Gluten is a protein found in foods such as wheat, oats (there are varieties of oats considered gluten-free), barley, spelled or rye and dogs, just like people, can be intolerant to it . As pointed out by the Federation of Celiac Associations of Spain (FACE), celiac disease (CD) is a multisystemic pathology with an autoimmune basis, that is, it can affect not only the digestive system and that the immune system intervenes in it. It is this that, upon detecting the presence of gluten in the body, reacts by damaging the mucosa of the intestine and destroying its villi, which are responsible for absorbing the necessary nutrients.
In the case of canids, celiac disease has a genetic factor and the Samoyed and the Irish setter are more likely to suffer from it . If the celiac dog ingests gluten, its intestine will suffer, the villi that are there and that are responsible for absorbing the nutrients from food will be affected and the animal will suffer from malnutrition, lose weight, have digestive problems and its coat will look poor. But how do you know if your best friend has this problem?
Symptoms of celiac disease in dogs
– Vomiting and diarrhea . Since gluten damages the digestive system of the celiac dog, the first thing the body will do is try to expel it through vomiting and diarrhea shortly after eating. What is significant is that these episodes are constant.
– Itching . Gluten intolerance is accompanied by dryness and skin irritation, so you should be vigilant if your pet licks more than necessary, especially the anus or scratches that area abnormally by rubbing the bottom on the floor.
– Breathing difficulties . Gluten intolerance can also reach the airways causing the canine to swell, itch and sneeze, irritating its throat and nasal passages.
– Seizures . It is the most serious and you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. They can happen if you’ve overlooked the other more subtle signs of celiac disease. If you notice any of these symptoms in your pet, we recommend that you take him to the vet so that, by doing the pertinent tests and tests, he can determine whether or not he is gluten intolerant. If it really is, don’t worry, there are gluten-free feed and cans of food on the market.
How is a celiac dog diagnosed?
Theirs is that if you observe the first symptoms of celiac disease in your animal, take it to the veterinary clinic to act as soon as possible. The vet will ask you about the diet that your dog follows, will explore it and will do an analysis of feces, urine and blood. If he suspects that the dog may be intolerant to gluten, he will ask you to give him a gluten-free food for a certain time (a few weeks) to see how it suits him. If the tests indicate that the animal may be intolerant and the gluten-free feed suits them, it is most likely that your pet is celiac.
