Gluten-free dog treats
Gluten-free dog treats are made without wheat, barley or rye, and while a genuine, diagnosed gluten intolerance is uncommon in dogs, some dogs do react to wheat specifically and do better on treats that avoid it. The label word to check is what has replaced the gluten-containing grain, not just what has been removed.
Gluten sensitivity in dogs, honestly
True coeliac-style gluten intolerance is well documented in a small number of dog breeds but is genuinely rare overall, and a lot of what gets labelled a gluten sensitivity in pet food marketing is really a broader wheat or grain sensitivity, or no sensitivity at all in dogs who simply tolerate the treat less well for another reason.
If your dog has a diagnosed condition or a vet has specifically recommended avoiding gluten, that is a different situation to choosing gluten-free treats as a general precaution, and it is worth being clear with yourself about which one applies before paying a premium for gluten-free specifically.
What gluten-free actually means on a label
A gluten-free treat has typically replaced wheat, barley or rye with something like rice, potato, or a single named meat as the main structure, rather than simply having nothing in its place. Check what has replaced the gluten-containing grain, since some substitutes carry their own considerations — potato-based treats, for instance, run higher in carbohydrate than a meat-based one.
Gluten-free is not the same claim as grain-free — a gluten-free treat can still contain rice or oats, which do not contain gluten, so read the actual ingredient list rather than assuming the two terms mean the same thing.
When it is worth trying
If your dog has shown a reaction — loose stools, itching, or general digestive upset — after eating treats containing wheat specifically, trialling a gluten-free option under the same careful, one-at-a-time introduction as any new treat is a reasonable thing to try.
If your dog has no history of any reaction, there is no particular reason to switch pre-emptively; gluten-free is not inherently healthier for a dog with no sensitivity to it.
Which breeds are more commonly affected
Gluten sensitivity has been documented specifically in a small number of breeds, most notably some lines of Irish Setter, where it is a recognised, inherited condition rather than a general dog sensitivity. If you own one of the breeds where this has been documented and your dog shows digestive signs, it is worth raising specifically with your vet.
Outside of those specific breeds, a reaction that looks like gluten sensitivity is statistically more likely to be a reaction to something else in the treat, which is another reason a proper vet-led elimination process, rather than treat-swapping alone, gives a more reliable answer.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Chicken-Wrapped Milk Stick Dog Treats
Chewy dog treats of soft milk sticks wrapped in real chicken for tasty, protein-rich rewarding.
From£12.99
Dried Catnip & Cat Grass Leaf Treats
A tub of dried catnip and cat grass leaves to sprinkle over toys, scratchers and bedding.
From£8.99
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Dreamies Meaty Sticks Adult Cat Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Soft meaty stick treats for adult cats with salmon, individually wrapped, not for kittens
£1.59
Dreamies Creamy Adult Cat & Kitten Treats with Scrumptious Salmon
Creamy lickable salmon treats for cats and kittens, in a 40g pack with taurine
£1.59
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Dreamies Shakeups Seafood Celebrations Cat Treats
Complementary Dreamies Shakeups tuna, salmon and shrimp treats, 55G
£2.05
Common questions
- Is gluten intolerance common in dogs?
- Genuine, diagnosed gluten intolerance is uncommon in dogs overall, though it is documented in a small number of breeds. Many cases labelled as gluten sensitivity are really a broader reaction to wheat or another ingredient, so a vet's input is worth having before assuming gluten specifically is the cause of a reaction.
- Is gluten-free the same as grain-free for dog treats?
- No. Gluten-free means no wheat, barley or rye, but a gluten-free treat can still contain other grains like rice or oats, which do not contain gluten. Grain-free excludes all grains. Check the actual ingredient list rather than assuming the two labels mean the same thing.
- Should I switch my dog to gluten-free treats as a precaution?
- Not unless your dog has shown a reaction to wheat specifically, or a vet has recommended it. Gluten-free is not inherently a healthier choice for a dog with no sensitivity, so switching without a reason to is more about label preference than any real benefit to your dog.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.