Can Dogs Eat Bread?

Yes, dogs can eat a small piece of plain, fully baked white or wheat bread once in a while. It is not toxic, but it gives your dog no real nutrition. Raw dough, raisin bread, garlic bread, and bread with xylitol are dangerous. Check what is in the bread first.

Is plain bread safe for dogs?

The AKC says plain white and wheat bread are generally fine for dogs, as long as the dog has no allergies. It also says bread is a filler food. It adds nothing your dog’s regular food does not already give. Bread is full of carbs, so too much can add weight.

Give only very small pieces, and only once in a while. Dogs with a wheat allergy should skip bread completely.

What kinds of bread are dangerous for dogs?

These are the ones to keep away:

• Raw dough. Yeast keeps working in your dog’s warm stomach. Pet Poison Helpline says the dough swells and the yeast makes alcohol, which gets into the blood. Signs include vomiting, staggering, a swollen belly, and weakness. In bad cases the stomach can twist, which can kill a dog.
• Raisin bread. The AKC warns that raisins and grapes are highly toxic, and even a few can cause problems. See our guide on grapes and dogs.
• Garlic bread. Garlic and onion can harm red blood cells. More on that below.
• Bread with xylitol. This sweetener can be in some baked goods. The FDA says it can make a dog’s blood sugar drop fast. Read the label, especially on “sugar-free” products.
• Bread with nuts. The AKC says nuts are high in fat and can upset the stomach. Macadamia nuts are especially bad for dogs.

What to do if your dog ate bread

If it was plain baked bread, a dog usually just needs to be watched. A big amount can still upset the stomach.

If it was dough, or bread with raisins, garlic, nuts, or xylitol, call a vet or hotline right away. Tell them what your dog ate, about how much, and when.

Other kinds of bread and baked foods

The same rules apply to every bread: plain and baked is the best case. Extras are where the trouble is. The sources we read do not name most of these foods one by one, so the answers below come from what they say about the ingredients.

Whole grain, multigrain, and grain bread

These are still bread. The AKC does not single them out. Plain slices work like plain wheat bread: a small piece only. Check for seeds, nuts, and raisins mixed in, and skip any loaf with nuts or raisins.

Toast and toasted bread

Plain toast is just baked bread, so the answer is the same: a small plain piece once in a while. Skip butter-heavy or jam-topped toast.

Brioche, pandan bread, and French bread

Plain French bread is like other plain bread. Brioche and sweet breads such as pandan bread are usually richer, with more sugar and fat, so a bite is plenty. Merck says large amounts of table scraps can lead to pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas. Check any sweet loaf or filling for raisins and xylitol.

Garlic bread

No. The AKC says garlic bread can cause belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and collapse. The Merck Veterinary Manual says dogs can be poisoned by raw, cooked, dried, or powdered garlic and onion. Garlic is about 3 to 5 times stronger than onion. Signs of damaged red blood cells often show up 3 to 5 days later, so a dog can look fine at first. Call your vet if your dog ate it.

Naan and pita bread

Plain naan or pita is still bread, so a small plain bite is the limit. Many naan breads are made with garlic, so check the label or ask the cook. Garlic naan has the same problem as garlic bread.

Pita chips

Pita chips are best skipped. They are often seasoned, and seasoning can include garlic or onion powder. Merck says powders are the more concentrated form of garlic and onion. The ASPCA also warns that too much salt can cause thirst, vomiting, and in bad cases seizures.

Bread crumbs and breaded fish

Plain bread crumbs are just crushed bread, but store-bought ones are often seasoned. Check for garlic and onion powder. Breaded fish is usually fried, and Merck lists large amounts of table scraps as a common risk factor for pancreatitis in dogs. Fried, salty, seasoned fish is not a good snack, so skip it.

Corn bread

Plain corn bread is a baked bread, so a tiny plain bite is the limit. Many recipes are sweet and buttery, so check for xylitol, raisins, and nuts, and keep it to a crumb.

Biscuits, sweet biscuits, and Marie biscuits

In the U.S., buttermilk biscuits are a bread-like baked food. In the U.K. and other places, “biscuits” are cookies, such as Marie biscuits. Either kind is made with fat and often sugar, and gives a dog nothing useful. Skip them as a habit. A tiny plain piece is the most you should share. Never share any that have chocolate, raisins, nuts, or xylitol. Our guide on chocolate and dogs explains why chocolate is risky.

French toast

French toast is bread soaked in egg and milk, fried in fat, and often topped with syrup or sugar. Because of the fat and sugar, it is not a good share. Check for xylitol in any sugar-free syrup. Merck says large amounts of table scraps can lead to pancreatitis, so keep it to a tiny bite at most.

Safer treats to try

A small piece of plain bread is fine once in a while, but dog treats are better. For a few other ideas, see our guides on peanut butter (check for xylitol) and apples. Treats of all kinds should be no more than about 10% of your dog’s daily calories. For a full list, see foods that are toxic to dogs.