Have you jumped on the sourdough train? If so and you're a pet owner, you may be wondering: is sourdough safe for pets?

Plain, fully baked sourdough bread isn't toxic to pets, similar to most other types of bread that don't contain harmful ingredients. However, if your pet eats raw sourdough bread or starter it can be extremely dangerous and even life threatening due to the fermentation process.

Let’s look a little further into it!

Is Baked Sourdough Bread Safe for Pets?

For both dogs and cats, small amounts of plain, fully baked sourdough bread are not toxic. Occasionally offering a bite isn’t harmful, but be sure it doesn’t have toxic add-ins to keep it safe for them!

Toxic add-ins include:

• Raisins or grapes
• Onions and garlic
• Chocolate
• Nuts
• Xylitol (a sugar substitute often found in “sugar-free” foods)

These ingredients can cause severe poisoning in both dogs and cats.

The Real Risk of Making Sourdough – Raw Dough and Starter

When raw dough is ingested, it continues to ferment inside your pet’s stomach. Fermentation is the process that makes the bread rise. In the fermentation process yeast uses sugars, producing carbon dioxide gas and alcohol which, if absorbed into the bloodstream, can lead to alcohol poisoning. When the dough rises and expands, it can also cause painful and dangerous bloat.

Symptoms of Dough/Alcohol Poisoning in Dogs and Cats:

• Vomiting
• Lethargy or weakness
• Staggering or uncoordinated movement
• Abdominal distention (bloat)
• Unproductive retching (dogs)
• Disorientation
• Seizures or coma

Severe cases may cause dangerously low blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature leading to respiratory failure or death if untreated.

What To Do If Your Dog or Cat Eats Raw Sourdough

If you suspect or saw your pet has eaten raw dough or starter:

• Call your veterinarian immediately
• Contact the Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 for emergency guidance
• Take your pet to the nearest veterinary clinic without delay

Fast action can be lifesaving.

Preventing Dough/Starter Disasters at Home

Never underestimate a determined counter-surfer! Keeping pets safe is easier with a few precautions:

• Store rising dough in a secure oven, microwave, or cabinet—not on the counter
• Use childproof locks if your cat or dog has learned how to open doors
• Block off the kitchen with a pet gate while baking
• Provide safe toys or treats to keep occupied while you bake

Reference list:
Pet Poison Helpline. (n.d.). Can dogs eat sourdough bread? Retrieved from https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-tips/can-dogs-eat-sourdough-bread

ASPCApro. (n.d.). Bread ingestion in pets. Retrieved from https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/bread-ingestion-pets

Merck Veterinary Manual. (n.d.). Bread dough toxicosis in animals. Retrieved from https://www.merckvetmanual