Over the last couple of months, we have seen more than 5 times the number of enquiries regarding uncooked bread dough ingestion in dogs compared to the same period this time last year. Given the increased demand for bread flour and other baking ingredients reported by supermarkets in the UK, this is not particularly surprising!
With more people staying at home as lockdown continues, more and more of us seem to be baking. It is important, however, for owners to be aware of the hazards that bread dough poses to their pets and to ensure they are able to act promptly should any incidences of dough-theft occur.
There are two primary problems associated with the ingestion of uncooked bread dough – both of which are due to yeast fermentation:
- Expansion of the dough mass which can result in gastric distension and potential obstruction, and
- Production of ethanol which can cause intoxication.
The quantity of yeast fermentation and ethanol produced varies case by case, and as such a treatment dose for bread dough ingestion cannot be formulated. However, with prompt treatment, most cases can be managed effectively with good prognosis.
VPIS are available 24/7 to help with cases such as this. Similarly, our owner-focused service, Animal PoisonLine (APL), can help guide owners on seeking immediate veterinary attention when needed.
