Pet Food and Gluten Intolerance in Humans

Understanding gluten in pet food and its impact on people.

During a spring that rarely hinted at summer, Amal strolled into People and Pets Together and brought hope for warmer weather. On his feet were tennis shoes as pink as an Easter Peep. The rest of him, a Jimmy Buffet, island-inspired ensemble. A sunny smile of gratitude accompanied his request for help.

As we walked the pet food aisles and talked, I learned a downturn in his health resulted in a diagnosis of celiac disease. He was placed on a gluten free diet.

Amal responded with some improvement yet didn’t recover as his doctor had hoped. The doctor thought Amal might be suffering from allergic complications related to his cats. It was suggested he give them up.

Desperate for an answer other than rehoming, Amal turned to the internet for help. It was there he learned he might be reacting to the gluten in his cats’ food and treats. He wasn’t ingesting it on purpose, but handling their food, feeding treats, petting them, and accepting their scratchy kisses increased his exposure to gluten.

He quickly switched his cats to gluten-free foods and treats.

Amal said that as his own health improved, he found himself paying greater attention to the health of his cats. He began tracking the amount of food and treats he was feeding, then cut back to the proper amounts. Amal patted his Hawaiian shirt and exclaimed, “We’re now all fit and healthy!”

Gluten in Pet Food and Treats

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, “Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat (wheatberries, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn), rye, barley and triticale – a cross between wheat and rye. Gluten helps foods maintain their shape, acting as a glue that holds food together. Gluten can be found in many types of foods, even ones that would not be expected.”

Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines gluten as a “a tenacious elastic protein substance especially of wheat flour that gives cohesiveness to dough.” The Latin is “glutin” or “gluten” meaning glue.

There’s one thing for certain when researching gluten on the internet, there’s a lot of discussion – what it is, where it’s found, how it impacts people and pets - and not everyone agrees.

The general consensus is that gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale but not a protein in oats, corn or soybeans.

Gluten contamination, however, may occur during the growing season when a gluten-free crop is grown in a field previously sown with a gluten-containing crop. Gluten contamination may also occur during harvest when oats, corn or soybeans are grown next to fields of wheat, barley, rye or triticale.

Gluten contamination can also occur during processing and manufacturing when non-gluten containing foods are made in the same plant as gluten-containing foods. Air born gluten, or gluten in dust, can travel from one part of a plant to another and contaminate a non-gluten food.

Gluten can also be “hidden” in foods. “Starch” is a thickener used to make gravies and sauces, like those found in canned cat and dog foods. The most common starches are made from potato, corn, tapioca and/or wheat.

The product’s label may indicate which type of starch was used (that is, if you can read the tiny print). If not, check the manufacturer’s website for a full ingredient list. If you still aren’t certain, call the customer service line and ask.

Choosing a gluten-free or grain-free diet for your pet may be a good option to protect your health. It may not, however, be the best for your pet.

Before switching your pet’s diet discuss your pet’s current food and treat options with your doctor, then discuss your doctor’s recommendations with your veterinarian. You’ll be able to weigh risks and benefits while being mindful of what your pet needs to stay healthy.   

Gluten in Pet Medications, Supplements, Grooming Supplies

Products in the form of tablets that are chewed and/or swallowed, like medications and supplements, or those in the form of a gel, like toothpaste, shampoo and hairball gel, may also contain gluten.

The gluten in non-food pet products is often attributed to the starch source.

Dry pills can create gluten dust that could be inhaled. Gluten residue on one’s fingers could be ingested. A gel applied to a pet’s paws or teeth could be transferred during play.

While this webpage on medicine, vitamins and supplements from the Celiac Disease Foundation has extensive detail on gluten in human medications, the general information can be applied to pet medications.

Be sure to talk to your medical doctor about the risks of handling veterinarian-prescribed medicines and any precautions you might take, such as wearing gloves and a mask, to lower those risks.  

Talk to your veterinarian if you need alternate options for your pet.

Gluten in Wheat-Based Litter

I’m a fan of plant-based, biodegradable and renewable litters. Wheat-based litter, however, should be used with caution, and perhaps not at all, if you have a gluten allergy or intolerance.

All litter, even those labeled “dust free,” will create some amount of dust. In the case of wheat-based litter, the dust may contain gluten that could be inhaled when maintaining a litter box or ingested after petting a cat that has used a litter box.

Consult with a Medical Professional and Veterinarian Before Switching to a Gluten-Free Diet for You and Your Pet

Amal firmly believes that his road to better health came when he and his pets began consuming gluten free diets.

I’m neither a doctor nor Amal’s doctor, so I can’t prove his claims to be true. There are lessons, however, to learn. Most notably, there are additional ways people can ingest or inhale gluten beyond the food they eat.

Caring for animals may increase one’s risk of exposure to gluten in pet food, treats, medications, supplements, grooming supplies and litter.

If you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy, talk with your doctor about the role your pets may play in your own health. Then talk to your veterinarian to weigh all your options.

Like Amal, you’ll want your pets to stay healthy as you journey to better health.

 

(Sunset photo by Vlad Stawizki on Unsplash. Silhouettes of animals by OpenClipart Vectors on Pixabay.)