Dogs can develop allergies just like people do and one of the most common allergens is to gluten. Yes, dogs can get Celiac Disease just like humans. Wheat contains proteins and gluten is about 80% of these proteins and it is common for dogs to react badly to gluten. Most dog owners aren’t even aware that the gluten found in wheat can cause health problems in their pets. So the question is, should you choose grain free dog food for your dog?
What’s in Your Dog’s Food
Commercial dog food can contain lots of things that aren’t good for your dog. There is lots of fillers in there and they can include grain, barley, rye, corn, oats and even ash. You need to read the list of ingredients just like you would for your own food so you know exactly what is in the package. In addition to fillers there are also a whole bunch of artificial preservatives and additives, most have names you can’t even pronounce. Dog food manufacturers will try and hide the ingredients so you don’t know what they are. You should take the time to learn the names of preservatives so you can avoid them.
Healthy Ingredients
When you read the labels on dog food cans and bags look for things that you recognize like chicken, lamb, beef or fish. Your dog will have preferences just like you do. Your dog may prefer salmon over beef, don’t worry that is perfectly normal. Don’t spend your money on bad food with lots of bad ingredients. You should also try your dog on more free range meats like venison, bison or turkey. You can also buy organic dog food. Your dog also like vegetables and needs them for nutrients you will find most dog food will contain ingredients like sweet potatoes, pumpkin or carrots. All of them are great for your dog.
Going Grain Free
The question was whether you should feed your dog grain free food or not? The answer is yes. Your dog may not even have a reaction to gluten but it doesn’t do them any good either. Now that you have chosen grain free food you need to wean your dog off of the old food and onto the new food. You can do that by mixing the two together and gradually reducing the amount of old dog food that you are feeding your dog. Dogs can be just as picky as humans so you may have to try different flavors of food until you find one that they like.