Raw yeast dough and baker's yeast also pose an extremely high risk to dogs. They can cause alcohol poisoning and intestinal torsion.

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Here's why yeast, raw pasta, is a huge danger to dogs.

Never leave the dog unattended while baking or waiting for the pasta to rise!

Why is yeast in raw pasta dangerous for dogs?

When a dog eats yeast or yeast dough, it creates an ideal environment for yeast to multiply in the digestive tract. The mass of the dough swells in the dog's stomach, putting pressure on the surrounding organs, which can cause breathing difficulties. The dog may try to cough up or vomit the dough, but its sticky consistency makes this difficult. As the condition progresses, the fermenting yeast cells produce ethanol and the dog's blood alcohol level rises to toxic levels. As with alcohol poisoning, uncooked dough can cause drunkenness, lack of co-ordination and a weakened central nervous system, leading to depression.

Treatment can relieve the symptoms of alcohol poisoning and increase the chance of survival, but in severe cases it can still be fatal. In some cases, the bread dough has to be surgically removed. Susceptible breeds are particularly at risk of a serious complication, gastric torsion. In this condition, the stomach can become displaced and twisted during distension. This is usually due to gas and bloating accumulating in the stomach, but bloated bread dough can cause the same effect. Stomach distension and twisting are more likely to occur in large or giant dogs. If the stomach is severely twisted, there is a risk of fatal intestinal rupture.

Although raw pasta is particularly dangerous, fried pasta and raw yeast can also ferment in the stomach, so neither should be given to your dog!

Symptoms and diagnosis of poisoning

Early symptoms are usually the same as those of intestinal torsion. The dog may try to vomit, but cannot produce anything other than foam in the process. You may notice a distended abdomen, bloated pasta and gas, and the dog may also have an elevated heart rate, weakness and even fainting.

Intoxication is often diagnosed by symptoms and blood tests showing toxic levels of alcohol and severe abdominal distension. Other factors can also cause high blood alcohol levels, so it is important to thoroughly investigate the dog's history and any exposure to alcoholic products. An X-ray may also be necessary to determine the extent of the problem and to rule out gastric torsion and other abdominal problems, such as the presence of a foreign body.

It is very important to act immediately, because the condition can quickly reach critical or unsalvageable levels! The Veterinary Partner website points that we should try to keep the abdomen cool until we get to the doctor, as yeast prefers warm places, so we can delay the process.

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Treatment of poisoning and recovery

In the early stages, vomiting can be attempted, but is rarely effective with large amounts of pasta. Dogs showing signs of alcohol poisoning should be stabilised immediately in specialist care. Intravenous infusion and electrolyte replacement may be required to restore metabolic balance. Fluid and diuretic therapy will help dilute blood alcohol levels and promote alcohol excretion. Once the symptoms of alcohol intoxication have stabilised, further treatment may involve the removal of the breadcrumbs, which in severe cases may involve surgery. In the case of intestinal torsion, urgent surgical intervention is also required to save the dog.

If treated quickly and successfully, the dog may recover completely from the poisoning, especially if it ate only a small amount and was able to vomit up the pasta on its own before fermentation and swelling. If the doctor can quickly stabilise the poisoning and remove the pasta, the chances are also good. However, severe alcohol poisoning can cause irreversible brain damage and death.