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Wheat

1,005 foods contain this ingredient

Grain Gluten Grains allergen group Grains allergen group

This is an alphabetical list, not a ranking. Add KL+ to rank foods for your pet in the Food Finder.

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

Common Questions

What category is Wheat?

Wheat is categorized as a grain ingredient in the KibbleLab database.

Is Wheat part of an allergen group?

Yes. Wheat is grouped under the Gluten Grains, Grains allergen groups in the KibbleLab database.

Which foods contain Wheat?

1,005 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Wheat, including Fancy Feast.

Foods with Wheat

Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.

Fancy Feast
Medleys Shredded White Meat Chicken Fare With Spinach in Savory Broth Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Medleys Shredded Wild Salmon Fare With Spinach Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Medleys Tender Turkey Primavera in Silky Broth
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys Tender Turkey Tuscany With Long Grain Rice & Spinach In Savory Sauce Wet Cat Food
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys Tuna Florentine With Spinach In Light Broth Wet Cat Food
6.8
Fancy Feast
Medleys Tuna Primavera In Silky Broth
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys Tuna Tuscany With Long Grain Rice & Spinach Wet Cat Food
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys Turkey Florentine With Spinach in Light Broth Wet Cat Food
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys White Meat Chicken Florentine With Spinach In Light Broth Wet Cat Food
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys White Meat Chicken Primavera In Broth
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys White Meat Chicken With Carrots & Spinach In Demi-Glace Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Medleys Wild Alaskan Salmon With Carrots & Spinach in Creamy Veloute Sauce Wet Cat Food
7.2
Fancy Feast
Medleys Wild Salmon Florentine With Spinach In Light Broth Wet Cat Food
6.8
Fancy Feast
Medleys Wild Salmon Primavera in Silky Broth
7.2
Fancy Feast
Minced Turkey Feast In Sauce Wet Cat Food
7.5
Fancy Feast
Petites Grilled Chicken Entrée With Rice in Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Petites Ocean Whitefish Entrée With Tomato In Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Petites Roasted Turkey Entrée With Sweet Potato In Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Petites Seared Salmon Entrée With Spinach in Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Petites Tender Beef Entrée With Carrots in Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Senior 7+ Minced Chicken Feast in Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Senior 7+ Minced Tuna Feast in Gravy Wet Cat Food
7.6
Fancy Feast
Sliced Beef Gourmet Wet Cat Food In Gravy
7.5
Fancy Feast
Sliced Chicken Feast Wet Cat Food in Gravy
7.8

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