Wheat

996 foods contain this ingredient

Grain Gluten Grains allergen group Grains allergen group

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About Wheat

Wheat is a cereal grain milled into flour or gluten and used in pet food to supply carbohydrate energy and help hold kibble together.

Wheat is a common cereal grain used in pet foods as a source of digestible carbohydrates, some plant-based protein, B vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber, and it also helps with kibble texture and binding. It provides energy and fiber for many dogs but can cause food allergies or gluten sensitivities in a minority of pets and is generally less ideal as a primary ingredient for obligate carnivores like cats, so pets with known grain or wheat sensitivities should avoid it and calorie intake should be monitored to prevent weight gain.

Related ingredients

Spelt Hydrolyzed Wheat Gluten Pasta Wheat Bran Wheat Flour Wheat Germ Wheat Germ Oil Wheat Gluten Wheat Grass Wheat Macaroni Wheat Middling Wheat Short Wheat Starch Wheatgrass Whole Grain Wheat Whole Wheat Whole Wheat Flour

Derived from: wheat grain (flour, bran, or vital wheat gluten)
Primary role: carbohydrate source and kibble binder

Why it's used

During extrusion, wheat starch gelatinizes and wheat gluten forms a viscoelastic protein matrix, both of which help kibble expand and hold its shape, a functional role similar to what gluten performs in bread dough. Wheat also contributes plant-based protein, B vitamins and fiber to the finished diet.

Common concerns

Ranked among the more common canine food allergens A widely cited systematic review of food allergen studies in dogs and cats (Mueller, Olivry, Prelaud) found wheat behind beef, dairy and chicken in the proportion of positive reactions recorded during food challenge testing in dogs with confirmed adverse food reactions.
Relevant mainly to pets with a confirmed reaction The Merck Veterinary Manual lists wheat among the ingredients most often implicated when a dog is diagnosed with a cutaneous food allergy, but this reflects pets already diagnosed with an adverse food reaction rather than the general dog population.
Not matched to feline physiology as a primary ingredient As an obligate carnivore, a cat's nutrient requirements are centered on animal protein, so wheat is generally regarded as a secondary rather than primary component of a cat's diet.

Also relevant

A veterinarian can help confirm whether a pet's symptoms are actually linked to wheat, since a true diagnosis requires an elimination and challenge trial rather than symptoms alone.

3 sources cited