Gluten is a protein substance that’s left over, after the starch is removed from certain grains such as rice, corn and wheat. This protein helps dough to stick together which means that essentially it is “natural glue”. I’m almost certain that you would not want to ingest this type of substance, if you could avoid it. Would you want your “four-legged best friend” to ingest it? I’m sure the answer is probably “no”. In THAT case, gluten free dog food is most likely the wisest purchase choice, when deciding the type of food that would best benefit your dog’s nutritional needs. Most natural, holistic and organic dog foods will not contain gluten, but there are many other types that don’t, as well.
Some of the gluten free dog food that I have found include: Blue Buffalo™ Life Protection Formula, Earthborn™ Holistic Primitive Natural Grain Free, Wellness™ CORE and (let’s not forget your “little guy”) Pro Plan™ Puppy Optistart. You can find many other formulas that are free of grain and grain gluten, by visiting the following websites: www.petco.com, www.glamourdog.com, www.petfooddirect.com and even “re-sell” sites, like www.amazon.com. Most of your local grocery stores and supermarkets as well as your local pet stores will sell this type of nutritionally valuable dog food, as well. You may want to visit pet stores such as Animal House® and Pet Smart®.
Aside from gluten free dog food not containing this “adhesive” protein, as mentioned prior, many of these types of dog foods are all natural; some do not even contain grains, at all. The absence of certain grain products will enable your dog’s digestive tract to function better. Some grains with certain breeds of dogs can cause heart problems, so with gluten not being ingested into those particular dogs’ systems, they will have less likely of this risk. Also, you will find that there are healthier forms of protein in meat products, such as lamb, veal, beef and chicken that will provide your dog with more energy keeping him active.
If your veterinarian has stated that your dog’s diet needs grains, such as corn or rice, you may not want to purchase gluten-free dog food. In most cases, it is true that gluten is not the healthiest form of protein; however, there are certain circumstances, where your dog’s health DEPENDS on grains and even gluten. For example: If your dog suffers from any type of gestural-intestinal or digestive issues, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), or has undergone any type of gastric surgeries, she may have problems with chronic diarrhea. In a case such as this, gluten in your dog’s diet may be a necessity. Just as a human becomes dehydrated, when suffering from diarrhea, so will your dog. Dehydration can lead to other health issues, such as anemia (low iron in the blood), chronic vomiting and low energy levels, which can lead to obesity. Make sure (as with any diet, for your dog) you check with your vet, if your dog suffers from any gastric problems, if gluten should be added to her diet. Ask the vet what the daily percentage of gluten your dog should ingest. Take notes and ask the vet any other questions that may come to mind.