 The Short Answer is: |
Your dog’s speed of recovery will depend on how much flour he or she consumed. Your dog shouldn’t suffer any health effects from eating flour, since it isn’t toxic. |
The purpose of this article is to explain “My Dog Ate Flour“.
What are the reasons why dogs eat flour?
There are some dogs that eat flour simply because it is there.
The item is hidden behind a cupboard door thats slightly ajar and their parents have left.
The reason dogs eat grass is still a mystery to scientists so there can not just be one reason why they eat flour.
It is strange to eat flour.
Its a very unattractive thing even for a dog to attempt to eat on its own but combined with other ingredients can become gorgeous.
PICA is a medical diagnosis given to dogs who regularly consume non-food items and flour appears to fall within that definition.
There is no doubt that flour does not provide much nutrition to dogs so it should not be a large part of their diet.
According to this analysis it contains over 70% carbohydrates.
My dog ate flour what should I do?
Your dogs speed of recovery will depend on how much flour he or she consumed.
Your dog should not suffer any health effects from eating flour since it isnot toxic.
The exception to this rule is dogs suffering from gluten intolerance but I will cover that in more detail in a later section.
When your dog eats a large amount of flour (and by that I mean more than a few licks out of the bag) expect your dog to either vomit or have one or more episodes of diarrhea soon.
This would not be a very comfortable experience for your dog.
You can expect your dog to look a bit sorry for themselves after eating that lump of flour- they will probably have a bit of an upset stomach.
Freshwater should always be available to your dog.
In addition to softening the lump of flour the water will also benefit your dogs throat which is perhaps linked with flour and very dry.
As for your dog I recommend feeding them as usual but maybe give them a smaller portion.
You can expect your dog to be a bit “off-color” for about twenty-four hours but if they show any symptoms beyond that you should consult a veterinarian.
What are the biggest selling flours?
It is truly staggering how many types of flour you can find in your home.
As time has gone on all-purpose flour and self-rising flour have become less common.
We all traditionally used wheat flour to make our flours.
However things have changed since then.
In addition to wheat other grains such as rye barley corn and rice have become increasingly popular and are more likely to find their way into peoples cupboards.
But does this greater variety of flours pose an increased risk to our dogs?
Does any of these “newer” flours pose a greater threat to our dogs?
In the next section I will discuss this
Are any flours toxic to dogs?
Considering that dogs are not naturally allergic to wheat or any other grain (rye barley corn rice etc.) then the vast majority of dogs are fine with any type of flour.
No matter how unnutritious they may be for dogs none of them are toxic to them.
However there are two possible exceptions to this general rule: gluten-intolerant dogs and self-rising flour.
I will discuss gluten intolerance in a later section but for now I want to talk a bit about self-rising flour.
The majority of flour bags contain one ingredient- the “powder” of a specific grain.
Self-rising flour differs from regular flour in that a bag contains ground flour baking powder and salt.
Some of you may be concerned that self-rising flour poses specific risks to our dogs.
You are right to be cautious about adding baking powder and salt to your dogs diet but the amount of baking powder or salt in a bag of self-rising flour should not worry you excessively.
If your dog starts snaking on a bag of self-rising flour be much more concerned with how much flour he has eaten than what baking powder or salt might do to him.
In the interest of your convenience self-rising flour contains a little over three percent baking powder and a little over half a percent salt.
In the next section we’ll look at another exception that poses a real threat – bread dough.
The dangers of bread dough
There should be no problem if your dog eats flour. Likewise bread should not be a problem.
As occasional treats or “accidents” neither of these ingredients should form a significant part of your dogs diet. Your dog should not suffer lasting harm from them.
The majority of bread dough however is an entirely different animal.
I know that many dog owners bake their own bread because I did it a lot a few years ago.
When you bake your own bread you need a lot of time because bread dough needs time to rise or prove.
This could be a time when your dough accidentally disappears if you have a dog that steals from the worktop.
Because of the yeast present in bread dough there is a “clear and present danger” to your dog.
A small lump of dough is transformed into a much larger lump by yeast.
There is a chance that if your dog eats the bread dough it will now undergo the transformation in its stomach.
The first problem is that the larger lump of dough might cause a blockage somewhere in your dogs system.
It could also cause bloating in rare cases.
Alcohol poisoning is the second danger. The yeast ferments releasing alcohol straight into the bloodstream of your dog.
In essence you have a drunk dog with the same symptoms as a drunk person but water aspirin and a good nights sleep would not help.
An appointment with the vet is the only solution.
What does that mean for other types of bread dough?
Those of you who love to make your own tortillas can breathe a sigh of relief.
Tortilla dough does not contain yeast and if your dog raids your stash of “dough” they are in for a sticky tasteless uncomfortable time but it probably would not involve taking them to the vet.
What other common dog foods contain flour and wheat?
Although a wider selection of grain-free dog foods is now available wheat is still commonly found in most commercial dog foods.
One of the best-selling dog foods on Amazon this kibble is made with whole grains. Whole grain wheat is ground into the kibble.
Most of your favorite dog biscuits have flour in them like the range of “milk bone” treats.
Gluten intolerance in dogs
People with gluten intolerance have an allergic reaction to gluten which is a protein found in wheat.
The reactions are varied and may include things such as bloating or constipation.
The number of dogs affected by gluten intolerance is not known. About 1% of people are gluten intolerant but that number is not known for dogs.
Here is an intriguing article on gluten intolerance in setter dogs.
Dogs with gluten intolerance may experience hair loss and diarrhea.
Amanda (Author)
With over a decade of experience, Amanda is a distinguished dog trainer. Her expertise in canine behavior has transformed countless lives, fostering harmonious human-canine connections. Through compassionate and personalized approaches, she empowers owners to understand and connect with their furry companions, creating a legacy of joyful tails and transformed lives.
Osvaldo Maciel (Content Reviewer)
Osvaldo Maciel, a stalwart in the field with 14 years of experience, is a revered dog trainer. His journey is defined by a profound understanding of canine behavior, shaping unbreakable human-canine bonds. Osvaldo guides owners to connect with their beloved pets, leaving an indelible mark of happiness and transformation. His legacy shines through the countless lives he has touched.
