Can dogs eat flour? Everything You Need to Know

Yes, dogs can eat flour provided they are not prone to grain sensitivities or gluten intolerant. However, you have to choose wisely as different types of flours have varying nutritional profiles. Grains are not part of a dog’s daily dietary requirements. At the same time, it may be difficult to avoid them completely as they appear in many recipes and dog food products. Flours are non-toxic and thus can be safely served to dogs. 

What is flour? 

Raw grains, roots, beans, nuts or seeds are finely grounded to a powder form known as flour. The earliest archeological evidence of preparing flour dates back to 6000BC. Additionally, the Romans were the first to grind seeds on cone mills. 

As you can obtain flours from different sources, they are classified into many types as summarized as below:

• Whole Grain flours are made from whole grains, members of the grass family, Poaceae. Some of the whole grain flours and their nutritional information are:

• Grain-free flours: Grain-free flours usually are made from roots, nuts, or seeds. They are suitable for grain-sensitive pups. Some of the grain-free flours include:

• Pseudo grain flours: Pseudo grains are plant foods that resemble grains in appearance but are not grains as they come from a different plant family

• Pulse flours: Pulse flours are made from pulses or legumes by milling or grinding whole pulses into flour. They can be easily made at home and usually retain many of their inherent nutrients, and are gluten-free.

•  Processed flours: Highly processed flours do not contain any nutritional value.

Is flour Safe for Dogs? 

Dogs can safely consume flours as they are non-toxic and not poisonous. However, the size of your dog and the quantity of flour he consumed determines if he will experience any adverse symptoms. For example, a large dog will be fine after eating a small amount of flour, while a smaller dog who took a large heaping of flour can exhibit ill effects. Additionally, serving food made of processed flour is unhealthy for your dog. 

Why is flour good for Dogs?

As flours are used as binding agents, you can opt for foods that contain healthy flours for your dog. Below listed are some of the flours that nutritionally benefit your pup in many ways: 

Why is flour Bad for Dogs?

Certain types of flours have to be avoided for your canine; these include:

• White flour
• All-purpose flour or plain flour
• Processed or refined wheat flour
• Pastry flour
• Soy flour
• Corn flour

These flours are highly processed and are unsuitable for your dog’s consumption in the long run because:

• They contain no nutritional value. 
• They break down into glucose and spikes the blood sugar level.
• These gluten-refined grains stick to your canine’s colon wall and hinders the process of nutrient absorption.
• They can cause bloating and other digestive issues like inflammatory bowel syndrome or dog colitis in your pet.

Symptoms of bloat in dogs include:  

• Distended stomach 
• Pacing 
• Excessive drooling 
• Unsuccessful vomiting 

Symptoms of inflammatory bowel syndrome or dog colitis:

• Soft, runny feces or feces with bright flecks of blood
• Pain while defecating
• Irregular eating habits
• Weight loss
• Increased defecating or flatulence
• Inflammation or pain in the lower regions

If you notice your pet with any of these symptoms, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Additionally, some other flours are derived from corn or soy. Some dogs may be allergic to these grains. If you notice allergy symptoms for the first time, reach out to your vet immediately, especially if he experiences breathing trouble.  

Symptoms of allergic reactions in dogs: 

• Itchiness on the face, ears, legs, and feet
• Chronic ear infections
• Hair loss 
• Skin infections

Symptoms of grain sensitivity in dogs include:

• Itchy, irritated, red skin 
• Breathing difficulties
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Wheezing
• Runny discharge from nose/eyes
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

How Much of Flour to Feed Your Dog?

As a general rule of thumb, one-third to three-quarters of your dog’s diet should constitute meat or plant-based proteins. The rest of it should be a combination of vegetables, fruits, and grains. Grains are best served in the form of flours; hence they appear in dry dog food or can also be used to make a homemade dog treat. However, the frequency of feeding a food containing grains depends on your dog’s current health, age, size, and breed.

HOMEMADE DOG TREATS USING FLOUR

If you prefer to delight your pup’s palettes with a homemade dog treat, here are some recipe ideas to consider: 

1. NUTTY DOG TREATS

Ingredients: 

• 1 carrot

• 1 egg

• 1/4 cup peanut butter

• 1 cup almond flour

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl shred the carrot and add the eggs, the flour and peanut butter. Mix all the ingredients together and roll them to form a ball. Flatten the treats with the help of a fork and bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden. Once done, cool and serve.

2. PEANUT BUTTER AND PARSLEY DOG TREATS

  Ingredients:

• 2 cups whole wheat flour

• 1 cup oats

• 1 tbsp parsley

• 2 eggs

• 1/2 cup milk 

• 1 cup 100% peanut butter 

• 1/2 cup cold water

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and place a baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk together the oats, whole wheat flour, and parsley flakes in a bowl and then set aside. Take another bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, egg and milk until fully combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until no wet ingredients remain at the bottom of the bowl. Knead this mixture to combine everything; roll the dough and cut into different shapes. Place these shapes onto the baking pan and bake for 15 minutes until lightly brown at the bottom. Remove the cookies, flip and bake for another 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely before serving. 

3. BANANA AND PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour (or blended oats)
• 1/2 cup 100% peanut butter
• 1 large ripe banana

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine peanut butter, banana and oat flour until it forms a dough. Roll the dough to form a ball. Place it on baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve once cooled completely.  

4. PUMPKIN AND PEANUT BUTTER DOG TREATS

Ingredients:

• 1 15-ounce can Pure Pumpkin
• ½ cup Pure Peanut Butter
• ½ cup Pure Coconut Oil, melted
• 4 Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Turmeric
• 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1 ½ cups coconut flour, plus additional for rolling

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the pumpkin, peanut butter, coconut oil, and eggs until smooth.
• To the mixture add turmeric, cinnamon, and coconut flour and combine well. Let this sit for five minutes. 
• Roll the dough over a surface well-coated in coconut flour. 
• Cut the dough in preferred shapes, and bake in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the cookies are dry and hard. 
• Let it cool and store in an airtight container for up to a month.

5. PEANUT BUTTER AND SWEET POTATOE COOKIES (SUITABLE FOR PETS WITH ALLERGIES)

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (480 grams) brown rice flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup (64 grams) peanut butter (make sure your brand does not contain xylitol)
• 2 eggs
• 1 can (15-ounce) sweet potato puree (not the sweetened pie mix) 

Directions

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir all the ingredients until a soft dough is formed. Roll the dough to form a ball. Place it on baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Serve once cooled completely.  

What if my Dog ate flour?

Having a little flour in raw form won’t cause much harm except a short duration of constipation. However, if your dog ate a whole bag of raw flour by accident, then you have to watch out for certain warning signs as listed below:

• Excessive salivation
• Vomiting or attempting to vomit
• Diarrhea 
• Constipation
• Nausea
• Pacing or restlessness
• Enlarged stomach
• Shortness of breath
• Lethargy
• Fever
• Pale gums

Apart from these there is the risk of a blockage that occurs due to the texture of flour. The gluey nature of the flour can make it stick to your canine’s mouth. Additionally, it can lead to bloat, which could be life-threatening.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which flours can you use in your dog treat recipes?

• Whole-wheat Flour
• Almond Flour
• Brown Rice Flour
• Buckwheat Flour
• Chickpea (Garbanzo Bean) Flour
• Coconut Flour
• Oat Flour
• Quinoa Flour
• Sorghum Flour

Conclusion

Summing it up, dogs can safely consume flours based on their susceptibility to allergies. If your pet is allergic or gluten intolerant, you may have to opt for healthier flours that suit them. Although you cannot avoid flours altogether, it is advisable to feed flour moderately to your pet.