Whole wheat flour is a common ingredient found in dog treats and foods. Unless your dog has a known allergy to the whole wheat flour protein called gluten, it’s not necessary to remove it from your dog’s diet. But is whole wheat flour good for dogs?
In this article, we’ll look at the pros and cons of whole wheat flour for dogs and review 11 popular gluten-free substitutes for whole wheat flour.
Let’s first take a look at look at what’s in whole wheat flour!
Is Whole Wheat Flour Good for Dogs?
Whole wheat flour is a common ingredient found in many human and dog foods, and generally speaking, whole wheat flour is safe for dogs (unless they have a known allergy).
Within whole wheat is a protein called gluten, which adds texture to dough and helps baked goods rise. Gluten also:
- Acts as a binding agent
- Gives elastic qualities to baked goods
- Holds water and makes food moist
- Gives food a chewy texture
- Provides no essential nutrients
As long as your dog does not have a gluten allergy, giving him or her whole wheat flour in food and treats is just fine!
Some dogs are born with wheat allergies or gluten intolerances, but other times a dog may eat a certain food for years with no problem, only to develop an allergy to it later in life. Just keep an eye out for common food allergy symptoms like itchy ears and skin.
One thing you’ll notice in some of the gluten-free options below is a glycemic index (GI) rating. The GI rates carbohydrates according to how quickly they raise the glucose level of the blood. According to the Better Health Channel, a low-glycemic diet minimizes spikes in blood sugar and insulin, which can help you control your weight.
Upgrade My Food provides a helpful listing of flours by their GI rating, from lowest to highest.
The lower the GI, the better! While it is best to avoid flours with a higher glycemic rating, I did want to include the full list of common whole wheat flour substitutes here so you can familiarize yourself with them and understand the pros and cons of each.
The Pros of Whole Wheat Flour for Dogs
Is whole wheat flour good for dogs? Let’s look at the pros! There are certain benefits to whole wheat flour for dogs that include:
- Offers more nutritional value than white flour
- More absorbent than other flours so you don’t need to use as much
- Good source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants
- Has an appealing nutty flavor
- It’s versatile making it good for both sweet and savory dog treats
The Cons of Whole Wheat Flour for Dogs
With every pro typically comes a con too. Some of the negatives of whole wheat flour for dogs include:
- Not gluten-free (therefore not good for dogs with gluten intolerances)
- Processed with a higher glycemic index (GI) rating
11 Gluten-Free Substitutes for Whole Wheat Flour
If your dog has an allergy to gluten in wheat or grain, or you’d rather just avoid those ingredients to begin with, here are a few gluten-free alternatives that may work for your pup!
- Oat flour
- Almond flour
- Brown rice flour
- Buckwheat flour
- Coconut flour
- Garbanzo bean (aka chickpea) flour
- Quinoa flour
- Tapioca (aka cassava) flour
- Teff flour
- Sorghum flour
- Amaranth flour
Be aware of white flour!
Many pet parents avoid white flour for their own foods due to it being highly processed with no nutritional value whatsoever, so I’d recommend not using that ingredient in your buddy’s treats either.
It’s important to note that gluten-free flours perform much differently than white or whole wheat flours. They are less absorbent (so more flour will need to be used in baking recipes) and they do not contrite to rising the dough, so treats utilizing gluten-free flours will be less airy and more dense.
Let’s take a closer look at each gluten-free flour to help you determine the best option for your pup!
Oat Flour
Oat flour is a common substitute that is simply ground up oats. It also happens to be my favorite flour to use when making homemade dog treat recipes! It’s full of the good stuff like antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals including Vitamin B1, B6, Copper, Folate, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Niacin, Phosphorus, Selenium, and Zinc.
Almond Flour
Almond flour is made from ground unblanched almond nuts and is high in plant-based proteins, low in carbohydrates, cholesterol-free, and an excellent source of macronutrients. But the benefits of almonds come with a cost due to the high-calorie count. Just ½ a cup of almond flour contains 320 calories (including 28 grams of fat – ouch!). The best part about almond flour is that it has a glycemic index (GI) of 0, which causes a much smaller rise in blood sugar levels than higher GI foods.
Brown Rice Flour
Brown rice flour is a common ingredient in gluten-free baked goods. This gluten-free grain contains fiber and minerals and is more nutritious than whole grains. While it’s barely more calorie-dense than its whole wheat flour counterpart, it’s far less caloric than almond flour. It also has more fiber than white flour, which can regulate your dog’s bowels and lower cholesterol. The downside is that it has a high GI level of 62 (but that’s slightly lower than the whole wheat GI level of 69)
Buckwheat Flour
Despite the name, buckwheat isn’t related to wheat and is naturally gluten-free. It’s also a good source of fiber, which can aid in digestive health. Buckwheat flour contains four times as much fiber as whole wheat flour and includes all eight amino acids. Ground buckwheat flour has a bold, rich flavor. If you have a picky pup, this one might not be their favorite. Another downside is that it has a higher GI rating of 71.
Coconut Flour
Coconut flour is ground coconut pulp. It is popular for its high plant protein content and high fiber composition. It’s also rich in protein, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids, including vitamin C, potassium, calcium, and vitamin B6. Coconut flour has a lower glycemic index rating than whole wheat flour, so it takes longer to digest and absorb carbohydrates in it – keeping you full longer!
Garbanzo Bean (aka Chickpea) Flour
This flour is made from ground dried garbanzo beans and is high in fiber and protein. Chickpeas are one of my favorite snacks because of their high protein content. That’s also one of the reasons many vegans and vegetarians include it in their diet. Garbanzo bean flour is a great ingredient for dog treats as well!
Quinoa Flour
Quinoa is a great source of fiber and iron for your pup (and you!) and provides all 20 essential amino acids as well. If you’re planning to make fun-shaped dog treats, this may not be the flour for you though as quinoa flour does not hold its shape well. For the longest shelf life, it’s best to store quinoa flour in an air-tight container in your freezer.
Tapioca and Cassava Flours
Many people assume tapioca and cassava flours are the same, but there’s a slight difference that sets them apart. Tapioca is a starch extracted from the storage roots of the cassava plant, while Cassava flour incorporates the entire root. In most recipes, they can be evenly swapped. They are mainly used as filler ingredients and lack nutritional value. A con of tapioca flour is that its GI value is rated at 67, which is pretty high!
Teff Flour
Teff grain is a staple commonly found in Ethiopian diets and is the smallest grade in the world. It’s also naturally gluten-free! Teff flour has a low glycemic index rating, making it a popular choice among diabetics who need to manage their blood sugar levels. Teff grain has a mild nutty and molasses flavor.
Sorghum Flour
Sorghum is a cereal grain. It has a mild, somewhat sweet flavor and pairs great with many fruits. Sorghum flour’s texture and density are similar to wheat flour. It’s also an ingredient known for reducing inflammation due to its antioxidant properties.
Amaranth Flour
Amaranth flour offers an earthy, nutty flavor, fine texture, and a good deal of fiber, protein, and micronutrients. It’s often used as a thickening agent in soups and stews. Amaranth flour is called a “super Food” for good reason! It’s been associated with health benefits such as lowered cholesterol and reduced inflammation.
Conclusion
Now that you know the pros and cons of giving your dog whole wheat flour, you can decide for yourself if it’s the right ingredient for your pup. There are so many great whole wheat flour alternatives out there too, that even if your dog does not have a gluten allergy or intolerance, it’s fun to experiment with the different options.
One of the most important factors I consider when selecting a dog food or making homemade dog treat recipes is the glycemic index (GI rating). If I won’t eat a certain flour because of the high GI, I won’t feed it to my dogs either!
As always, before making your dog any homemade treats, be sure to review the ASPCA’s list of people foods to avoid feeding your dog, so you keep your pup happy and healthy.
Do you use whole wheat flour or one of its common substitutes in your dog’s food and treats? Let me know in the comments!
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