health issues for your pooch because human foods simply aren’t formulated for canine physiology.
But, what if your dog ate a lot of bread on accident? Like a whole loaf?
First, contact your veterinarian and let them know the amount and type of bread your dog has eaten. Your vet’s advice will likely be to monitor your dog at home, but they could advise you to bring them in for evaluation. Gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, and constipation are some symptoms you might expect if your dog has eaten a lot of bread, but you should still report these symptoms to your vet.
What Types of Bread Are Safe For Dogs To Eat?
You can find dozens of types of bread on grocery store shelves, and not all are safe for dogs to eat. Let’s review a few common types of sandwich bread you can buy and whether or not they’re safe for dogs to have as an occasional small treat.
Can Dogs Eat White Bread?
Yes! Plain white bread is usually safe for dogs to have a small piece of. Remember that white bread—or bread made with white bread flour—is higher in sugar than other types of bread, particularly if your dog has a history of unstable glucose levels.
Can Dogs Eat Whole Wheat Bread?
Can dogs eat whole-grain bread made from whole wheat? Yes! Like white bread, whole wheat bread is safe for dogs to eat as an occasional treat. Because whole wheat flour is made from unrefined wheat, the overall sugar levels can also be lower in brown bread than in white bread.
Can Dogs Eat Multigrain Bread?
Maybe, depending on the ingredients. Different multigrain recipes contain varying ingredients, and some may include ingredients that aren’t safe for dogs. A multi-grain bread usually includes seed and/or whole spices, so it’s important to look closely at the ingredient list to make sure there are no red flags.
For example, a multigrain bread made with whole wheat, oats, and sunflower seeds is safe for dogs to have a small piece of. By contrast, a multigrain bread made with caraway could upset your dog’s stomach or put them at risk for caraway poisoning.
Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Bread?
Yes! Fully cooked sourdough is safe for dogs to eat in moderation.
Raw sourdough dough or sourdough starter, on the other hand, is extremely dangerous for dogs. Raw sourdough contains an alcohol called ethanol which is toxic to dogs and could lead to serious poisoning or even death.
Can Dogs Eat Hawaiian Bread?
Yes, but it’s high in sugar and fat. Hawaiian bread and Hawaiian rolls are enriched with milk and butter and contain added sugar to give them a lightly sweet flavor. While no bread is necessarily healthy for dogs, enriched doughs like this can be even less nutritious thanks to the high fat and sugar content.
Can Dogs Eat Rye Bread?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t contain caraway, coffee, or cocoa powder.
Some rye bread recipes include whole caraway seeds, which are toxic to dogs. Large amounts of caraway could put your dog at risk for caraway poisoning, while small amounts are likely to create gastrointestinal upset.
To add color to the dough, some rye bread recipes contain coffee or cocoa powder. Coffee is toxic to dogs, and cocoa powder is even more dangerous and potentially deadly, even in small quantities.
Can Dogs Eat French Bread?
Yes! French bread—or baguette—is made with mostly the same ingredients as basic white bread, and is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts as a treat. Extremely crusty French bread could pose a choking hazard for your dog, so be sure to only give them a very small piece.
Can Dogs Eat Potato Bread?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t contain garlic or onion powder. Potato bread is usually a milk and/or butter-enriched bread, which makes it higher in fat than other types of bread. This is something to be aware of, especially if your dog nabs a large quantity. Closely read the ingredients for your potato bread before sharing any with your dog—if it contains any garlic or onion powder, do not feed it to your dog as these ingredients are toxic to your furry friend.
Can Dogs Eat Ezekiel Bread?
Yes—except for the cinnamon raisin variety. Most types of bread from the brand Ezekiel are safe for dogs in moderation. Because the cinnamon raisin bread contains raisins—which are toxic to dogs—you should not give this variety to your pup.
Can Dogs Eat Brioche Bread?
Yes—dogs can have plain brioche bread, but it is high in fat and sugar. Brioche is enriched with eggs, butter, and milk, and contains more sugar than ordinary white or wheat bread.
Can Dogs Eat Naan Bread?
Yes, as long as it doesn’t contain garlic or other toxic ingredients. Naan is made from the same basic ingredients as white bread but is sometimes seasoned with garlic and other spices or aromatics, which could be harmful to your dog.
Can Dogs Eat Pita Bread?
Yes! Plain pita bread is safe for dogs to eat as an occasional treat.
Can Dogs Eat Gluten-Free Bread?
Maybe. It depends on the recipe. Gluten-free bread can be made with a huge range of ingredients, some of which could be toxic to dogs. While most gluten-free grains—like oats, rice, and millet—are safe for dogs, gluten-free bread often includes other ingredients that could upset your dog’s stomach or be harmful to them.
Can Dogs Eat Corn Bread?
Yes. Most cornbread recipes are free from ingredients that are harmful to dogs. Be aware that some cornbread contains butter, milk, buttermilk, cream, and other dairy products that could upset your pup’s stomach. Do not feed cornbread to your dog if it contains chilis or spicy ingredients.
Types Of Bread That Can Be Harmful To Dogs
There are some types of bread that you just shouldn’t take a chance on when it comes to your dog’s safety. These types of bread almost always contain toxic ingredients that can upset your dog’s stomach, trigger health problems, or even be deadly to your dog in large amounts.
Can Dogs Eat Pumpernickel Bread?
No. Most pumpernickel bread recipes contain ingredients like cocoa powder, coffee, and caraway, all of which are toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Raisin Bread?
No. Raisins are toxic to dogs and are associated with an increased risk of kidney failure in large quantities. Never feed your dog raisin bread or other foods containing raisins or grapes.
Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon Bread?
No. Most cinnamon breads also contain raisins, which are toxic to dogs. Even if the bread doesn’t include raisins, sugary dessert breads are not good for your dog and shouldn’t be fed to them, even as a treat.
Can Dogs Eat Banana Bread?
No. Banana bread is very high in fat and sugar and often contains nuts that are bad for dogs like macadamia nuts, walnuts, and pecans. Many recipes for banana bread also include chocolate, which is highly toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Pumpkin Bread?
No. Pumpkin bread made for humans is very high in sugar and fat and could upset your dog’s stomach. Even as an occasional treat, sugary human foods are a no-go for dogs. Pumpkin bread also sometimes includes the spice “mace” which is toxic to dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Zucchini Bread?
No. High in sugar and fat, zucchini bread isn’t a safe treat for your dog. Some recipes also include nuts, chocolate, and other toxic ingredients.
Can Dogs Eat Garlic Bread?
No! Garlic is toxic to dogs, and garlic bread contains a lot of garlic. Garlic bread is also extremely oily, and the combination is certain to upset your dog’s stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Pizza Bread?
No! Pizza bread also usually contains garlic and onion and is not safe for your dog to eat.
Can Dogs Eat Bread? FAQ
So, can dogs have bread? Yes, but only in moderation and as long as it’s free from harmful ingredients. For example, you know the answer to “Can a dog eat garlic bread?” is NO, while the answer to “Can a dog eat wheat bread?” is YES!
This doesn’t cover every question you might have about your dog and bread, so I’ve answered a few of the most common questions from people like you searching the internet for help.
Can dogs eat bread crusts?
Yes! Crusts are safe for dogs to eat as long as the bread is safe for dogs to eat. Keep in mind that hard crusts could be a choking hazard or difficult to chew, so you may want to remove the crusts from especially hard breads before you share them with your dog.
Can dogs eat toasted bread?
Yes! The only risk associated with toasting bread is choking. If the toast is too hard it might be difficult for your dog to eat, but a small piece should be fine.
Can dogs eat bread and butter?
No—I don’t recommend feeding your dog bread and butter. While butter isn’t toxic to dogs, it is high in fat and salt and could upset your dog’s stomach and cause vomiting or diarrhea.
Can dogs eat sweet bread?
It’s best to avoid giving your dog sweet dessert bread, but most bread contains at least a little bit of sugar. Enriched and lightly sweetened breads like potato bread and Hawaiian rolls are safe for your dog to have small pieces of, but you shouldn’t share something like sweet cinnamon raisin bread or pumpkin bread with your furry friend.
Can dogs eat moldy bread?
No! Bread mold can be hazardous and potentially toxic to dogs. If your dog eats moldy bread, contact your veterinarian immediately for further instructions.
Does bread help settle a dog’s stomach?
Sort of, but it’s not a recommended remedy for upset stomachs. The best food to feed a dog with an upset stomach is usually a combination of rice and a safe, bland, low-fat protein. While bread may serve the same purpose as rice in a bland diet for humans, and could help to temporarily settle your dog’s stomach, it’s not a good solution to the problem.
Is raw bread dough dangerous for dogs?
Yes. Raw bread dough contains yeast which could cause the dough to expand in your dog’s stomach, creating serious digestive issues. Raw sourdough bread is especially dangerous since it contains ethanol, an alcohol, because of the fermentation. If your dog licks a drop of bread dough off the floor they will likely be fine, but if you are concerned they could have had more than about a tablespoon, contact your vet immediately.
