Sourdough bread is a type of bread made by fermenting the dough. Bakers ferment the dough through the use of wild Lactobacillaceae and yeast.

This kind of bread is a common staple for many households all over the world. 

So a question a lot of us dog lovers have is, “Can dogs eat sourdough bread?” In this article, you’ll find out the facts about whether dogs can eat sourdough bread or not. You’ll also find out about the potential health benefits and/or harmful effects on our dogs. 

Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Bread?

The short answer is no. dogs should not eat sourdough bread. Sourdough bread is bad food choice for dogs. 

There are many types of foods that are not good for dogs, such as grapes, bones, and chocolate. You can add sourdough bread to that list.

Sourdough bread is bad food for our furry pups. Vets consider sourdough to be an unhealthy food for our dogs.

Sourdough bread can be unhealthy and even toxic to dogs, depending on how it is consumed. 

Why is Sourdough Bad For Dogs?

All types of sourdough bread are high in carbohydrates. And carbohydrates are not necessarily a good nutrient for dogs. 

If consumed excessively, they can lead to health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Sourdough is pretty much just fillers or extra calories for dogs who need a high-energy diet.

Most of the time, sourdough bread will only be bad for dogs if your dog ate too much. So, eating a few bites of sourdough bread will not have any bad effects on your dog whatsoever, as long as they are cooked. 

Dogs can eat cooked sourdough bread but only in moderation. Unlike other foods such as veggies and meat, sourdough bread offers little nutritional benefits to dogs. 

As stated earlier, fully cooked sourdough bread is nothing but a filler for a dog who needs extra calories and weight. It is usually not made with white flour, which is good.

Instead, it is made with wheat and grain. However, wheat and grain cause many symptoms for dogs, such as stomach discomfort, itchy skin, sore ears, and other issues.

When Sourdough Bread Is Toxic For Dogs

Uncooked sourdough bread is even worse for your dog. The reason for that is that it may even ferment more in your dog’s stomach. 

Fermentation of sourdough bread in your dog’s stomach can lead to bloating and, even worse, alcohol poisoning. And these two symptoms are severe for dogs.

The bloating or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a severe condition for dogs. As your dog’s stomach gets filled with gas and twists, your dog may experience severe pain and potentially fatal conditions. These conditions may include pressure on the diaphragm, dead tissue, a twisted spleen, or blocked blood flow to the heart.

The fermentation process produces alcohol, and alcohol is toxic for dogs. When the sourdough bread yeast ferments in a dog’s stomach, it can produce alcohol. Their bloodstream absorbs the alcohol, leading to alcohol poisoning.

Learn More About What Human Foods Are Healthy or Harmful to Dogs

This article is a part of our special series of articles about “What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat?

In the next article, you’ll learn the answer to the question, “Can Dogs Eat Raw Bacon?”

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