I often get this question during my consultations: can my dog have a piece of bread? The short answer is yes, but with important caveats. As a dog nutrition specialist, I regularly see owners who think bread makes a fine snack, while they’re unknowingly taking risks.
Is bread safe for dogs
A small piece of plain bread is generally not harmful to your dog. However, the problem lies in the details. From my experience, many owners don’t realise that certain types of bread and ingredients can be dangerous.
The biggest risk comes from raw bread dough. The yeast can continue to rise in your dog’s warm stomach, leading to dangerous bloating. Additionally, yeast produces alcohol during the fermentation process, which can cause poisoning.
Which ingredients are dangerous
This is where it gets interesting. Plain white or brown bread without additives is usually okay in small amounts. But many types of bread contain ingredients that are toxic to dogs:
Raisins, garlic, onions and artificial sweeteners such as xylitol can cause severe poisoning. Unfortunately, I’ve witnessed cases where owners gave their dog raisin bread without realising how dangerous it was.
Wheat sensitivity also occurs in dogs. Symptoms such as itching, diarrhoea or a dull coat may indicate an intolerance.
Nutritional value of bread for dogs
Honestly, bread offers little of what your dog needs. It consists mainly of carbohydrates and contains hardly any essential nutrients for dogs. Just as eggs are a much better protein source than bread.
Wholemeal bread contains slightly more fibre and vitamins than white bread, but is still not ideal. Too much bread can lead to weight gain and displacement effect – your dog eats less of its balanced dog food.
How much bread can a dog eat
As a rule of thumb, I recommend a maximum of 5% of daily calorie intake. For a medium-sized dog weighing 20 kilos, this means approximately half a slice of bread per day, but only as an occasional treat.
I usually advise owners to give bread at most a few times a week, and then only as a reward. Daily bread consumption is really unnecessary and can cause problems.
Signs your dog doesn’t tolerate bread well
Watch your dog carefully after giving bread. Common signs that bread doesn’t agree with them include flatulence, diarrhoea, vomiting or excessive scratching. In wheat-sensitive dogs, I sometimes see skin irritation as well.
If you notice these symptoms, stop giving bread immediately and consider visiting the vet if the complaints persist.
Better alternatives to bread
Truthfully, there are many better snacks for your dog. Salt-free rice cakes, small pieces of cooked sweet potato or specially developed dog treats are safer choices.
Fresh fruit such as apple (without seeds) or carrot sticks offer more nutritional value and are often tastier for your dog. In my experience, dogs often respond more enthusiastically to these natural snacks than to bread.
The most important thing to remember: bread is not toxic in small quantities, but it adds little to your dog’s diet. Use it only as an occasional treat and always ensure it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients.