My Dog Ate Bread – What Should I Do Now?

Bread is a very bad food for dogs, as it has little nutritional value and can even lead to some serious health issues like malnutrition or pancreatitis. 

Even if your dog does not eat the whole loaf of bread, it will often tear up the bag and spill the crumbs everywhere – creating a mess that is hard to clean up!

If you are interested in learning more about what bread does to your dog’s intestines, please read on.

Do Dogs Like The Taste Of Bread?

There are many dogs out there who love the taste of bread and will beg for more if you don’t stop feeding it to them.  

If this sounds like your dog then make sure to cut the bread into tiny pieces so that they can only eat a few at a time and not overeat.

How Much Bread Can My Dog Eat?

If your dog is still a puppy, you can probably give it half a slice or so per day. 

However, adults and older dogs should not get any more than one slice of bread each day. A better idea would be to avoid giving your dog ANY bread at all!

If your dog has already eaten all the bread in the house then there are many things that you can do to make sure that your dog does not get sick from this event.

Can Bread Upset A Dog’s Stomach?

The short answer is that it depends. 

All dogs are different, so some will tolerate bread better than others while still having no real health problems. 

Some dogs have very sensitive stomachs and allergens can cause trouble for them even if they do not eat much of the food in question.

Harmful Effects Of Dogs Eating Bread

Here is a list of possible deadly diseases that can be caused by eating bread:

1. Pancreatitis: This disease causes swelling in the pancreas which results in pain for your dog. If you notice that your dog seems to be acting unusually (such as limping or refusing to move), contact a vet immediately.

2 . Gastritis: Like pancreatitis, this disease causes inflammation in the lining of your dog’s stomach. It is very painful and can be fatal.  However, if you catch it early enough gastritis is relatively easy to treat.

3 . Gastric Dilation: If your dog eats a lot of bread then it could have an adverse effect on the muscles in your dog’s stomach and cause them to stretch out. Your stomach should NOT stretch out! You will need to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible if you notice that it has eaten too much bread.

4. Malnutrition: Bread does not contain very many nutrients so if your dog eats too much of this food, there may not be enough nutrition for the rest of its body to function normally.

5 . Diabetes: Eating large amounts of sugar can lead to an imbalance in your dog’s blood sugar, similar to the disease that humans have.  Your dog may require a change in diet or medication if it has diabetes.

6 . Obesity: Bread is not very healthy for dogs, but many people still give it to them because they think that “it could never hurt them.” That is incorrect! Dogs can get just as much fat from eating chips and bread as humans can from eating junk food!

7. Skin problems: Giving too much bread to a dog who already has skin issues (such as allergies) could cause those problems to get worse. This is especially true of dogs with sensitive stomachs.  Their skin will often break out in rashes when they are exposed to certain foods.

8. Allergies: If your dog already has allergies, then giving it too much bread will make those allergies worse and require more medication from you.

9 . Convulsions: Some dogs could go into convulsions if they eat enough sugar (which is in most types of bread). This can be very dangerous and even fatal for your pet!

Can My Dog Die By Eating A Whole Loaf Of Bread?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes. It would take a LOT of bread to kill an adult dog but it can happen if you are not careful!

Are All Types Of Bread Equally Harmful?

No, there are a few types of bread that will cause your dog more harm than others. Here is a list of the worst offenders:

White Bread Is The Worst!

White bread has added ingredients to it that make it even worse for your pet than whole wheat or other types of bread. 

It is not as healthy as people think, and many dogs can be allergic to white bread and suffer even further from eating this food.  

If your dog does eat too much white bread then you should call the vet right away while also giving your dog some Pepto-Bismol (an antacid medication) so that its stomach does not have an adverse reaction.  

You can also give it pumpkin puree in order to help ease the bad effects that white bread has on your dog’s stomach.

Bagels Are Second Worst

Bagels are very high in sugar and can be even worse for dogs than white bread. 

Cutting a bagel into little pieces makes it easier for you to feed it to your pet, but as soon as you are done watching TV or doing whatever else, throw the rest of that bagel out!  

If there is one thing that we have learned from this article it is that bread is not good for dogs. So just don’t give them any.

Crackers Can Be Bad For Your Dog

Crackers have a lot of oil on them which could make your dog sick if they eat too much of it (similar to the effects of white bread and oils).  

Cream crackers are especially bad for your dog because they also have a lot of sugar in them.

What Happens If A Dog Eats Moldy Bread?

There are three things that can happen if a dog eats moldy bread:

1. The dog could get sick (with either diarrhea or vomiting). They may also develop an upset stomach which is very uncomfortable for them and will most likely require medication from the vet in order to feel better.

2. They will not get sick!  Sometimes moldy bread looks “sick” but once it is cooked, the mold will disappear.  If you cook the bread before giving it to your pet then they should be fine.

3. Dogs run the risk of having their stomach torn open if they eat too much moldy bread so take some precautions with this food as well so that you are not running to the vet for stitches!

Is Pumpkin Bread Okay For Dogs?

Yes, it is! Pumpkin bread is actually very healthy for dogs and they will not get any bad reactions from this type of bread.

Is Seeded Bread Okay For Dogs?

Seeded bread is alright for dogs as well, but you should probably not feed them too much of it. This type of bread has a lot of seeds on it which could cause your dog to choke if they eat too many pieces at once.

Is Rye Bread Okay For Dogs?

Rye bread is usually okay, but it is highly recommended that you just do not give your dog any at all. Rye has little nutritional value for dogs and there are plenty of other things in the world that they could eat which would taste better to them.

Is Wheat Bread Okay For Dogs?

Wheat bread is ok for dogs because it is a legitimate food product that people actually consume themselves (unlike white bread). If your dog does eat some wheat bread then they will probably be fine as long as you follow up with a nice meal of pumpkin bread right afterward!

Is Sourdough Bread Okay For Dogs?

If you are going to feed your dog sourdough bread then it is important that they just eat the crust of the bread. They should not have too many layers of this product in their stomach because it will cause them some serious problems.

What Else Can I Feed My Dog If I Won’t Give It Bread?

The best thing that you can feed your dog is chicken!  If they absolutely must have a treat then give them some liver treats or peanut butter treats.

Are All Dogs Dangerous Around Bread?

Not all dogs are dangerous around bread! Some dogs won’t even go anywhere near the stuff while others just lick it off the floor (gross!). 

If you do suspect that your pet may have eaten some bread then go ahead and take them to the vet just in case.

Should I Cook My Dog’s Bread Up First?

YES! You should always cook your dog’s bread before feeding it to them.  

This kills a lot of the bacteria that could harm your pet if they ate it in raw form and helps to make sure that you are not feeding them something that they are allergic to or don’t like.  

Cooking the bread also means fewer calories, which is better for your dog’s diet and health!

What Should I Do If My Dog Ate Bread?

If your dog has eaten the entire loaf of bread that you left on the counter, there are some things that you can do to help alleviate any potential health problems caused by this food item.  

It is time-consuming but it is worth it for a healthy dog!  

Here’s what you should do:

1. Call your vet and find out if there are any other things that he/she would recommend for helping to return the dog’s stomach back to its normal state.  You may need to bring the dog in so that it can be examined or have blood work done.

2 . Try a bland diet of chicken, rice, or any other carbohydrate-free food for two days. If your dog eats this food without problems then all is well!  However, if after 2 days your pet has not improved yet then try something else from this list of foods that will help your dog get better after eating too much bread.

3. Bring some Pepto Bismol (or something similar) and give it to your dog.  If the bread has stuck in its digestive tract, this will often help break up the blockage and allow your pet’s body to get rid of it easier.

4 . Time for some laxatives! When you think that the bread is no longer a problem, feed your dog something like pumpkin or work with your vet to find out what other laxatives would be best for your pet.  Make sure that you do not give too many of these as they can become toxic in high doses, but one or two should do the trick!

5 . If none of those things worked after a week or so then talk with your vet about trying an upper gastrointestinal series (or barium swallow) to find out if there is still anything trapped in the stomach or intestines.  This procedure requires that your dog drink a barium solution and then have an x-ray taken of its entire digestive tract so that you can see if it has any blockages.

6 . If there are still issues after this, then you will need to go into your dog’s gastrointestinal system surgically (through the side of its body).  Your vet will explore all areas of your pet’s stomach and colon, looking for items that it could not digest on its own. The doctor may take biopsies as well.  You will also receive instructions for a special diet plan when you bring your pet home from this procedure.

Some Tips For Dealing With Your Dog’s Bread Addiction

Keep The Bread Out Of Reach

If you have a strong-willed dog, this can be hard to do! 

To help, try placing the bread out of reach in another room or up on a high shelf. 

Make sure it is not close to any open doorways so that your dog cannot sneak over and grab it while you are busy preparing dinner or cleaning.

Feed Your Dog Healthy Treats Instead

Although fillers may have been removed from many grocery store bread (as required by law), they still have very little nutritional value for dogs. 

There are many healthy (and cheap!) treats you can purchase from the pet store. You may also be able to find some recipes online, such as homemade peanut butter cookies or dehydrated meats.

Never Give Your Dog Moldy Or Stale Bread

Although bread is not particularly great for dogs, it does contain a few essential vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, including iron and magnesium.  

It is important to always give fresh bread-make sure to dispose of any moldy or expired bread right away!

Freeze It First 

If you want to give your dog small amounts of bread then try freezing it first and then giving it to them for a snack while watching them eat it. 

It will be much harder for the dog to eat too much at one time. 

You can also cut off the crusts so that your pet will not have anything inedible on its paws or in its mouth as well.  

Watch Out 

Watch your dog closely around food and always keep it in a place where your pet does not have access to it unless you are there to supervise.  

If you do these things then your dog should be safe from the dangers that bread can cause!

What To Do If Your Dog Still Eats The Bread?

If your dog really loves his/her daily slice of toast (or whole baguette!), there are still ways that you can make sure he/she gets the necessary nutrition.  

For example, you could try cutting the bread up into tiny pieces and mixing them in with some other foods that are healthier for your dog. If you do this, make sure to pick a food that has high nutritional value. 

Some good options include:

• Freeze-dried meat (which can be found at many pet stores or online)
• Small pieces of cooked chicken
• Plain oatmeal (make sure no salt or sugar is added!)
• Plain brown rice (make sure no salt or sugar is added!)
• Plain pasta (no sauce or cheese)

If you still find that your dog eats the bread and not these healthier alternatives, there is another solution- a daily supplement.  

Try finding a nutritional supplement for dogs online or at your local pet store! This way, you can be confident that your dog is getting all of the nutrients he/she needs without having any trouble convincing them to eat it!

What Else Should I Know About My Dog Eating Bread?

The two most important things to remember about dogs eating bread is that it can make their stomachs swell up and get sick, or even cause death. These two dangers make bread one of the worst possible foods that you could give to your dog!

You should be sure never to let your dog eat any type of bread – but white bread and bagels are especially bad! 

If you see a piece of bread on the ground move it out of reach or throw it away as soon as possible. You do not want that lying around as a temptation for your dog!

I hope you enjoyed this article on the dangers of dogs eating bread. Next time you are putting some food down for your pet, try to remember these things and keep that bad bread out of reach!  

A healthier lifestyle will not only help your dog feel better but also live longer (making it a win-win situation).

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