Gluten Free Group

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This is a group for Humans and their Doodles with a Gluten Allergy. Share favorite recipes, food brands, and tips.

Members: 15
Latest Activity: Mar 23

Choosing the best food for your dog is not just about picking up any dog food off the shelves. A healthy and balanced diet is something that every pet owner should ensure that their dogs have. This includes taking into consideration the dietary needs and food allergies in dogs. Gluten allergy is one of the most common reasons for chronic illness and degenerative diseases in dogs. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis, a chronic disease that disrupts the normal function of the intestines is caused by the gluten intolerance in dogs. So why exactly is gluten free dog food so important for your pets?

The Need for Gluten Free Foods for Dogs
Well, for starters, dogs and cats are carnivorous animals which need little or no carbohydrates in their food. The natural diet of dogs in the wild include bones, pieces of carcass, rotten greens and fruit. This is often accompanied by little or no grains in the diet. So what about the claims made by the dry pet food companies? Are the dry dog foods with large amounts of carbohydrates, low amount of animal protein and fats and containing almost no water, good for your dog?

According to veterinarians, foods containing plant proteins like gluten can cause digestive problems in dogs as they have not evolved to digest these proteins. There have been reports of dogs and cats dying due to tainted gluten in dry as well as the commercial wet dog foods. However, even untainted gluten can cause a host of dog health problems and dog food allergies. Moreover, they do not actually provide the nutrients found in fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.

Gluten Free Dog Foods: Foods to Avoid
Gluten is the plant protein component found in foods such as wheat, barley and rye. Most of the times when you want to find gluten free foods you end up getting stuck with foods that are actually wheat free. So what are the foods to avoid on a gluten free diet? Here is a list of foods that contain gluten and should be strictly avoided if your dog is suffering from gluten allergy. •Wheat Flour
•Barley
•Rye
•Oats
•Soy products
•Food starches (cornstarch)
•Brown rice syrup
•Sausages
•Malt vinegar
•White pepper
•Pastas
•Pickles
•Semolina
•Bulgur
•Wheat Grass
Gluten Free Dog Food Recipes
Cooking up simple homemade dog food ensures that your canine friend gets adequate nutrition and avoids gluten allergy as well. Here are some great dog food recipes that are entirely gluten free. Make sure you give these foods as treats as it might cause a weight gain in dogs. Read more on holistic dog food recipes.

Gluten Free Cheesy Delights

Ingredients •2 cups potato flakes
•1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 6 tbsp. grated parmesan cheese
•½ cup plain yogurt
How to Make
In a large bowl, combine the potatoes with cheese and yogurt. Add a small amount of water and make a nice dough. Knead it into balls and roll to half inches thickness. Cut into one inch pieces and place on a greased cookie sheet. Place in a preheated oven of 350ºF and allow it to cook for twenty five minutes.

Gluten Free Meat Recipes

Ingredients •1 pound of ground beef or chicken
•2 large sweet potatoes
•2 eggs
•1 cup water
How to Make
Combine eggs and sweet potatoes and pour in a little water. Mix the ingredients well and allow it to sit for 15 minutes or so. After that, add the ground beef or chicken and mix well. Spread this mixture on a greased baking sheet and cut into square pieces. Place it in a preheated oven of around 350ºF and bake for around thirty minutes. Use a wooden spatula to turn over and make for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let it cool on a wire rack. This recipe allows you to make 45 to 50 gluten free dog food treats.

Read more on: •Homemade Dog Food Recipes
•Dog Food Ratings - Top 10 Best Dog Foods
A gluten allergy in your dog can result in itchy dry skin, dull coat, loose stools, foul-smelling gas, lethargy, loss of appetite, and frequent dog ear yeast infections. If you observe these symptoms in dogs then it is best to stick to gluten free dog foods to cure the allergy and restore the health of your dog.

By Parul Solanki
Published: 1/2/2010

Discussion Forum

Amazing Gluten Free Bread-Finally

Started by Sarah & Bruno Hollis. Last reply by Jarka, Monty & Auggie Dec 31, 2011. 2 Replies 0 Favorites

I finally got to have a leftover turkey sandwich from Christmas, and man was it amazing!!! I purchased a package of UDI gluten free bread, and it actually tasted like delicious bread (not cardboard,…Continue

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Comment by Rachel and Ollie on July 8, 2012 at 4:06pm: And really it's not soy that has gluten it's certain soy sauces which contain wheat.

Comment by Rachel and Ollie on July 8, 2012 at 3:51pm: Actually I have also read/heard (I don't remember which) that the new food labeling law instituted when allergens had to be listed (such as the label reading contains wheat) now requires companies to list if Modified Food Starch contains wheat. If it does not say that it is a wheat ingredient then it is corn.

Vinegar is also now considered safe for gluten intolerant individuals. The gluten that they once thought it contained was not true...it is removed in the distilling process.

Soy Sauce just annoys me. Why does it need gluten? It tastes just fine without it!

Comment by Karen & Jackdoodle on July 8, 2012 at 8:42am: No, I have no food allergies or sensitivities or digestive diseases. Lauria had suggested that I join this group after JD was diagnosed with IBD.

The Gluten-free website did say that homemade pickles are perfectly safe, as well as "pickles that you buy in jars in the grocery store.' I inserted the "most" because I'm always hesitant to give advice on health issues with which I am not 100% familiar, for fear of causing harm. I just looked it up because I was curious myself as to how pickles could contain gluten.

Comment by Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles on July 8, 2012 at 8:23am: It is that 'most' statement that causes me to proceed with caution. It also causes me to use extreme caution with 'gluten free' pizzas from Dominos and other venues that offer gluten free selections in which separate utensils and prep areas are not available. I have been far too sick for far too long and try to only go with sure bets. We have even resorted to having two toasters in my home. I suppose much of the reaction also depends on whether you have a gluten sensitivity, allergy or celiacs disease. The best thing to come out of my Celiac diagnosis aside from being able to be responsible for my own wellness is that both of my children have become label reading fanatics which will always be a bonus for them through out their lives.

Karen are you gluten free? I have been away for so long that I am not sure that I know that.

Comment by Karen & Jackdoodle on July 8, 2012 at 8:10am: According to the Gluten Free Living website (www.glutenfreeliving.com), most pickles do not contain gluten.

Comment by Dianne Carter ~ Trinity Doodles on July 8, 2012 at 8:02am: Hi Rachel and Ollie. Sometimes they can contain gluten. In the case of soy, I know that soy sauce typically does have gluten ~ only a handful of brands do not. Frequently sausage does have gluten in it. For the culprit in pickles that might be from the vinegar, it is does not always contain gluten but neither is it always safe. Always a challenge :)

Comment by Rachel and Ollie on July 7, 2012 at 10:34pm: I'm confused as to why Soy products, Food starches (cornstarch), Brown rice syrup, sausages, white pepper and pickles are listed as containing gluten. They don't.

Comment by Karen & Jackdoodle on December 31, 2011 at 5:15pm: Thanks again, Lauria.

Comment by Lauria Orr on December 31, 2011 at 5:03pm: When first learning about the extent of my own malabsorption issues, it was recommended to me to read the book "Breaking The Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gloria Gottschall. It was invaluable. Another was something like the "Specific Carbohydrate Diet" by Raman Prasad. I can't find it right now, but it is also a good resource for those dealing with IBD of the different varieties. I think there were 2 books, one of which may have been a cookbook. In my own search for answers when I became ill, I did learn a lot. I feel so badly for Jack, and wish I could be more helpful. I do believe some of us in this group have learned a great deal, but many of us... as this relates to humans. It appeared that these disorders vary in Vet. medicine, even between types of animals, such as dogs and cats. Still, these books do offer a perspective that may be helpful.

Comment by Ricki and Tara (doodle) on December 31, 2011 at 2:45pm: Welcome Karen and Jack! We DO wish you luck with your appointment Monday and hope the specialist is wise enough to come up with an excellent plan for Jack.

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