Resisting puppy eyes can be extremely tough, especially when your pooch is begging for a bite of your breakfast. However, it’s important to understand that some foods can be extremely toxic for our furry companions. What about bread dough? Can dogs eat yeast, or will it harm them?
Yeast is a type of single-celled fungus commonly used in bread baking, but also in making wine of wine and bread. You’ve probably heard of baker’s yeast that helps the bread rise. While yeast will seldom cause harm to us, it might not be the case with our pets.
So, can dogs eat yeast? Here’s what you need to know!
Can Dogs Eat Yeast?
The short answer is no, dogs cannot eat yeast. In fact, yeast is extremely toxic to dogs. You should never allow your pooch to take even the smallest bite of dough made with yeast, especially raw. Otherwise, you’re risking severe health complications.
Still, if you’re wondering can dogs eat yeast, you likely want to learn more information about the harms of eating yeast. This isn’t as simple, but don’t worry – we’ve got you.
Dangers of Eating Yeast
Many human foods carry dangers to our pets. This includes spices such as paprika, but also certain fruits and veggies, such as passion fruit. Another dangerous food is yeast.
There are two dangers of dogs eating yeast:
- Bloat
- Alcohol poisoning.
We’ll explain both in great detail.
Bloat
Yeast causes dough to rise. This is because it grows rapidly in moist and warm environments. As such, dog’s guts are like a heaven for them! When a canine eats yeast, the fungus will grow, causing their stomach and guts to expand. This can cause pressure on dog’s intestines, resulting in bloat.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus, also known as bloat, is a deadly condition that often leads to death. Dogs with bloat can quickly get in a state of shock, and if you don’t react quickly, this can be fatal.
Some signs of bloat include:
- Pacing
- Shallow breathing
- Panting
- Bloated abdomen
- Behaving restlessly and anxiously
- Drooling
- Attempting to vomit
Don’t attempt to treat your pooch with any home remedies. Only a veterinarian can help your pooch, and this will likely require surgery. Take your pooch to the vet office as soon as possible!
Alcohol Poisoning
Another danger is alcohol poisoning. How come there is alcohol in yeast?
When yeast is going through the fermentation process, which will happen inside your dog’s stomach, it produces ethanol. Ethanol will then get into the dog’s system, just as if he was to take a sip of your beverage.
Alcohol poisoning might be challenging to detect. The symptoms and when will they occur vary depending on the amount consumed, as well as whether or not your pup has eaten right before he got his hands on yeast.
Some signs you need to look for include:
- Panting
- Weakness
- Hyperactivity
- Slow reflexes
- Staggering
- Drooling
- Attempting to vomit.
While the thought of a tipsy dog might sound funny, alcohol doesn’t have the same effects on dogs as it does on humans. Not only will your beloved pet be terrified as he won’t have any idea of what is happening, but you’re risking severe complications. This includes:
- Hypothermia
- Hypoglycemia
- Tremors
- Respiratory depression
Sometimes, this can lead to seizures that can be fatal.
What to Do if Your Dog Ate Yeast?
If you’ve noticed your pooch has taken a bite out of your bread dough, don’t panic. It doesn’t necessarily mean your pooch will suffer from complications. However, it is important to keep a close eye on him.
If your pup is suffering from yeast poisoning, the symptoms will likely appear in half an hour to a few hours after ingestion. Stay close to your pup so you don’t miss any important clue.
If you notice your pooch trying to vomit, acting strange, or drooling, rush him to the vet immediately. Yeast can cause death rather quickly, and you don’t want to take any chances.
Can Dogs Eat Bread?
Now that you know can dogs eat yeast, you’re probably wondering, can dogs eat bread, especially the one made with yeast?
The answer is: It depends.
Bread made with yeast is not safe for your dog. Yeast in any form is toxic, even though bread might not cause as much problems as raw yeast would. Still, this can be dangerous, so never risk it.
As for other types of bread, it all depends on the ingredient list. For example, breads with certain spices, such as garlic, onion, raisins, and cinnamon, can be very harmful. Onions can lead to conditions such as anemia, while raisins and grapes are extremely toxic and even deadly. As such, you should never leave your dog near such breads.
Standard white bread should be fine for your dog, though. However, it doesn’t have any benefits, and eating too much bread can lead to obesity. While bread is safe, there is no reason why it should become a part of your dog’s diet.
Read Also: Can Dogs Eat Goji Berries
Bottom Line
So, can dogs eat yeast?
While this fungus is a regular part of our diet, it can cause severe health problems to your pooch. Dogs don’t react the same way to yeast as humans do, and their intestines cannot digest it properly. In fact, even the smallest amounts of yeast can lead to many complications and even death.
As such, you should never allow your dog to eat yeast, especially raw dough. As pups are scavengers, they’ll surely attempt to take a bite out of your favorite bread, but you should do all you can to prevent him from having it.
If you notice your pooch eating dough with yeast, it would be the best to take him to the vet, just to stay on the safe side.