Can Dogs Eat Bread Crust? 

For most dogs, their favorite food is whatever their human companion is eating. This doesn’t mean they actually like it. They just want it because you’re having it! And if you ever eat bread, you’ve probably been begged for the crusts. So you might be wondering if dogs can eat bread crust?

Yes, dogs can eat bread crust, but you shouldn’t make it a habit. You shouldn’t give your dog bread crust. It doesn’t offer any nutritional value for canines, and it may be a choking hazard. Bread crust is a carbohydrate and calorie-heavy snack – so giving your dog bread may lead to pet obesity. 

can my dog eat bread crust
Can my dog eat bread crust? Is it ok every day?

Is Bread Crust Bad for Dogs? 

Yes, bread crust is bad for dogs. If you’ve given your dog a tiny bit of bread crust and he seems okay, you probably don’t have to worry. But make sure you don’t give it to him again. Bread crust is bad for dogs for a few reasons. 

Bread Crust May Cause Choking

Bread crust is difficult to chew thoroughly, especially for dogs. Given this reality, it’s a choking hazard. If your dog chokes, this can quickly lead to an extremely dangerous situation. 

Your Dog May Have Grain-Allergies

gray poodle happy at the vet
A gray Poodle happy at the vet. Toy or a small Miniature size.

Many dogs have grain (such as wheat) allergies. If this is true for your canine companion, eating bread will cause significant digestive upset (such as vomiting and diarrhea). Even if your pet doesn’t have this kind of allergy, bread isn’t good for them. 

Grain allergies, especially wheat allergies, are common in canines. Some potential signs of a wheat allergy in dogs include: 

  • Skin issues, such as flakiness, redness, and itchiness
  • Lackluster coat
  • Breathing problems
  • Sneezing 
  • Flatulence
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting 
  • Inflamed ears
  • Head shaking
  • Face rubbing on objects 
  • Seizures
  • Strange behavior
  • Anal irritation and itching

Bread May Cause Obesity

As most of us know, bread is full of carbs and calories. Too many carbs and calories, of course, can easily lead to obesity. And obesity has many negative health consequences. This applies to dogs as well as humans. 

Negative Health Impacts of Obesity 

Dogs tend to have poorer health when they’re overweight or obese. Some of the potential health problems that may result from carrying too much weight include:

  • Arthritis
  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Diabetes
  • Breathing problems
  • Higher cancer risk
  • Liver disease 

Can Dogs Eat White Bread?

An airedale terrier
An Airedale Terrier with a top grade two color coat.

If you’re ever going to give your dog a tiny (and I mean tiny) piece of bread, make sure it’s white. That sounds strange, but here’s the reason: white bread is less likely to trigger a grain allergy. At the same time, however, you should avoid giving your canine companion any kind of bread, for the other reasons we discuss here. 

Like any other food you give your pet, carefully read the ingredients of your bread first if you want to give a little to your dog. Never give a dog food containing xylitol. This is an artificial sweetener, and you would be surprised at how many foods it’s found in. Xylitol is dangerous for dogs. 

Can Dogs Eat Multigrain Bread?

While multigrain bread is usually a better choice than white bread for humans, this definitely isn’t the case for dogs. The fact that multigrain bread has numerous grains means there is more of a chance your dog will have an adverse allergic reaction. 

Can Dogs Eat Sourdough Bread? 

Like the other kinds of bread, it’s better for your dog to never eat sourdough bread. An added worry about sourdough bread is how chocolate is sometimes added to it. This is a problem because chocolate is toxic to dogs. 

If you think your dog has eaten sourdough bread (or anything else) containing chocolate, call your veterinarian right away. The amount of chocolate ingested will impact the effects and how severe they are. In other words, the more chocolate eaten, the more dangerous the situation. 

Can Dogs Eat Toasted Bread? 

No, you shouldn’t feed your dog toasted bread. This is true for the same reasons you shouldn’t feed them non-toasted bread. Toasted breads may be even more of a choking hazard than non-toasted crusts. 

Is Burned Toast Bad for Dogs? 

Some dog owners wonder whether they can avoid wasting burned toast by giving it to their dogs. But you should never do this, as burned toast is very bad for your dog. Not only might it be a choking hazard, burned toast often develops a chemical that can cause cancer. It’s called acrylamide.

Is Bread Dough Bad for Dogs? 

Bread dough is extremely bad for dogs. In fact, eating bread dough is dangerous for dogs. That is because of the yeast in it and the fact that the bread dough hasn’t risen yet. After your dog eats the dough, it will rise in his tummy! This will create pain as well as ethanol levels that are poisonous. 

a white bull terrier
What a dog! A white Bull Terrier dog in a flowery field.

Can Dogs Eat Butter?

Bread is often buttered, so maybe you wonder whether you can give your dog a little bread crust with butter on it. The answer? You should avoid giving your dog butter. If your pet is lactose intolerant or if you’re unsure whether they are lactose intolerant, you should be especially careful not to give him butter. 

If your dog isn’t lactose intolerant and doesn’t have an adverse reaction to butter, you should still only let him have extremely minimal amounts. After all, too much butter may lead to obesity. 

Should I Give My Dog Pizza Crust? 

Absolutely not, you should never let your dog eat pizza crust. There are ingredients in pizza crust that may be problematic or even toxic for your dog. Examples include certain herbs, garlic, and onions. If you didn’t already realize, garlic and onions are poisonous for canines. 

Can Dogs Eat Pizza? 

cane corso dog
A Cane Corso dog. Loved by owners, but banned in some countries.

No, don’t feed your dog other parts of the pizza either. There are a plethora of ingredients on pizza that may be unhealthy or even toxic for canines. For example, the sauce probably contains herbs that are harmful to canines. 

Garlic and Onion Are Toxic to Dogs

The fact that garlic and onion are toxic to dogs is another reason you shouldn’t let your canine companion eat pizza crust or any other part of the pizza. If you ever order pizza, keep it well out of your dog’s reach. 

Potential Symptoms of Garlic Poisoning 

It’s the thiosulfate in garlic (and onion) that causes toxicity in dogs. It leads to potentially dangerous problems because of how it impacts the red blood cells and leads to hemolytic anemia.

Symptoms of garlic poisoning may include: 

  • Urine with a dark color
  • Jaundice
  • Faster breathing
  • Mucous membranes with a pale color
  • Weakness
  • Listlessness
  • Dehydration
  • Stomach pain
  • Decreased appetite
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
Potential Symptoms of Onion Poisoning 

There are certain symptoms that may mean your dog has onion poisoning. These include: 

  • Urine with a reddish tint
  • Fainting
  • Weakness
  • Low appetite
  • Gums are pale color
  • Excessive panting
  • Vomiting
  • Listlessness   
  • Faster heartbeat

If you think there is any chance that your dog may have onion toxicity, contact your veterinarian immediately. 

my dog killed a squirrel
My dog killed a squirrel, should I worry?

Final Thoughts 

No, dogs shouldn’t eat bread crust. Even if your dog has eaten bread crust in the past and was fine, you shouldn’t give it to him again. As we’ve learned here, there are several reasons why it’s a bad idea to give bread crust to your pooch. Avoid giving your dog human food. Instead, offer him tasty and nutritious protein-rich treats made especially for dogs.