Gluten-free dog treats: when they make sense and when you just pay extra

Gluten-free dog food is everywhere these days. Shelves proclaim “grain free,” “gluten-free,” “no grains”—and owners stand in front of them feeling that they’re doing something wrong if they don’t buy it. Yet most dogs digest gluten without any problems, and a gluten-free option offers them no benefit. For some dogs, though, it makes a big difference.

Celiac disease exists in dogs, but it’s rare

True gluten intolerance has been described in only a few dog breeds—the best-documented cases are in Irish Setters and Border Terriers, where it has a hereditary basis. It causes chronic diarrhea, weight loss despite a normal food intake, and a poor coat, usually within the first year of life. A veterinarian makes the diagnosis, not an online test.

For the vast majority of dogs, then, gluten itself isn’t the enemy. Dogs digest it less efficiently than people do, but the amount found in quality food won’t harm them.

When gluten-free treats really help

• During an elimination diet. When you’re working with your vet to identify the cause of a problem, everything must be completely free of the suspected ingredient—and treats are often the one thing people forget about. Just one biscuit a day can invalidate the entire diagnostic process.
• For dogs with sensitive digestion. Some dogs have looser stools after eating wheat, even though they don’t have an allergy. Switching to gluten-free treats is an inexpensive trial, and you’ll see the results within a week.
• When their regular food is already gluten-free. There’s no point feeding your dog expensive grain-free food and then giving them a wheat-flour treat three times a day.
• For dogs with an allergy to grain protein. In this case, it’s simply a necessity, not a choice.

Don’t confuse gluten with protein

Most food allergies in dogs are to animal proteins—beef, chicken, dairy—not gluten. If your dog is itchy, licks their paws, or gets recurring ear infections, gluten-free treats alone won’t help. Learn more about how to tell the difference in our article Dog Allergies.

What to use instead of gluten in treats

Only a substitute that offers some benefit makes sense. Millet flour is easy to digest and gentle on the stomach; chickpea flour adds protein and fiber; buckwheat contains magnesium and rutin. All three can be cold-pressed, so they aren’t overheated and retain more of their original ingredients—unlike treats baked at high temperatures.

But bear one thing in mind: “gluten-free” doesn’t mean “diet.” A gluten-free treat has a similar calorie content to a regular one, so the rule that treats should make up no more than a tenth of your dog’s daily intake applies just the same.

What’s gluten-free in our range

Most of our products are gluten-free. Our crispbreads include fish, beef, spinach, beetroot, and collagen varieties; our Drops come in beef and fish; and our biscuits include beetroot and spinach varieties. Slimky, Energy Balls, and Pellets are gluten-free too.

Our Standard and Special Crispbreads, crackling Drops, and Classic Biscuits, on the other hand, contain gluten. You’ll find the ingredients, analytical values, and gluten information on each product’s page, so there’s no need to look anything up elsewhere.

How to make the switch

Switch treats all at once, not gradually—there’s no risk of upsetting your dog’s digestion with such a small amount. Then, for two to three weeks, don’t introduce anything else, and keep an eye on their stools, coat, and itchiness. If nothing changes, gluten wasn’t the problem, and you can go back to whatever your dog liked best.

Most importantly, don’t start a diet on your own if your dog is having genuine problems. A gluten-free treat can be a good addition to treatment, but it isn’t a diagnosis or a cure in itself.