Dietary Problems
In Nature… Dogs Don’t Eat Wheat.
Amazingly, wheat is one of the top ingredients in most dog foods. Many dogs can tolerate it just fine, but quite a few do not! Wheat Gluten is a known allergen and when you stop to think about it, canines in nature rarely eat grass or grain unless they are feeling sick. So why is wheat a top ingredient in so many dog food products? It is mainly used as filler, along with other grains, to bulk up the product and stretch the meat flavoring, and wheat is a cheaper source of protein than animal products.
I often see dogs with chronic problems such as foot licking, chewing, scratching, sores, red inflamed skin or ear infections. If a vet is treating them without results, I ask the pet owner about the wheat content in their dog's diet. Frequently, many pet owners are not aware of the content of their dog's food at all, or that wheat is a major ingredient.
Let me tell you a story from my own experience that made me a believer in a canine wheat-free diet. I have a German Shepherd that, at a relatively young age, began to develop chronic ear infections. I consulted my vet (as you should always do) and, after several trips, the ear infections kept recurring. I began to suspect a dietary problem when my vet told me it was probably a yeast infection caused by allergies. In her case, I knew it was more likely the content of her food than an evironmental source and I suspected wheat could be the culprit since it is a well known allergen. As an experiment, I took her off wheat based food and within 3 months, her ears had healed and the infections stopped. That was 9 years ago and we’ve never had a recurrence!
I've also recently adopted a 10-year-old Maltese rescue who needed to gain some weight, so I put her on high quality food for small dogs. I noticed after a few weeks on the new food that she began to obsessively lick her paws and was staining them. Once again I guessed that wheat in the food was acting like an allergen in her system. I switched to a wheat free food and within a month the obsessive licking had stopped.
If you have a pet that has chronic issues like the ones mentioned, you should first consult your veterinarian since there could be any number of causes and treatments. However,
in my opinion, wheat allergy is too often over-looked, and if you have a pet that is not responding to your vet’s treatment, you may want to consider the possibility of a dietary issue and get them off of wheat. It is a simple, inexpensive solution that can do no harm to your pet.
It has been my experience that you will need to allow at least a month to three months trial on a new food to see a difference and allow some time for healing. I have also found that the product labels can be confusing and you must read the ingredients on the package to find a wheat-free brand.
Even some brands of Lamb & Rice contain wheat. I have found that the other grains like corn, sorghum, barley, and rice, do not seem to bother dogs like wheat, but I have heard that some dogs are sensitive to corn. Two brands that are fairly easy to obtain and are reliably wheat or grain free; Solid Gold and Taste of the Wild. I sincerely hope that some of you will find this information useful and beneficial in nurturing your pet to better health.
After all, they depend on you!
The following articles are a resource you may find helpful too:
Food Dangers
While we are on the topic of food; here is another valuable resource on the danger that some common human foods can pose for your pet. Most people would never guess that some safe human foods can prove fatal for your canine friend. Nutmeg, garlic, grapes, raisins, nuts, chocolate, and many others are on the danger list for you pet. The following link will take you to a valuable resource. Please review the list; you will be surprised at what you will learn. And as a safety measure, keep the phone number of your local Vet,
Animal Poison Hotline, and nearest 24 Hour Pet Emergency Clinic in your contacts for quick access in case of an emergency. It could be worth it for your Best Friend and your peace of mind.
