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A walk down the pet food aisle shows high-end (and high-priced) kibbles boasting “grain-free” formulas. We’re made to feel guilty if we feed our dogs the dreaded grain. But what’s the big deal?
Grain may have gotten a really bad name from the 2007 pet-food contamination tragedy in which wheat gluten imported from China had been contaminated with industrial chemicals used to falsely boost protein-level readings and caused kidney damage when ingested. Thousands of pets got ill and many died. Of course it wasn’t the grain itself that was the culprit, but that’s what many people remember.
Combine that incident with the human gluten-free food trend, and it’s only natural that health-conscious pet owners would consider the same for their dogs. It’s not that wheat gluten is evil. Some people have the auto-immune disorder Celiac Disease, some have non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and some may have a wheat allergy. The rest of us are just fine with it and can eat it or be exposed to it with no adverse effects. We don’t know what percentage of dogs may have a similar condition, but chances are it’s not all of them.
What about the claim that grains cause food allergies? Grains don’t cause allergies. They can, however, be the target of allergies, and some foods are more allergenic than others. Those foods are specific ones, such as wheat, not general categories, such as grains.
The top five allergy-provoking ingredients for dogs are (in order):
Some dogs can have an allergy to storage mites. Several studies have found that dry dog food that has been opened and stored in non-sealed containers for six weeks often (but not always) grows storage mites. The studies did not differentiate between grain-free foods and those containing grain. One study concluded that these mites can be prevented by storing food in cool, dry environments, in sealed containers, and for not more than a month. They also concluded that while dogs can be allergic to storage mites, more are allergic to household dust mites.
Some people are concerned about the use of genetically modified grains. They believe their use can lead to “leaky gut syndrome” in which small fissures develop in the gut lining, allowing bacteria, toxins, incompletely digested proteins, and fats to leak into the bloodstream, triggering an autoimmune response resulting in food sensitivities, fatigue, skin rashes, gas, and bloating. But there is no actual evidence of this occurring—at this point, just speculation. Nonetheless, if GMOs concern you, look for foods with less popular grains, which are less likely to be genetically modified. These include barley, oats, millet, quinoa, teff, buckwheat, and amaranth.
There’s also the perception that dogs should be eating a diet similar to their wild ancestors’. When was the last time you saw a wolf nibbling the kernels off a corncob? However, dogs are actually different from wolves in this regard; in fact, scientists believe that one of the physiological changes that helped dogs evolve alongside humans was the ability to digest starch. Dogs have differences in 10 key genes compared to wolves that enable them to better utilize grains than wolves can.
Furthermore, grain-free foods don’t mean plant-free foods. Grains are seeds, like wheat, rice, oats, corn, barley, millet, oatmeal, and quinoa. Grain-free diets use other plant sources such as potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, tapioca, peas, butternut squash, parsnips, carrots, spinach greens, and various fruits. These are also not foods wolves are known to eat. In fact, some of these ingredients provide less nutrition than grains.
This idea probably came about from the Atkins low-carb diet popular with humans. But grain-free does not mean carbohydrate-free. Grain-free foods contain about the same amount of carbohydrates as foods containing grains. In actuality, wheat gluten contains more than 80 percent protein, is 99 percent digestible, and has an amino acid profile similar to meat proteins. Corn, when prepared properly, is actually an excellent source of highly digestible carbohydrate, essential fatty acids, and fiber, and can be an especially crucial ingredient in diets for dogs with medical conditions requiring reduced fat or protein.
How to tell if your dog is gluten intolerant
There are two ways to find out if your dog has a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance:
How much wheat flour can dogs eat?
The amount of flour that is safe for dogs to eat depends on how much the dog weighs and if it’s been spayed or neutered. For example, a Great Dane can safely eat 10 times as much wheat flour as a Chihuahua.
Consult your veterinarian before adding anything new to your dog’s diet. Small amounts of wheat flour can be a great addition to any dog’s diet; it helps them stay healthy and gives them the protein they need to grow. Wheat flour also can help their coats become shinier and healthier and give your dog’s teeth a good scrubbing.
Small amounts of flour can be a great supplement to add to any dog’s diet because it helps make them feel full. Wheat flour can be used as an alternative to other carbohydrate-rich foods such as rice or potatoes.
Can dogs eat flour? | Flours which are not recommended for dogs |
“Enriched” white flour should come with a warning label. Flour has no nutritional value, and this includes white, all-purpose, wheat, pastry flour, and the rest. The problem is not so much the wheat itself, but in the processing. And if flour is no good for humans, you can bet it’s no good for your dog. Unprocessed whole wheat, which has fiber and other nutrients, is stripped of its husk, and bleached, leaving behind a substandard food.
Unfortunately for humans, and dogs, food products made with white flour are tempting: dinner rolls, pizza crust, doughnuts, cakes and other pastries. But if you’re going to eat those items, you might as well swallow a spoonful of sugar. Just as eating refined sugar negatively affects blood sugar and can cause diabetes (in dogs too), white flour, though not sweet tasting, basically breaks down into glucose. Eating a slice of white bread literally turns to sugar in your mouth and your body.
Flour and water, when mixed, turns into a paste. It’s sticky: that’s why you need to scatter flour over your counter top when you roll out dough. You can even use flour and water as a paste when making homemade crafts. So, when a dog eats a gluten-refined grain, like wheat flour, the paste sticks to the villi (the finger-like projections that move digested food along the intestines) and sticks to the colon wall. If the colon and intestines are covered in paste, they are unable to do their job–which is to absorb nutrients.
When dogs consume white flour they can suffer digestive problems and bloating. Some experts claim that eating white flour can lead to inflammatory bowel syndrome or dog colitis, swelling of the colon and/or large intestine.
Perhaps the biggest risk for flour consumption is that dogs can have an allergic reaction or food sensitivity to certain grains. The big offenders include corn, soy, and wheat. Common symptoms include itchy skin, usually on the face, ears, legs, and feet. These can lead to chronic ear infections, hair loss, and skin infections. Unchecked allergies could lead to serious health conditions, and even death. Always introduce new foods gradually, then watch your dog for changes in behavior or skin.
A dog’s diet should consist of meat, vegetables, and fruit. The most significant component should be protein, then carbohydrates, then fats. And while it’s not necessary for dogs to eat flour of any kind, if you choose to buy or make treats for them using flour, use the most healthful products possible. Flours can be made from grains, nuts, beans and other sources. To keep it simple, try to remember: one-third to three-quarters of your dog’s diet should include protein from meat or other protein products. The other thirds to fourths should consist of vegetables and fruits, and good grains.
Flour appears in so many recipes and dog food products it may be difficult to avoid completely. And, some grains rejected for human consumption can make it into pet food. You’ll want to look for “whole grain” or “grain-free” flours. Just like it sounds, whole grain contains the “whole” grain. Choose quinoa, oats, barley, and the like. And for grain-free choices, try lentil, potato, or almond flour.
Certain whole grain wheats contain fibers that may help in the growth of good bacteria in the gut and/or intestines. Just as in humans, fiber in a dog’s diet can help him or her stay regular, especially in older dogs. Whole grains also boost a dog’s energy level. Good grains can give your dog the energy to tackle muscle building and metabolism raising exercise.
Always read the dog food label. Moderate amounts of whole wheat, when combined with a protein-rich diet can be beneficial. Choose a dog food where the main ingredient is meat, not meat byproducts. When in doubt, leave wheat out.