If you’re a fan of making things from scratch, then baking homemade sourdough bread might appeal to you. Many people enjoy this bread as a staple in their diet. However, before you decide to spoil your furry friend with a slice or two, it’s important that you know whether dogs can safely eat sourdough bread. When it comes to dogs, it is important to be cautious about what they are fed. A small amount of plain sourdough bread may not cause an issue, but consuming unbaked sourdough can lead to poisoning for your dog.
Rising Danger
Sourdough bread has a unique tangy flavor that many people find delicious and is considered more nutritious and easier to digest than other types of bread. If ingested, unbaked sourdough can be incredibly dangerous for dogs. When consumed, the dough expands in the stomach, resulting in bloating. This can potentially lead to gastric-dilation volvulus, twisting of the stomach. This is a serious condition and signs of this include vomiting, unproductive retching, a distended stomach, an elevated heart rate, collapse, weakness, and possible death.
Unbaked dough undergoes a process called fermentation. This is when the yeast uses sugars, producing carbon dioxide gas and alcohol. This is what makes the bread rise. If ingested, the alcohol from the fermenting yeast is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to alcohol poisoning. Symptoms include dangerous drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Severe cases can cause seizures and respiratory failure.
Signs of Poisoning
If your pup has ingested unbaked sourdough, they can experience symptoms of poisoning quickly. Signs of poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Staggering
- Weakness
- Abdominal distention/bloat
- Unproductive retching
- Coma
What To Do If your Dog Eats Raw Sourdough?
If your pup has eaten raw sourdough, you must call your veterinarian and Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 immediately for life-saving advice. Next, take your dog to the nearest veterinary clinic and have them looked over right away. Seeking prompt treatment can be the difference between life and death for your furry friend. Your veterinarian will administer the appropriate treatment to stabilize your dog and ease the symptoms. If you have further questions or concerns, please reach out to the experts at Pet Poison Helpline today to ease your mind.
