Current:Home > MarketsShould you give your dog gluten-free food? How to tell if pup has an intolerance.-LoTradeCoin
Should you give your dog gluten-free food? How to tell if pup has an intolerance.
View Date:2024-12-23 20:00:51
Originally designed for those with celiac disease or sensitivities, the gluten-free diet has become more of a trend than a medical intervention in recent years. About 20% of Americans follow a gluten-free diet, yet medical conditions only impact about 6% of the population.
Gluten is sometimes perceived as inherently unhealthy, even though gluten-containing whole grains are a good source of fiber, B vitamins and minerals, NYU Langone reports.
But what about man’s best friend? Do gluten products make the list of foods that are unsafe for dogs?
Can dogs eat gluten?
Gluten is typically harmless for dogs, but just like humans, some dogs may experience discomfort if they have a sensitivity. Celiac disease is rare but possible and is inherited in dogs – less than 1% have it, according to Purina.
Gluten is found in grains like wheat, barley and rye, which are popular ingredients in many pet foods because it is a low-cost way to add more protein, says Claudio Salem, the veterinary council at gluten-free dog food company PawFoods.
Talk to your vet before you put your dog on a grain-free diet. In 2018, the FDA announced it was investigating reports of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs eating grain-free diets. In general, typical regulated dog food has everything your pup needs for a nutritional diet, experts previously told USA TODAY.
How to tell if your dog has a gluten sensitivity
Gluten sensitivity can present in dogs through persistently soft stool, diarrhea with mucus and lethargy, Salem says. Salem recommends you talk to your veterinarian if you suspect your dog has a gluten sensitivity. They may recommend switching your dog to a gluten-free brand of food.
“Because we do feed our dogs every day with the same food, they have no time to recover so if that has gluten, they will be receiving gluten every day, twice a day and the inflammation in the gut will just grow.” Salem said.
Over time, dogs who have gluten sensitivity may be unable to absorb important nutrients because of how their body responds to gluten. When the digestive system perceives harm, it'll produce immunoglobulins as antibodies, which can cause intestine inflammation, Salem says.
“So in the long term, what may happen is that you are not absorbing the nutrients that you actually need and not just the gluten itself,” Salem says.
Are some breeds more likely to be sensitive to gluten?
Some research suggests Irish Setters may be predisposed to suffer from an inherited intolerance called “Gluten-sensitive enteropathy.” However, Salem contends there is not enough data to know which breeds are more susceptible.
Can my dog eat that?:These human foods are safe (and toxic) for pets
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Can dogs eat pumpkin seeds?" to "How do dogs get parvo?" to "What are the healthiest grains?", we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
veryGood! (72998)
Related
- Megan Fox Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby With Machine Gun Kelly
- IOC president Thomas Bach has done enough damage. Don't give him time to do more.
- Chris Evans confirms marriage to Alba Baptista, says they've been 'enjoying life' since wedding
- Yuval Noah Harari on the Hamas attack: Terrorists are waging a war on our souls
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Good Try (Freestyle)
- Rite Aid files for bankruptcy amid opioid-related lawsuits and falling sales
- Retail sales rise solid 0.7% in September, reflecting US shoppers’ resilience despite higher prices
- Russia is sending more forces to an eastern Ukraine city after its assault slows, analysts say
- Five best fits for Alex Bregman: Will Astros homegrown star leave as free agent?
- Phillies' Bryce Harper would play in 2028 L.A. Olympics if MLB players approved
Ranking
- 'Serial swatter': 18-year-old pleads guilty to making nearly 400 bomb threats, mass shooting calls
- A 1981 DeLorean with only 977 miles on it was unearthed in a Wisconsin barn
- M&M's Halloween Rescue Squad might help save you from an empty candy bowl on Halloween
- Hefty, Great Value trash bags settle recyclability lawsuit. Here's how you can collect.
- Sports are a must-have for many girls who grow up to be leaders
- Jail staffer warned Cavalcante was ‘planning an escape’ a month before busting out
- Martin Scorsese is still curious — and still awed by the possibilities of cinema
- In Brazil’s Amazon, rivers fall to record low levels during drought
Recommendation
-
Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site
-
Kids are tuning into the violence of the Israel Hamas war. What parents should do.
-
Wisconsin Republicans withhold university pay raises in fight over school diversity funding
-
Ja'Marr Chase Always Open merch available on 7-Eleven website; pendant is sold out
-
Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Something Corporate
-
Are 3D mammograms better than standard imaging? A diverse study aims to find out
-
Violent crime down, carjackings up, according to FBI crime statistics
-
National Pasta Day 2023: The best deals at Olive Garden, Carrabba's, Fazoli's, more