Can Dogs Eat Bread?

The short answer: It depends.

The long answer: Bread can be fed to your dog as long as it is the plain type and does not contain any of the following: xylitol (an artificial sweetener that is highly toxic for dogs), raisins (dried fruit which causes mood changes, depression, and kidney failure), nuts (macadamia nuts and walnuts are toxic for dogs), and jams or jellies (these dried preserves usually contain high amounts of sugar).

Some paw-rents give bread to their dogs when their pet is feeling constipated or bloated. Whether whole wheat or grain-based, plain bread is supposed to help sooth these mild upset stomach symptoms because of its high fiber content.

Others allow their dogs to eat bread after the dog has eaten something sharp or long and string-like. In both cases, the bread can help encase the sharp edges and lump together the string, helping them go through the intestines safely. Small pieces of bread can also be used to conceal medicine that a dog doesn’t want to ingest.

How to feed bread to your dog: Read the labels and choose the type of bread that does not have ingredients which can cause harm to your dog. If you can bake your own bread, even better! However, never serve him bread before it is baked, because rising bread can cause other complications in his tummy.

Depending on the size of your dog, you can cut up a few pieces and serve it to him toasted, warm, or at room temperature.

Here are three ideas for bread treats your dog will love:

Create bread bites with dollops of xylitol-free peanut butter slathered over it.
Try baking him his very own banana bread.
Make doggie treats by baking slices of bread with cheese until they become crunchy.

In summary: Talk to your veterinarian before introducing bread to your dog’s diet. Though bread is high in fiber, it is best not to give it to your dog on a regular basis because of its high calorie content.