Can Dogs Eat Flour

Is It Safe for My Dog to Eat Flour?

Yes, it’s safe for dogs to eat flour if they don’t have a wheat or grain intolerance. Flour is used widely in commercial dog food and treats as a binding agent, so chances are your dog is already eating flour.

What is Flour?

Flour is the result of grinding up cereal or grain to make a fine powder. It’s more digestible this way and easier to use in baking. Whole grain flour is the whole grain ground up including the bran, germ and endosperm whereas refined flour is just the endosperm. If you’re wondering about ‘meal’ as in cornmeal that’s a type of flour too, but it’s less finely ground up. The word flour actually comes from the word flower or rather fleur which is French for flower and also the finest. Flour is a variant of fleur, so flour got its name because it’s the finest part of the ground-up meal. Humans have used ground-up grain for thousands of years, dating back at least 6,000 BC and archaeologists have found bread-baking evidence even further back in time to 14,000 BC in northwest Jordan. It’s certainly a food product that we’ve relied on for many years.

Health Benefits of Flour

There’s a surprising amount of nutrients in flour, but not all flours are created equal. Whole wheat versions have the most benefits because they retain more of the grain, so if you are looking for the healthiest flour choose one that’s whole and not refined. Here are some of flour’s health benefits and a few of the tasks its nutrients perform:

Vitamin B1 – helps convert food into energySelenium – makes DNA, metabolizes hormones, and protects against infectionsFolate – supports protein metabolism, healthy DNA, and red blood cell formationRiboflavin – an antioxidant that converts food to energy and supports cell functionsNiacin – supports the nervous system and digestive systemIron – creates red blood cells and maintains the immune systemManganese – helps form connective tissues and supports blood clottingPhosphorus – repairs tissue and cells and helps metabolize other nutrients

So there are plenty of health benefits in flour, but what about the risks?

Risks of Eating Flour

There are very few risks associated with dogs eating flour and, as we’ve already seen, lots of pet food manufacturers include it in their balanced commercial foods, but here are the potential ways flour can be harmful.

Loose flour is a choking hazard

Dogs should never be given a bag of flour to play with or eat because the fine particles can cause choking and even enter their lungs and cause breathing difficulties or infections. If your dog gets into a flour bag and starts coughing, sneezing, and choking take them straight outside and offer water. Wipe their eyes and nose clear and call a vet for advice if you’re concerned.

Wheat intolerance

Just like humans, dogs can have an intolerance or an allergy to certain foods. Wheat intolerance isn’t uncommon and as a result, dog food manufacturers offer grain-free dog food. We’ll talk about wheat intolerance a bit later.

Potential for bacteria

Raw flour (or dough and batters) can contain bacteria such as E-coli. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended all food containing flour is cooked before it’s eaten.

High Carbs

Flour is low in fat and cholesterol but it is a high-carb food, so too much of it can lead to doggy weight gain. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention 56% of pet dogs in the United States are overweight or obese. Being overweight reduces your dog’s quality of life because it can lead to joint pain, diabetes, and an increased risk of cancer or hypertension.

Can Dogs Eat Whole Wheat Flour?

Yes, dogs can eat whole wheat flour unless they’re intolerant and it’s a better choice because it contains more nutrients and fiber than white, refined, or bleached flours do. Eating the germ, endosperm, and bran parts of cereal means your dog will get more vitamins and minerals in greater quantities.

Wheat Allergy Symptoms

Dogs can be allergic to wheat just like humans can. A wheat allergy creates symptoms that include stomach aches, diarrhea, itchy skin, and a runny nose. Over time, a dog will go gradually downhill and one of the first signs is usually a poor coat that they are always scratching and chewing on. Vets can diagnose a wheat allergy easily through a blood test or stool test. If your dog is suffering after eating wheat, he’ll need to avoid wheat flour. Unfortunately, wheat is common in dog food and treats, however, there are lots of retailers offering wheat or grain-free dog food to try out.

Gluten Intolerance

A gluten intolerance is similar but it’s a digestive disorder, not an allergy and a wider range of grains will result in symptoms. Gluten is a protein found in wheat plus barley and rye so each of these grains will cause symptoms. If you think your dog has a wheat allergy and you cut it out of their diet but they continue to have symptoms it could be they are intolerant to gluten. In this case, you’ll need to cut out rye and barley too.

My Dog Ate a Bag of Flour What Should I Do?

Unless your pooch has an intolerance there’s no need to worry, flour won’t harm them. Just monitor them for a few days in case they’ve inhaled flour particles and it’s caused a blockage or infection. Any concerns and a vet is best placed to advise.

What Foods are Poisonous to Dogs?

Flour isn’t toxic for dogs and it’s a widely used ingredient in dog food, but there are some foods and drink they should never ingest.

Garlic – garlic, onions, chives, and shallots are all part of the Allium family that’s dog toxic. Their compounds stick to red blood cells and cause anemia. This applied to raw or cooked alliums, so be vigilant around garlic bread and pizza meal times in case Rover snaffles something.Chocolate – this sweet treat is tempting to dogs but the caffeine and the theobromine are stimulants they can’t process. Chocolate can cause organ failure, so it’s really important to keep candy bars, cakes, and biscuits out of reach.Grapes – Scientists aren’t sure why grapes are so toxic to dogs, but they think the compounds are indigestible. Grapes (and wine, juices, and raisins) are really toxic and may lead to organ failure.Macadamia nuts – these tasty nuts are eaten whole or baked into cookies and cakes but they are highly toxic to dogs. One of the first signs of macadamia nut poisoning is weak back legs because they quickly affect dogs’ muscles and coordination.Alcohol – Alcohol contains ethanol which is toxic and results in liver and kidney failure. This includes wines, beer, spirits, cocktails, and alcohol-infused sweets.Xylitol – artificial sweeteners are really bad news for dogs. They create a huge drop in blood pressure that can cause hypoglycemia and be fatal. Xylitol is most often found in low-sugar options including Jell-o, juice, and coffee creamer.