Can dogs eat bread? And cats?
Plain baked bread is harmless in small amounts. Raw yeast dough is a genuine emergency.
A crumb is fine; there is no nutritional reason to share it.
A bite of plain baked bread will not hurt a healthy dog or cat, though it is empty calories. The real danger is rising yeast dough: in the warm stomach it keeps expanding, and the yeast ferments sugars into alcohol, producing a painful bloat plus alcohol poisoning at the same time. Rising dough on the counter is a true pet emergency waiting to happen.
Signs to watch for
- Raw dough: bloated painful belly, stumbling, vomiting or retching
Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control people-foods guidance, Merck Veterinary Manual, Pet Poison Helpline. Verdicts are conservative by design: where evidence is thin we choose the stricter rating.
This is general educational information, not veterinary advice. When in doubt about your own pet, ask your veterinarian.
If your pet just ate something risky, act now: call your vet, ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, or Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661 (consultation fees may apply).