Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Bread? What You Need To Know

You might have heard about its health benefits, but can dogs eat sourdough bread? Read this guide before sharing a slice with your furry friend.

Before you start thinking that small amounts won’t hurt them, it’s really important for you to read this entire guide. When it comes to human foods that dogs can, sourdough has a lot of problems and isn’t the best idea to add to your dog’s diet – even in small quantities.

For ultimate pet safety, I recommend consulting with your vet about all the questions you have about your dog eating sourdough bread.

What Is Sourdough Bread

Most bread that you eat is made with commercial yeast. That’s what makes it rise – or taste airy and fluffy. Without the yeast, the bread is called “unleavened” and resembles a pita bread or tortilla – in other words, it is flat.

Yeast in typical bread creates a chemical reaction in the batter that makes bubbles and puffs up the bread.

Sourdough bread doesn’t use yeast, but it is still just as airy and fluffy. The secret is that flour and water are fermented to create a culture of wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria. As the flour and water ferment, it creates a live yeast that gives the bread the iconic bubbles that it’s known for.

So the fermentation process is what sets sourdough bread apart from other types of bread. Instead of using commercial yeast to help the dough rise, it uses a starter that is made from flour and water.

And it is this fermentation process that makes sourdough bread unsafe for dogs to eat.

Food Made With Sourdough

Dog owners, now that you know what sourdough is, let’s look closer at whether it is safe to give your dog sourdough bread. In this guide, when we mention sourdough bread, we will be referring to any type of bread that is made with a sourdough starter.

So, this will include the following types of food:

Can dogs eat sourdough…

Crackers
English Muffins
French Bread
Flatbread
Foccacia
Hamburger Buns
Pizza
Rye
Seeded Sourdough
Wheat Sourdough

So, before you give your dog bread made with a sourdough starter, read through all the warnings and information in this guide.

Can Dogs Have Sourdough Bread

The short answer is no; it is not a good idea to give your eager dog even a slice of bread made with a sourdough starter. While it’s always a bad idea to give your dog too much bread, sourdough has even more issues for dogs.

Due to the way it is made, it is not the best choice for your dog’s health.

Dogs should not eat any type of bread on a regular basis. It is bad for their overall health. Your furry companion should only heat lean meats or high-quality dog food (or both).

Is Sourdough Bread Bad For Dogs

If your dog eats raw sourdough bread, it could cause health problems. There are also risks associated with cooked sourdough, but the potential problems are more likely to happen if your dog eats uncooked dough.

Dogs and Wheat Allergies

Most types of sourdough starter are made with wheat flour. If your dog has wheat allergies, eating sourdough bread could cause them to have an allergic reaction.

Even if the bread isn’t labeled as whole wheat, it isn’t safe for dogs to eat this bread. And if you don’t know if your dog has a wheat allergy, this might not be the best way to find out.

The symptoms of a wheat allergy include:

Hair or coat issues
Skin issues
Obsessive chewing/licking of feet
Red, inflamed paw pads
Chronic ear infections
Poor body condition
Inability to gain or maintain a healthy weight
Diarrhea
Inflammation of the intestines

If your dog has any of those symptoms after eating food that contains wheat, please talk to your veterinarian.

Alcohol Toxicosis

Another danger of sourdough is the alcohol in the uncooked dough could give your dog alcohol toxicity.

This is only possible if your dog eats the uncooked dough or the sourdough starter. This is because as the starter ferments, it releases ethanol. And if your dog eats that uncooked bread dough, the ethanol will continue to grow in your dog’s gut.

The severity of alcohol poisoning that is possible for your dog depends on their size and how much starter or unbaked bread they ate.

You might notice your dog any of the following symptoms:

Excessive drooling
Shallow breathing
Pacing and disorientation
Bloating
Vomiting and or abdominal pain
Unusual drooling
Hyperactivity
Slow reflexes or inability to react
Depression, anxiety, and restlessness

You might also notice a drop in blood sugar, lower blood pressure, and lower body temperature.

If you notice those symptoms, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Gastric Dilation

Another big risk for dogs that eat sourdough is gastric dilation or painful bloating. This could happen from eating too much cooked sourdough but is a higher risk for dogs that eat the raw starter.

If dogs eat uncooked starter, they are eating flour that is actively fermenting, and it will continue to ferment in their gut, causing their stomach to bloat.

Bloat symptoms include:

Distended belly
Drooling
Agitation or pacing
Unable to vomit
Foamy saliva
Rapid or shallow breathing
Extra attention to the stomach

If your dog ate sourdough or uncooked sourdough and is displaying any of the above symptoms, please contact your vet.

Is Sourdough Bread OK For Dogs

Even if you consider your dog’s weight, sourdough isn’t ok for dogs to eat. Sure, a small bit of cooked sourdough might not harm really large dog breeds that don’t have a wheat or gluten intolerance/allergy.

But dogs that eat too much bread are still at risk for weight gain and an upset stomach. It’s better to feed your dog a healthy diet of lean meat and nutritious vegetables.

Is Sourdough Bread Good For Dogs

No, delicious sourdough bread might be great for us, but it isn’t good for dogs. Large amounts of it could cause issues, as you read earlier in this guide.

But it’s important to also refrain from giving your dog treats made with sourdough starter. A lot of dogs benefit from a grain-free diet (which is great for their gut health).

There is no nutritional value in sourdough for dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Cooked Sourdough Bread

Even though it isn’t made with any toxic ingredients, as it ferments, the sourdough starter can create toxic levels of ethanol that might affect dogs.

Just like other types of bread, there is nothing healthy about cooked sourdough bread for dogs. It’s better to make them a healthy treat that will nourish their bodies.

If you’re tempted to give your dog bread, I suggest giving them something like homemade dog muffins instead.

Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Pretzels

Dogs are extra sensitive to salt, so a salty pretzel is definitely a no-go for dogs.

Not only that, but sourdough pretzels are harder on your dog’s gastrointestinal tract and could give them a stomach ache. It’s best not to share them with your pet.

Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Starter

Absolutely do not let your dog eat raw dough. Any type of raw bread dough is unsafe for dogs, but raw sourdough bread dough is even more dangerous.

This is because of the fermentation process that continues to happen even after your dog eats it. It will keep fermenting in their gut, which is very painful and dangerous.

So, if your dog ate sourdough starter, contact your dog’s veterinarian immediately.

Sourdough starter in a jar and a bowl of flour.

Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Discard

Sourdough discard is the part of the starter that people normally throw away because it isn’t actively fermenting anymore.

Since the discard is still fermenting, it is still unsafe to give this fermented dough to your dog.

Sourdough Bread Toppings

Dogs should not eat sourdough bread, but they should also not eat bread that is topped with or made with chocolate chips or macadamia nuts.

Dogs should also avoid nutmeg and other spices toxic to dogs.

If your pup wants to eat something special, make them peanut butter cookies. That recipe is made without added sugar, so it’s a great choice for dogs.

My Dog Ate Sourdough Bread

If your dog ate cooked sourdough bread and isn’t showing any symptoms, they might be ok. Just watch for signs of digestive issues like frequent trips outside, loose stools, or lethargy,

If your dog ate raw sourdough starter, contact your dog’s veterinarian immediately. They will tell you what to watch out for and when to bring them in.

No matter what, if your dog acts really sick or like they are in severe pain it is always best to take them to the vet just to be safe.

Other Types Of Bread and Dogs

What about other types of bread? Can dogs eat them too? Here’s a quick rundown of the most popular types of bread you might eat, and whether they are safe for dogs. I’ll also include links to full articles if I have covered them here on Spoiled Hounds.

Banana Bread – This sweet bread sometimes contains raisins, which are highly toxic for dogs and can cause kidney failure.
Brown Bread – This could contain too much fiber and give your dog stomach upset.
Plain White Bread – This is the safest of all kinds, but too much bread could lead to weight gain.
Garlic Bread – Dogs should not eat garlic.
Rye Bread – This has too much fiber and could give your dog stomach pain.
Wheat Bread – This is also too high in fiber and is especially dangerous for dogs with gluten sensitivities.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, it’s just best to keep sourdough bread away from your dog. When it comes to new foods that you introduce to your dog, there is nothing beneficial about sourdough and it could actually upset their stomach.

More Dog Food Resources

Here are some more articles about human foods and bread dogs can and can’t eat:

Find lots of articles on food dogs can and can’t eat here on Spoiled Hounds!

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