Gluten Free diets have become increasingly popular in the last couple of years. Theres a variety of reasons to make the switch to a gluten-free lifestyle, but is eliminating gluten the best choice for the general public...and their pets? Consumer Reports published an article in their January 2015 issue discussing The Truth About Gluten. Many people believe gluten-free food has a higher nutritional value, than its gluten filled counterpart. According to the article gluten-free products are a mixed bag in terms of nutrition. About half of gluten-free products contained rice flour or rice in some other form. A report done in 2012 by Consumer Reports found measureable levels of arsenic in almost all 60 rices and packaged foods with rice tested. While it is necessary for some to avoid gluten for health reasons (less than 7% of Americans have a condition preventing them from consuming gluten) others are guessing about what dietary changes should be made without consulting a doctor. So what does this mean for pets? The article reports that last year almost twice as many gluten-free pet products were launched than breakfast cereals. If you are considering making a change to your pets diet, consult with your veterinarian first. Discussing your pets diet and health with their primary vet can help you make a more informed decision about your pets needs. Check out the link below to read the article in its entirety.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 20:00:00 +0000