Can Bearded Dragons Eat Bread?

Breaking Bread With Bearded Dragons – The Need To Know

Bread is a staple breakfast food in most homes. But can bearded dragons eat bread?

No, they should not eat bread. It adds almost no nutritional value to a bearded dragon.

Here are the reasons for that.

Bread In A Bearded Dragon’s Diet

Bearded dragons can and should eat a wide range of foods.  They are omnivores, eating a combination of plant and animal-based foods. But bread is one of the baked foods that bearded dragons should not eat.

Bread has no nutritional value and could harm your bearded dragon when it expands in its stomach.

Bread contains wheat flour, yeast, sweeteners, salt, and fat.  Other ingredients can include cream, juice, butter, and eggs.  

It is a starchy food that bearded dragons are unaccustomed to eating in the wild.

Learn more through this chart about bread and its effect on bearded dragons.

Nutrient Content Of Some Types Of Bread

	White Bread	Whole Wheat Bread	Sourdough Bread
Serving Size	1 slice (25 g)	1 thin slice (33 g)	1 small slice (32 g)
Calories	67	92	93
Total fat	1 g	2 g	0.6 g
Carbohydrates	13 g	17 g	18 g
Protein	2 g	3 g	4 g
Fiber	0.6 g	2 g	1 g
Thiamine	8 %	7 %	9 %
Folate	7 %	5 %	12 %
Sodium	7 %	5 %	9 %
Manganese	6 %	31 %	8 %
Selenium	6 %	18 %	12 %
Riboflavin	5 %	4 %	5 %
Niacin	5 %	7 %	8 %
Iron	5 %	6 %	6 %

Why Can’t Bearded Dragons Eat Bread?  The Risks

Low nutritional value

It is clear from the above nutritional table that bread has little to no nutritional benefit to bearded dragons. Eating nutritious food is very important for their growth, especially for baby bearded or juvenile dragons.

Only feed your dragon food that is healthy and nutritious.

Dehydration

Bread absorbs water and then swells in bearded dragons.

Because bearded dragons do not drink that much water and the importance of hydration, eating bread is not healthy.

Dehydration is dangerous to a bearded dragon that is shedding or preparing to shed.

Therefore, again, avoid feeding bearded dragons bread.

Symptoms of dehydration are

•  Constipation
• Sunken Eyes
• Wrinkled Skin
• Lethargy
• Lack Of Appetite 

Constipation

Bread may cause constipation as it swells the bearded dragon’s stomach and becomes hard to digest. Even worse, a constipated dragon may not be able to eat and pass poop.

Constipation causes Impaction that is dangerous and sometimes fatal to bearded dragons

To avoid impaction and constipation, ensure your dragon has enough fiber and exercise. Some of the best exercises are swimming and letting it chase after its prey.

Symptoms Of Bread Poisoning In Bearded Dragons

Bearded dragons that eat bread can experience several adverse symptoms, including indigestion, intestinal cramping, constipation, and even poisoning.

Signs that a bearded dragon may be suffering from bread poisoning include drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. If left untreated, bread poisoning can be fatal.

For this reason, do not feed your bearded dragon bread.

Can Bearded Dragons Be Allergic To Bread?

Bearded dragons cannot be allergic to bread.  Bearded dragons can eat other more nutritious things, such as insects.

If you are looking for food to give your bearded dragon, there are many different types of insects that they can eat. You can find these insects at your local pet store, or you can also catch them yourself.

What To Do If Your Bearded Dragon Ate Bread

If your bearded dragon eats bread, you should.:

First, contact your vet. Even if the bread is not a choking hazard, it can still cause health problems for your bearded dragon.

Second, remove all bread from your bearded dragon’s diet.

Bread is high in carbohydrates and can cause obesity and diabetes.

Instead, feed your bearded dragon healthy vegetables and fruits. These are low in carbohydrates and provide your bearded dragon with the nutrients it needs.

A healthy diet is crucial for a healthy bearded dragon. So, if your bearded dragon eats bread, make sure to make some changes to his diet.

Other Foods Bearded Dragons Should Avoid

As you already know, bearded dragons in captivity should eat natural foods that emulate their diet in the wild. And their balanced diet involves the combination of fruits, vegetables, and live wild insects.

However, there are fruits, vegetables, and insects that bearded dragons should avoid eating. Such food includes avocado, dairy products, and pumpkin seeds, which are harmful and even toxic.

Food For Thought

Foods safe for your bearded dragon to consume include sweet potato, collard greens, dandelions, and raspberries.

Continually research the food you want to introduce to your bearded dragon’s diet.  Food that is safe for humans to consume might be risky for bearded dragons.  Whenever you feel uncertain, please seek veterinary advice.