Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Bread? Understanding Fermented Foods in Canine Diets

If you have sourdough bread at home, you might be curious about the special fermentation that goes into making it and whether it can be part of your dog’s diet. While dogs can eat small amounts of baked sourdough bread as an occasional snack, you should never give them raw dough, which can lead to bloating and alcohol toxicity.

And, as always, make sure the bread doesn’t contain any ingredients that are toxic to dogs, like raisins or xylitol.

This article will take a deep dive into the science of dog nutrition and the details of sourdough bread, including the fermentation process and the compounds that result from it. It will draw on research from veterinary nutrition, expert perspectives on dog care, and a comprehensive analysis of the ingredients that go into making sourdough bread unique.

The goal is to give you a thorough understanding of how sourdough bread can be part of a healthy diet for your dog and what you need to keep in mind if you want to share it with them.

The Science and Art of Sourdough Bread Fermentation

The art of sourdough bread baking starts with a natural fermentation process that uses wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). These microorganisms work together to consume the sugars in the bread’s flour. As explained by Today’s Dietitian, this fermentation not only gives the bread its signature tangy taste but also increases its nutritional value.

Wild yeast produces carbon dioxide, which helps the bread rise, while lactic acid bacteria produce lactic and acetic acids, which help preserve the bread and improve its digestibility.

According to The Sourdough Club, ethanol, a by-product of wild yeast fermentation, also helps leaven the bread, along with carbon dioxide.

However, it’s important to note that while the fermentation process used to make sourdough bread is safe for humans and dogs, dogs should not eat raw bread dough that contains live yeast. If a dog ingests the dough, the yeast will continue to ferment in the warm environment of the dog’s stomach, which will produce ethanol and cause the dog’s stomach to distend, leading to a life-threatening condition called bloat.

Sourdough bread’s fermentation process is unique among breads and results in a product that’s more digestible and has a lower glycemic index, according to PMC. This artisanal process impacts not only the bread’s taste but also its health benefits, which may make it a good option for people with food sensitivities.

While sourdough bread may offer health benefits to humans, its fermentation process is complex, which means it’s best to feed it to dogs with care and in moderation.

How to Include Sourdough Bread in Your Dog’s Diet

A dog’s diet is a complex balance of macronutrients – proteins, fats, and carbohydrates – and micronutrients that are necessary for good health. A study in SciELO explains that the goal of nutritional management in dogs is to promote health, and that nutritional recommendations can be made based on an individual dog’s age, activity level, and health status.

While sourdough bread can have some nutritional value, it’s important to remember that dogs are omnivores and can have a wide range of food sensitivities.

For example, wheat and dairy are two of the most common food allergens for dogs, according to Rover.com, and both are often found in sourdough bread. This means that it’s important to consider your dog’s individual sensitivities when adding sourdough or any other new food to their diet.

A study in PubMed that looked at the nutritional needs of canine athletes found that dogs have a high capacity for metabolizing fat, but that their diets still need to be tailored to their individual needs. This means that sourdough bread can be added to a dog’s diet in small amounts, as long as it doesn’t contain any allergens or other harmful ingredients.

It should not be a regular part of a dog’s diet, but it can be an occasional treat if the rest of the dog’s diet is nutritionally balanced.

If you’re thinking about giving your dog sourdough bread as a treat, it’s important to know the potential dangers of the dough before it’s baked, as it can be toxic to your dog.

The Risks of Raw Sourdough for Dogs

While sourdough bread is safe for dogs to eat, the risks of raw sourdough are many and can be life-threatening. Raw sourdough is especially dangerous because the yeast in the dough will continue to ferment in the dog’s stomach. This fermentation causes the dough to expand in the stomach, leading to bloating or gastric dilatation–volvulus, a condition that can be fatal. The expansion can happen quickly and can be severe, requiring immediate veterinary intervention.

In addition to the dangers of the dough expanding in the stomach, the fermentation process in the dough also produces alcohol. This alcohol is absorbed into the dog’s system, and the Pet Poison Helpline reports that it can cause a drop in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature.

Signs of alcohol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, unproductive retching, distended stomach, weakness, collapse, and signs of distress. In severe cases, this can lead to seizures and respiratory depression.

If a dog has ingested raw sourdough, it’s important to act quickly. Call a veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661) for help and take the dog to a veterinary clinic immediately. Pet parents should be aware of the risks and act quickly to ensure their dogs are safe from the hidden dangers of raw sourdough.

What Do Vets Say About Sourdough and Your Dog’s Health?

Veterinary opinions and those of canine nutritionists are mixed when it comes to sourdough bread and dogs. Lou Anne Wolfe, DVM, of Will Rogers Animal Hospital, says that while baked sourdough is safe for dogs, it should not be a regular part of their diet.

Meanwhile, Jo Ann Morrison, DVM, DACVIM of Banfield Pet Hospital, says that dogs should be given sourdough bread in moderation because it can expand in the stomach, leading to bloat or even gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), which is a life-threatening condition in dogs.

The bottom line is that moderation is important, and pet owners should take their dog’s health into account when giving them sourdough bread as a treat. In fact, sourdough bread can be problematic for some dogs, especially those with wheat allergies, according to Rover.com. As a result, it’s important to know your dog’s tolerance levels and dietary needs before giving them sourdough.

In conclusion, while sourdough can be a treat, pet owners should be aware of their dog’s specific dietary needs. As with any human food, pet owners should consider their dog’s unique needs when determining whether sourdough bread should be part of their diet to ensure that it supports their health and happiness.

Making Sourdough Dog Treats

If you want to make your dog homemade treats, using sourdough starter to make dog treats is a fun option. To keep your dog safe, The Wildest suggests using sourdough starter discard in dog biscuit recipes. She also suggests adding other dog-friendly ingredients like oat flour and pumpkin puree and staying away from common allergens and toxic ingredients like raisins, onions, garlic, and xylitol, as listed by Purina.

For a healthy option, you may want to try a basic sourdough biscuit recipe that includes oat flour, a tablespoon of sourdough discard, pumpkin puree, and an egg. After mixing the ingredients together, bake them until the biscuits are hard, and then let them cool completely.

As always, make sure to limit the number of treats you give your dog; they should only account for up to 10% of their daily caloric intake and should be adjusted based on your dog’s size and calorie needs.

Make sure to watch your dog after giving them a new treat. If you notice any negative side effects, stop giving them the treats and talk to your vet about what they recommend for your dog’s specific dietary needs. This way, you can have fun baking for your pet while also making sure that you’re keeping them safe and healthy.

Final Thoughts on Giving Your Dog Sourdough Bread

After exploring whether or not sourdough bread is a good option for dogs, we’ve found that while baked sourdough can be an okay treat for dogs in moderation, it’s important to avoid giving dogs raw sourdough dough.

The Pet Poison Helpline warns that dogs can experience bloat and alcohol toxicity from the fermentation of raw dough, which can be life-threatening. Claudia Kawczynska recommends that dog owners use sourdough starter discard in moderation in dog treats, avoid raw dough, and make sure that any sourdough bread that dogs are given is free of toxic ingredients.

Given the input from experts like Lou Anne Wolfe, DVM, and Jo Ann Morrison, DVM, DACVIM, we can say that sourdough bread is best given to dogs as an occasional treat and with care. Always watch for signs of food allergies and talk to your vet before adding new foods to your dog’s diet.

And, as always, a holistic approach to your pet’s well-being that’s informed by the advice of a trained veterinarian is the way to go.