• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Weimaraner Puppies

Weimaraner Puppies

Meet the Weimaraner Dog, a Great Hunting Companion!

  • Home
  • Puppies
    • Puppy Health
  • Adult Dogs
    • Blue Weimaraners
    • Vizslas
    • Weimaraner Health Problems
  • Seniors
    • Senior Health Problems
  • Dog Training
    • Behavior Problems
  • Hunting Dogs
  • Reviews
  • What’s New?
  • Free ebook
Home » Weimaraner Adult Dogs » Feeding Dogs » Gluten Free Dog Food

February 13, 2014 by Steve B Leave a Comment

Gluten Free Dog Food

(Psst: The FTC wants me to remind you that this website contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase from a link you click on, I might receive a small commission. This does not increase the price you'll pay for that item nor does it decrease the awesomeness of the item. Linda)

Gluten free dog food is widely available and people are feeding it to their dogs for a number of reasons.

Dog food without gluten is considered to be hypoallergenic and is often prescribed for dogs with allergies.

Perhaps the most important feature of any dog food is that it must be nutritionally balanced so your dog gets all the nutrients that she needs.

Gluten Free for Special Needs

So who are the dogs that need gluten free dog food?  I see a number of articles online talking about dogs with celiac disease and their need for a gluten free diet.  But there is a problem with this.

Celiac disease is extremely rare in dogs, if it even occurs.  In fact, the Merck Manual for Pet Health, an authority for animal health, doesn’t even mention celiac disease in animals.  This version is for laymen.  Celiac disease is a human issue, not a canine issue.

On the other hand, there are dogs who benefit from a gluten free diet.  Some dogs do develop sensitivity to certain dog foods.  When a dog is sensitive to gluten, he is usually sensitive to wheat or corn.

But not all dogs.  Some are actually allergic to one or more of the other ingredients. Usually a dog allergic to food is allergic to the protein source in the food.  This can be either meat or grain.

Dog allergies to food develop over time.  It usually takes about two years to develop an allergy to a certain food.  This explains why a dog who has been healthy, develops symptoms all of a sudden.

Food Allergy Symptoms

Symptoms of food allergy can present in different ways.  It may take both you and your vet working together to determine if your dog has allergies.  In fact, Weimaraners are dogs who often end up with allergies and sensitive digestive systems.

If your dog is constantly itching, scratching and biting himself, check to make sure that he doesn’t have fleas.  If there is no obvious reason for his behavior, consider food allergies.

Dogs with allergies sometimes have chronic ear infections.  If you clean your dog’s ear regularly and keep them free of hair, his ear infections might actually be allergies.

Another seemingly unrelated issue could be vomiting or diarrhea with no other known reason for them.

You may have to experiment a little with your dog’s diet, as there are no easy medical tests or blood tests to determine if your dog is allergic.

Weimaraner licking his lips for gluten free dog food
Gluten free dog food can be yummy!

Choosing a Gluten Free Dog Food

How do you know which gluten free dog food is best for your dog? If your dog has been diagnosed with dog food allergies, you will need to find another food for him.  There are many good, natural dog foods on the market.

The best way to determine which food is best for your allergic dog is to try a new food. When you do this, you need to give each gluten free dog food a few weeks, so that you will know how your dog is doing. If she does really well with it–stay with that hypoallergenic dog food!

Some gluten free dog foods with good track records:

  • Blue Life Protection Formula for Adult Dogs
  • Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6
  • Blue Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Dog Food
  • Tuffy’s Nutrisource Grain Free Dog Food

A word of caution.  Do not change your dog’s food just to avoid allergies!  Veterinarians believe that the more protein sources that you expose your dog to, the greater the chances that she will be exposed to an allergen.  Then she will have an allergy!  If your dog is feeling good and acting healthy, let well enough alone.

How to Test Your Dog’s Food

Before you completely change your dog’s diet, you might want to consult with your veterinarian. Your vet may have some suggestions to help you with the process. (Some people prefer to make their own homemade dog food because they can control the ingredients and know for sure what is in the dog food.)

Basically it works like this: Gradually switch your dog over to the new gluten-free dog food. You might start with 1/4 new food to 3/4 old food. Then keep increasing the new food and decreasing the old food.

Give your Weimaraner the new gluten free diet for 12 weeks. Make sure you give him plenty of water, as well. In addition, make sure you don’t give him treats that contain gluten, or you will be defeating your efforts!

If the symptoms are reduced after 12 weeks, then switch back to the original dog food. If the symptoms re-occur, than you have successfully diagnosed a food allergy or intolerance.

A gluten free diet for your dog just may be the solution to your dog’s health problems!

Related Posts:

  • Weimaraner eating fast, a cause of dog bloat
    Feeding Dogs
  • Brown dog with bone on a BARF raw dog food diet
    Barf Raw Dog Food
  • Weimaraner near blooming bush with white flowers
    Signs of Constipation in Dogs
  • Good dog pet care insures a healthy dog like this cute Weimaraner.
    Weimaraner Dog Pet Care
  • 3 dogs scratching with dandruff
    Dog Dandruff Remedies
  • Weimaraner dog profile
    Weimaraner Dogs

Filed Under: Weimaraner Adult Dogs Tagged With: best dog food brands, diet, dog allergies, large breed dog food

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

WeimaranerPuppies
Weimaraner puppy with other cats and dogs

Make your own dog treats!

Make sure you get a  FREE copy of my Easy Dog Treat Recipes for Kids ebook… and my bi-weekly Weim Report newsletter.  Click here for more information.


Footer

Links to Products

There may be links in the post above that are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission, which does not affect the price you pay for the product. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally or believe will add value to my readers.

Recent Posts

  • Barf Raw Dog Food
  • Cool Dog in Hot Weather?
  • Control When your Weimaraner Barks
  • Solving Dog Behavior Issues in Weimaraners
  • Dog Dandruff Remedies

Categories

  • Product Reviews (5)
  • Senior Dogs (26)
    • Senior Dog Health Problems (19)
  • Weimaraner Adult Dogs (65)
    • Weimaraner Health Problems (25)
  • Weimaraner Dog Training (29)
    • Weimaraner Dog Behavior Problems (13)
  • Weimaraner Hunting Dogs (17)
  • Weimaraner Puppy (34)
    • Puppy Health Issues (5)

I’m glad you’re here!

Never without a dog or two in my life, I have always had a love for dogs of all breeds.

Here I combine my love of Weimaraners with my medical background in occupational therapy, to give you the best possible honest and accurate information.

Now retired, I live with my husband and dogs in New England. I enjoy outdoor activities like gardening, biking, kayaking and hiking.
See More…

  • Newsletter Signup
  • Contact
  • About Linda
  • Disclosure
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy

© 2008–2025 Weimaraner-Puppies.com All Rights Reserved