It comes in handy when you want to fix something fast.
The problem is as you move around the kitchen fixing the bread, your dog follows you around as if monitoring your steps count.
She doesn’t know that she’s not part of the plan.
Finally, with the bread ready, you sit to enjoy but oh boy!
The look on your dog’s face makes you want to share but should you?
Can dogs eat multigrain bread?
Yes, a dog can have some multigrain bread, but you need to do it in moderation as it contains too many carbs that could lead to weight gain, which is not healthy.
Most times, dogs are attracted to feed on what their owners have, so in this article, we explore all you need to know when treating your dog to some multigrain bread.
Benefits of Feeding Multigrain Bread to Your Dog
A multigrain bread contains different ingredients that could benefit your furry friend.
Sharing a bite has the following benefits:
Controls Overeating
A loaf of multigrain bread is high in fiber, making the dog feel full fast and longer.
If you want to control overeating for your dog, then this would serve as an excellent choice.
The bread will also help when going for a long ride with your pooch, as the hunger pangs won’t be as recurrent.
Or, if you will be away from home for a long time, sharing a multigrain bread will keep the dog full for longer.
Improves Digestive System
A multigrain bread, especially one made with whole grains, comes in handy in improving the entire digestive system.
The dietary fiber helps in the flawless movement of food within the system, which helps eliminate constipation, bloating, and diarrhea.
The multigrain bread also aids in improving your dog’s metabolic system through the fast processing of foods within the system.
Increased Energy
Multigrain bread, especially those made with whole grains consisting of endosperm, germ, and bran, goes a long way in boosting your dog’s muscles and overall body strength.
If you are looking to improve the stamina and balance of your dog, then sharing a bite of multigrain bread will go a long way in helping you achieve that goal.
The carbohydrate content in the bread also helps in bone formation and tendon strengthening.
Improved Heart Health
The multigrain bread goes a long way in boosting your dog’s heart health.
Unlike white bread, the multigrain option helps lower the cholesterol in the dog’s system.
With the help of high dietary fiber, a multigrain bread eliminates the chance of blood clots and allows the free flow of blood in and out of your dog’s heart.
The bread also helps control the blood sugar levels in your dog, lowering the risk of diabetes compared to other types of bread such as white bread.
Risks of Feeding Multigrain Bread to Your Dog
Multigrain bread is not the ideal treat for your dog, here are possible risks your dog will be exposed to:
Allergic Reactions
Dogs are carnivores, and grains may trigger allergic reactions.
Before sharing that slice of multigrain bread, ensure you have your dog’s health history.
Is there an allergic reaction history?
If the dog is allergic to some grain in the bread, you will notice the following symptoms after feeding:
Sneezing
Itchiness on some parts or entire body
Teary eyes
Restlessness
Swelling in the eyes and earlaps
When sharing, check whether the bread is organic because if not, it means the bread has chemicals and preservatives, which could also act as an allergic trigger.
An allergic reaction makes a dog quite uncomfortable, and it would be unfair to subject it to the ordeal as it would ruin its day.
So instead, get a healthier dog-friendly treat that is grain-free, like an apple.
Reduced Appetite
If you feed your dog a large piece of multigrain bread, it will remain full most of the time, which means the dog will not feed on the nutritious dog meal, which is wrong.
For this reason, you should only share a bite of the bread as a snack, not as the main meal, as this would have adverse effects on the dog.
Increased Weight
As much as the multigrain bread has high fiber content, it contains carbohydrates, increasing weight when consumed frequently.
In addition, dogs find multigrain bread with gluten hard to digest.
As a result, they store the fats within the body, causing the weight increase.
If the grains are not whole, the bread will have high-fat content, leading to canine obesity.
Sometimes, to improve the taste of the multigrain bread, some manufacturers add chemicals and artificial sweeteners, which the dog finds hard to process, storing them and increasing their weight.
Some artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, are harmful to the dog.
So anytime you choose to share a piece of the multigrain bread with your dog, check the ingredients to ensure you are not endangering your furry friend.
Factors to Consider When Sharing A Multigrain Bread with Your Dog
As you share a slice of the multigrain bread with your dog, consider the following:
Go for whole-grain organic bread with fewer chemicals and preservatives added, which has fewer adverse effects.
Check your dog’s health record to ensure she is not allergic to any of the ingredients that make up the bread.
Give the dog some water after eating the bread to wash down the bread
Avoid multigrain bread laced with nuts, raisins and chocolate, which could adversely affect your dog’s health.
Consider a gluten-free option of the multigrain bread as it will have fewer digestive complications on the dog, as is common with wheat products.
Only share a slice once a week to avoid increasing the carbs ratio on your dog’s diet. Instead, treat your dog to protein-filled treats.
Hi, my name is Megan Turner and I have worked in a dog’s shelter for four years now. It is truly my dream job, and I see hundreds of dogs every month being united with new owners to give them a loving forever home.
Unfortunately, handicapped dogs are much more likely to be ignored when a family is picking out their new pet. Handicapped pets need more care than non-handicapped pets, so it is understandable why they are often harder to rehome.
