Cooking for a dog that has a sensitivity to corn and wheat can be challenging; however, it doesn’t have to be. Once you have a list of ingredients you should avoid things become a lot easier! While a lot of dogs develop itchy skin, odor and various other symptoms of allergies when they eat food containing corn and wheat, others do not; however, reducing the amount of corn and wheat in a dog’s diet is never a bad thing. Below is a list of foods you should avoid in cooking for dogs with corn and wheat allergies.

Cooking for a dog that has a sensitivity to corn and wheat can be challenging; however, it doesn’t have to be. Once you have a list of ingredients you should avoid things become a lot easier! While a lot of dogs develop itchy skin, odor and various other symptoms of allergies when they eat food containing corn and wheat others do not; however, reducing the amount of corn and wheat in a dog’s diet is never a bad thing. Below is a list of foods you should avoid in cooking for dogs with corn and wheat allergies:

* Acetic acid
* Alcohol
* Alpha tocopherol
* Artificial flavorings
* Artificial sweeteners
* Ascorbates
* Ascorbic acid
* Astaxanthin
* Baking powder
* Barley malt* (generally OK, but can be contaminated)
* Bleached flour*
* Blended sugar (sugaridextrose)
* Brown sugar* (generally OK if no caramel color)
* Calcium citrate
* Calcium fumarate
* Calcium gluconate
* Calcium lactate
* Calcium magnesium acetate (CMA)
* Calcium stearate
* Calcium stearoyl lactylate
* Caramel and caramel color
* Carbonmethylcellulose sodium
* Cellulose microcrystalline
* Cellulose, methyl
* Cellulose, powdered
* Cetearyl glucoside
* Choline chloride
* Citric acid*
* Citrus cloud emulsion (CCS)
* Coco glycerides (cocoglycerides)
* Confectioners sugar
* Corn alcohol, corn gluten
* Corn extract
* Corn flour
* Corn oil, corn oil margarine
* Corn starch
* Corn sweetener, corn sugar
* Corn syrup, corn syrup solids
* Corn, popcorn, cornmeal
* Cornstarch, cornflour
* Crosscarmellose sodium
* Crystalline dextrose
* Crystalline fructose
* Cyclodextrin
* DATUM (a dough conditioner)
* Decyl glucoside
* Decyl polyglucose
* Dextrin
* Dextrose (also found in IV solutions)
* Dextrose anything (such as monohydrate or anhydrous)
* d-Gluconic acid
* Distilled white vinegar
* Drying agent
* Erythorbic acid
* Erythritol
* Ethanol
* Ethocel 20
* Ethylcellulose
* Ethylene
* Ethyl acetate
* Ethyl alcohol
* Ethyl lactate
* Ethyl maltol
* Fibersol-2
* Flavorings*
* Food starch
* Fructose*
* Fruit juice concentrate*
* Fumaric acid
* Germ/germ meal
* Gluconate
* Gluconic acid
* Glucono delta-lactone
* Gluconolactone
* Glucosamine
* Glucose*
* Glucose syrup* (also found in IV solutions)
* Glutamate
* Gluten
* Gluten feed/meal
* Glycerides
* Glycerin*
* Glycerol
* Golden syrup
* Grits
* High fructose corn syrup
* Hominy
* Honey*
* Hydrolyzed corn
* Hydrolyzed corn protein
* Hydrolyzed vegetable protein
* Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose
* Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose pthalate (HPMCP)
* Inositol
* Invert syrup or sugar
* Iodized salt
* Lactate
* Lactic acid*
* Lauryl glucoside
* Lecithin
* Linoleic acid
* Lysine
* Magnesium fumarate
* Maize
* Malic acid
* Malonic acid
* Malt syrup from corn
* Malt, malt extract
* Maltitol
* Maltodextrin
* Maltol
* Maltose
* Mannitol
* Methyl gluceth
* Methyl glucose
* Methyl glucoside
* Methylcellulose
* Microcrystaline cellulose
* Modified cellulose gum
* Modified corn starch
* Modified food starch
* Molasses* (corn syrup may be present; know your product)
* Mono and di glycerides
* Monosodium glutamate
* MSG
* Natural flavorings*
* Olestra/Olean
* Polenta
* Polydextrose
* Polylactic acid (PLA)
* Polysorbates* (e.g. Polysorbate 80)
* Polyvinyl acetate
* Potassium citrate
* Potassium fumarate
* Potassium gluconate
* Powdered sugar
* Pregelatinized starch
* Propionic acid
* Propylene glycol*
* Propylene glycol monostearate*
* Saccharin
* Salt (iodized salt)
* Semolina (unless from wheat)
* Simethicone
* Sodium carboxymethylcellulose
* Sodium citrate
* Sodium erythorbate
* Sodium fumarate
* Sodium lactate
* Sodium starch glycolate
* Sodium stearoyl fumarate
* Sorbate
* Sorbic acid
* Sorbitan
* Sorbitan monooleate
* Sorbitan tri-oleate
* Sorbitol
* Sorghum* (not all is bad; the syrup and/or grain CAN be mixed with corn)
* Starch (any kind that’s not specified)
* Stearic acid
* Stearoyls
* Sucrose
* Sugar* (not identified as cane or beet)
* Threonine
* Tocopherol (vitamin E)
* Treacle (aka golden syrup)
* Triethyl citrate
* Unmodified starch
* Vanilla, natural flavoring
* Vanilla, pure or extract
* Vanillin
* Vegetable anything that’s not specific*
* Vinegar, distilled white
* Vinyl acetate
* Vitamin C* and Vitamin E*
* Vitamins*
* Xanthan gum
* Xylitol
* Yeast* – corn free
* Zea mays
* Zein

* Historically, oats were not recommended because it was thought that avenin (the storage protein found in oats) was also toxic to gluten-intolerant individuals. However, recent research in Europe and the US has described that oats are well-tolerated by most children and adults when consumed in moderation and do not contribute to abdominal symptoms, nor prevent intestinal healing. PLEASE NOTE: regular, commercially available oats are frequently contaminated with wheat or barley. However, “pure, uncontaminated” oats have recently become available from several companies in the US and Canada. These companies’ process oats in dedicated facilities and their oats are tested for purity. Pure, uncontaminated oats can be consumed safely in quantities < 1 cup per day. It is important that you talk to your physician and your registered dietitian prior to starting oats.
** May be made with wheat
*** Types of wheat

A huge thanks to cornallergens.com for providing a comprehensive list of corn and wheat allergens!

Today’s ‘thing to know’ comes from a walk Jet and I took yesterday where we only just avoided him overheating. Even the best intentions sometimes end up in worrying circumstances and although we luckily came out of it fine it was worrying. Jet and I went out to walk around 4pm yesterday afternoon, thinking that it was much cooler than it had been all day, we kept in shaded walkways for the most part and walked a total of 40-45 minutes; however, even though it seemed a lot cooler it was not as cool as we had anticipated and when we were headed back home Jet began to show some real signs of fatigue. Even though I had fared the walk with light perspiration it turned out still to be hot enough to distress my boy. Once inside I gave him a small amount of cooler water (not ice water) and took him up to the shower immediately to douse him in cool water and brought him downstairs to sit in front of a fan. Dogs don’t cool down like we do, their bodies really aren’t built to tolerate the heat and when heat exhaustion begins it progresses very quickly.  Your dogs normal body temperature is between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees farenheit. (You can take your dog’s temperature rectally with a traditional thermometer.)

A slight increase in your dog’s body temperature (less than 105) can be treated with a cool shower, small drinks of water (large amounts of water can result in bloating), immersing your dogs paws in water, sitting your dog in front of a fan, applying cool water to the belly and inner legs and other like means of cooling. DO NOT apply ice to the skin directly as this can burn your dog just as it does people! Take note that once your dog’s temperature reduces to 103 or 104 degrees farenheit you should stop your cooling efforts as your dog’s body will continue to cool itself and you don’t want to bring down his body temperature more than necessary. You should; however, keep a close eye on your dog for any worsening in condition and if you have ANY doubts, you need to get your dog you your vet immediately. An emergency vet bill is more than worth the reassurance that your canine pal is going to be okay.

If your dog’s temperature is greater than 106 degrees farenheit you need to immerse your dog in cool water and call your vet as soon as possible.

If your dog’s temperature is over 105 degrees farenheit at any point you need to immediately remove your dog from the heat source and get him to the vet as soon as physically possible. You can help the situation on the way to your vet by soaking a towel in cool water and covering your dog with it, you can also spray water on him as you travel. Heat exhaustion, as stated above, progresses quickly and comes on quicker than you may expect so you should always be watchful and use your common sense when it comes to walking your furry pal in the hotter months of the year.

Some factors that make your dog more succeptible to heat stroke are:
Younger or older dogs
Short snouted dogs
Physically unfit dogs
Large dogs
Thirsty dogs
Dogs in enclosed spaces
Extremely humid days
Dogs who have exercised too much
Dogs who are already suffering from an ailment

Some signs to look for in a dog suffering from heat stroke are:
Disorientation
Unresponsive
Hard panting
Wide eyes
Extremely pale gum’s
Seizures
Vomiting
Bloody diarrhea
The tongue, gum’s and inner eyes can appear extremely reddened (think brick red)
Back end instability
Walking as if intoxicated
The final sign of heat stroke is a coma

You should also keep in mind that it is always better to be safe than sorry, if you suspect that your dog is suffering from any type of heat related distress you should call/visit your vet immediately!

Finally, never EVER leave your dog in your car. Jet and I follow this rule no matter what month of the year it is but especially in the hotter months car temperatures can rise above 113 degrees in 10 minutes on a 90 degree day and that is no place for a family member!

People food and dogs is a tough subject when you are trying to spoil your fur-kid with a nice treat now and again, especially when it comes to whipping up your own dog treats from recipes that got passed along to you from a friend of a friend. I will tell you to err on the side of caution when you embark on your journey to bake your own treats because many treats (both from online “bakeries” and from recipes for “great homemade cookies” incorporate ingredients that are big no no’s in the canine world. Below I have incorporated a list of people foods which should be avoided at all costs when it comes to spoiling your dog. Do not by any means take this as a complete list because not all human foods have been researched for canine consumption and new data is coming out every year on people food which is unfit for canine consumption; however, to date these foods have been proven to be unfit for dogs to ingest. If you are unsure about using an ingredient in your canine cookery consult your vet!

Alcohol (this should go without saying)
Almonds
Apple seeds
Avocado
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Caffeine
Cat Food (cats require different levels of nutrition)
Cherry pits
Chicken Bones
Chocolate
Citrus Oil Extracts
Coffee
Cold Cuts
Cooked bones
Corn Syrup (can be used in diabetic dog emergencies)
Dairy
Fat trimmings
Fried foods
Grapes
Hops
Human Vitamins containing iron
Liver (in excess)
Macadamia Nuts
Mushrooms
Nutmeg
Onions or Garlic
Peach pits
Pear pits
Persimmons
Plum pits
Potato leaves, stems and green sections
Raisins
Raw Eggs
Raw Fish can cause thiamine deficiencies if fed regularly
Rhubarb leaves
Salmon
Salt (in excess)
Spicy foods
Sugary foods
Sugar substitutes
Sultanas
Tea
Tomato leaves and stems and green sections
Tuna (tuna has high mercury levels)
Turkey skin
Walnuts
Xylitol
Yeast / yeast dough

Welcome to Philosophy of Dog’s brand new blog! My name is Amy and I am the founder of Philosophy of Dog and along with my black labrador retriever Jet I will be bringing you a wealth of information, not only on Philosophy of Dog as a company, but also great nutritional information, tips and articles from all over the world and interesting tidbits and funny cartoons! We look forward to getting to know you all as time goes on and hope that you learn a thing or two from everything we have to share!

Amy & Jet