Canine Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is common in humans, and it can also affect our pets. This gluten-intolerance disease disrupts the body's ability to absorb nutrients and can lead to serious health problems for your dog. There are many gluten-free pet foods available to help alleviate and prevent this disease.

Definition

Celiac disease is an intestinal disease. It is essentially an intolerance to gluten (found in wheat, rye, barley and oats, which are found in most pet foods but are not natural to canine diets) that can lead to malnourishment, autoimmune disorders and other ailments in your pet. It is not contagious.

Causes

Though there is no definite cause of celiac disease in canines or humans, the Mayo Clinic reports that it can be hereditary in humans. The Mayo Clinic also indicates that the disease may be brought on by physical trauma such as pregnancy or other stress on the body.

Symptoms

Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, skin lesions, weakness and fatigue and a bloated stomach. Watch how a dog behaves after it eats. Is it sluggish? Bloated? It may have a gluten intolerance.

Treatment

Consult your veterinarian before beginning any type of treatment. Any treatment regimen will involve avoiding foods with gluten, says veterinarian John B. Symes on his website, dogtorj.net. Your vet may also prescribe medication to treat any related conditions your dog may have due to the celiac disease.

Prevention

Although there is no known way to prevent your dog from developing celiac disease, the best way to prevent symptoms is to avoid gluten in the dog's diet, says Symes. Symes recommends several brands of gluten-free dog food, including Eukanuba Response KO and FP, Nutro Natural Choice Lamb and Rice and NaturalLife Lambaderm. A full list can be found in an article titled "Gluten and Toxins in Pet Foods: Are they Poisoning Your Pets?" at www.celiac.com.