It should come as no surprise that dogs and cats are, genetically speaking, susceptible to the same types of illnesses and chronic diseases that human beings can get.

Most cases of dietary intolerance or sensitivity in pets usually show up as skin, gastrointestinal, and weight issues. It is also suggested by some vets who are up on this subject that unusual lethargic behaviors and weight loss can be obvious symptoms. For both dogs and cats it’s agreed in the veterinarian community, that most of their problems come from dietary proteins, and of course gluten is a component of the protein in wheat. In addition it’s worth mentioning here that dogs and cats are also affected by the same common allergens that human are, such as dairy, eggs, lactose and some meat proteins.

Actually there is an increasing body of knowledge in the veterinary medicine community, which references gluten intolerance and sensitivity in pets. Michael Day in the well known journal proceedings of the nutrition society, wrote a paper titled the canine model of dietary hypersensitivity. In this and other recognized medical publications such as the journal of nutrition, a number of conclusive studies on both dogs and cats have proven that gastrointestinal and physical symptoms are the results of gluten intolerance.

In another study it showed that dogs with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems were toxic from gluten-and this toxicity was proven with the biopsy that showed extremely flattened villi in the lower intestine of the dogs in the study.

In another study validated by the world small animal veterinary association, a study of 55 cats with chronic digestive problems revealed that 30% were food sensitive and gluten, from wheat and corn were the most common antigens in the study.

The more I think about it the more it makes sense that our furry little friends are going to be susceptible to the same dietary issues that we are. In fact when you look at the structure of their teeth it’s hard to ignore the reality that feeding our dogs and cats a grain based diet is just asking for problems.

This is Tiko, a male Bengal tabby mix and he is one of three cats that we are lucky to live with in our home, and if you take a look at his teeth you can’t help but realize that these teeth are designed for grabbing and cutting foods like flesh and grasses. We know in humans that too much protein isn’t the best thing for us, but dogs and cats can eat proportionately more of it.

Most of the cheaper dog and cat foods out there today have a lot of grains as fillers, however, there are more brands coming onto the market which have little or no grains at all.

As with any food product, my recommendation is to read the label when you are buying pet food and pay attention to the grains and additives you’ve learned about in other videos in this series.

In North America and in the United Kingdom the labeling requirements for pet food are the same as people food, in other words they are listed in order of volume. When reading the labels of dog or cat foods do not be fooled by statements such as highly digestible, formulated for a healthy skin and coat, or preservative –free. I was looking at a well known brand of dog food the other day which listed these benefits on the label, yet when I read through the top five ingredients it included chicken, chicken byproducts, rice, wheat flour, and wheat gluten.

When weaning your dogs or cats off of their existing grain-based kibble food, I suggest not going cold Turkey like humans would, because even though your pet might be experiencing health problems, the added stress of an entirely new food might put them off eating altogether, which could exacerbate your situation. Instead I recommend introducing the new food gradually in a couple of ways. The first is to start introducing some real, natural food into your pets’ diet I’m talking about the same foods that you and I eat. If you’re not doing this already it is one of the best things you can do for your pet. Cooking your dog a home cooked meal of chicken, carrots, and rice is a healthy way to get rid of diarrhea, bloating and smelly gas. What many people do is make a huge batch of these foods and then freeze portions of them so they are less work to prepare and serve.

The same goes for cats – don’t be afraid to experiment with whole, natural foods that your cat’s can really sink their teeth into. Once a week I will serve our cats a small piece of salmon or shrimp and it’s amazing to see how much they naturally get into the act of pulling and ripping that flesh apart with their teeth and claws, which is almost always followed up with some good old fashioned chop licking and then a thorough self grooming session and a nap. We have also learned that our cats absolutely love steamed asparagus which is cooled off to room temperature and cut into small chunks. The second way to augment your pets diet is to gradually introduce the new food product by mixing it in initially in small amounts with their existing food. You would do this over the course of about 30 days so that they have a chance to gradually get used to the new flavors and allow their digestive systems to adjust over the course of the next four weeks you would gradually decrease their old food while increasing the presence of the new wheat and gluten free food. Another great dietary addition for cats especially if they are indoor, is feeding them oat grass. We buy a product at walmart which takes about 7 days to grow in the same container it comes in. The grass lasts about 10 – 15 days once it’s fully grown and our cats love it. Adding this to their diet really helps with digestion and hair ball elimination. It’s what they would naturally eat in the wild anyway.

In addition to this information, I will put links to resources you can follow for some of the leading pet Food Brands and whole food recipes which are wheat and gluten free.

So if you’re dog or cat is passing a lot of gas, or maybe suffering from diarrhea, or has even been recently diagnosed with arthritis, in addition to other symptoms that just don’t seem right, it may be time to try a gluten and wheat free diet mixed in with a compliment of whole, home cooked meals.