Should your dog go gluten-free?

LACTOSE intolerance and coeliac disease are conditions that affect many people — but did you know that they can also affect man’s best friend?

‘Many dogs today are developing sensitivities to different food ingredients,’ says Dr Zara Boland, presenter of Zara’s Pet Clinic on ITV’s This Morning. ‘There is an argument to say that increasing the variety of ingredients in their diets, particularly those that aren’t commonly encountered, may help combat this.

‘However, you must first accurately identify the specific ingredients the dog is sensitive to. This can be challenging.

‘The most important foods in a canine diet are a good quality protein source along with essential fatty acids. A goodquality fibre will help maintain gut health and the correct proportion of vitamins and minerals will help maintain overall health.’ While all dogs can develop coeliac disease, Irish Setters are particularly predisposed to it, as are Wheaten Terriers.

One way to round out your pet’s diet is with treats from Alpha & Ruby’s Dog Bakery. The range of eight biscuits was devised by Fatima Maktari, who was concerned by the bulking agents and empty calories in conventional pet foods.

Alpha & Ruby’s uses only human-grade ingredients, including gluten-free flour, dolphin-friendly tuna and organic coconut oil. The treats start at £2.99 from alpha

andrubys.co.uk. If that doesn’t take your dog’s fancy, then you could try Billy & Margot’s mini strawberry and apple training bites from myitchydog.co.uk.