Like humans, dog diet can also vary depending on their needs and requirements. One type of food that dogs eat is the gluten free dog food. Are you familiar with such kind of food? Or do you even know what do gluten means?
To better understand what gluten free dog food is, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided us with the "Guidance for Industry" to label the gluten-free foods.
WHAT IS GLUTEN?
According to FDA, gluten refers to the naturally occurring protein (e.g. prolamins and glutelins) in a gluten-containing grain. A gluten-containing grain is any grains or their crossbred hybrids such as triticale (cross of wheat and rye). Gluten can also cause negative effects on the health of a person with Celiac disease.
Examples of other…show more content… While referring to humans, the FDA explains that Celiac disease is a disorder of the small intestines that is both genetic and chronic. The disorder is triggered by the ingestion of gluten, which is typically found in barley, rye, and wheat, as well as crossbreed from these grains. Once a person is affected with the disease, eating of gluten will stimulate the production of antibodies and inflammatory cells leading to an abnormal response of the immune system. This will ultimately damage the finger-like protrusion lining the small intestines and the one absorbing nutrients from food called villi. Continuous exposure of a celiac disease patient to gluten will destroy their intestinal villi, and will lead to decrease nutrient absorption which will further result to other health problems. Though celiac disease in incurable, having a gluten-free diet is most advised considering that this can resolve the symptoms. It can mitigate and even reverse the damage caused by the disease, thus reducing other health problems that may stem from it.
When it comes to…show more content… However, people and animals will have different periods as to when they can experience these problems since it will all depend on the amount of gluten being ingested and the body's personal response to these gluten.
WHAT ARE THE RULES OF THE FDA REGARDING GLUTEN-FREE DOG FOOD?
Pet foods are not obliged to put up a "Gluten Free" label. But once they put such thing on the pet food, the FDA have some requirements that pet food should meet. Pet food manufacturers can only put on the label if the food does not contain any of these following substance:
• A substance gluten-containing grain such as barley, rye, and wheat
• A substance that is taken from a gluten-containing grain that did not undergo the gluten removal process (e.g. wheat flear)
• A substance that is taken from a gluten-containing grain that undergo the gluten removal process, however, the use of the substance contains 20 parts per million (ppm) or more of gluten (e.g. wheat starch)
A gluten-free dog food can also place the "gluten-free" label if it obviously does not contain any gluten such as raw carrots and grapefruit