Gluten free pet food

Why should I worry about feeding my pet gluten free pet food?

The food your pet eats should be just as important as the food you eat. Gluten in pet food can produce some of the same allergy symptoms that we get as humans when we consume gluten. The problem is unless you can physically see the symptoms on your pet than most likely you won’t know that your best friend is suffering.

Our dog Bentley has always had very dry, flaky, itchy skin. For years we have been taking him back and forth to the vet to try and “cure” the problem to no avail.

When I began eating gluten free I started to feel healthier within 3 weeks. My frequent tiredness seemed to have disappeared as well as the awful bouts of acne I suffered from.

I became an excellent label reader and every item in the grocery store was carefully combed to ensure myself it was gluten free. I found myself starting to read our pet food labels and was horrified to see that I was feeding my pets wheat, wheat gluten, and corn gluten all in the same can of food.

How could I feed my beloved animals that junk when I had eliminated it from my own diet?

How can I change my pets diet?

It is difficult for your pet to adjust to a completely new diet right away. When you cut gluten out of your pet’s diet it has to be done slowly. I can’t stress how important this is. We started by giving our animals a 25% gluten free pet food with 75% of the old regular food mixed together.

Everyday we gave them less regular food and increase the amount of the gluten free food in the mixture until they were getting a complete gluten free meal.

Soon before we knew it our pets were gluten free too. We now either make homemade chicken and beef pet food for them or buy gluten free pet food at my favorite online pet store. The brand Artemis is our favorite, I doubt you will find a better quality food than this to feed your pets!

It is always best to get your veterinarians advice on diet for your pet before beginning at dietary changes.

Can gluten really be a problem for my pet’s health too?

Dogs and cats can have issues digesting gluten just like humans. A condition called Eosinophilic gastroenteritis can interfere with the normal function of the intestines and cause digestive issues. When the pet is switched to a 100% gluten free diet the condition usually subsides.

Canines and felines can also have skin problems like dermatitis and eczema caused by gluten in the food.

Go over your pet’s diet with your veterinarian to be sure that they are getting the proper amount of fats, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals in each meal. Discuss switching to gluten free pet food and the benefits of a gluten free diet to be sure that you are making the best decision for your furry family member. It may be the best thing for your animals pet food allergies.

By the way, Bentley has been gluten free now for two years and hasn’t experienced a single skin issue since going gluten free with mommy!

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