White Flour Substitutes

Source: FidoBakery.com

Many dogs are allergic to wheat (and corn), but it doesn't mean that they cannot

enjoy any homemade dog biscuits! We just have to find an alternative flour and

off we go! This page contains a list of flour substitutes (both with gluten and

gluten-free) as well as brief information on each flour.

Even if your dog is not allergic to wheat, it is still a good idea to try out and rotate a

variety of whole flours that are healthy and nutrient-packed.

If your dog has no problems with gluten, you can use any of the following flour

substitutes. However, like some people, some dogs are gluten intolerant. If your dog

unfortunately is one of them, always use gluten-free flours.

Gluten-free flours do not yield the elasticity or hold together the way wheat flour does

because they are, well, gluten free. Recipes that use gluten-free flours require a little

more egg or other binders to be added.

Experiment with different flours and try to find a few that you like to work with, and of

course most importantly that your dog enjoys.

Gluten-Free Whole Flours 

• Almond Flour: This flour contains protein, healthy fats, and vitamins B complex and E, as well as trace minerals (e.g. manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and selenium). When baking with almond flour, you can use similar quantities to regular flour in your recipe.
• Amaranth Flour: This ancient grain is mildly sweet tasting and is protein rich.  Usually best used in combination with other flours. It also pairs well with strong sweeteners like molasses and dark honey.
• Brown Rice Flour: Brown rice is an excellent source of manganese, and a good source of selenium, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, and niacin (vitamin B3). It is also rich in fiber and protein. Brown rice flour is similar to all-purpose flour but tends to form a soft dough. Consider combining it with oat flour when using in recipes for easier handling.
• Buckwheat Flour: Despite its name, buckwheat is not wheat (it is actually a fruit seed). It is an excellent source of manganese, and a good source of copper and magnesium. It is high in fiber and has antioxidant properties. It is good for the heart as well. It has a strong flavor and can be substituted for an equal amount of wheat flour.
• Chickpea Flour: This flour substitute is high in digestible fiber and has a lower glycemic index. Use 10-15% less chickpea flour when substituting for whole-wheat flour.
• Coconut Flour: Coconut flour is fiber rich and highly absorbent. If you add it to a recipe blend, you may need to add more fat or liquid. Stir it in and let it sit to see how it behaves. A good rule of thumb is to use one quarter of the amount of what you would have used if you were using wheat flour.
• Oat Flour: Oat flour is gluten-free if certified on the label as such. Oat flour is easy to handle and results in a tender cookie.
• Quinoa Flour: This nutrient-packed flour contains a complete protein: one that provides all of the essential amino acids. For best results, use this flour in conjunction with other flours.

How About Tapioca Flour?

You may have come across some recipes on the Internet that suggest using tapioca flour for dog

biscuits because tapioca flour is "gluten-free".

Just because a flour is gluten-free, however, does not automatically make it healthy. Tapioca

flour is not as nutritious as the other flour substitutes listed above.

Tapioca contains mainly carbohydrates, and is low in protein, fat (contains no Omega-3 or

Omega-6 fatty acids), and other nutrients such as minerals and vitamins.

More importantly, if your dog is diabetic, DO NOT use tapioca flour since this flour has a high

glycemic index.

For the above reasons, I do not recommend using tapioca flour for baking healthy dog treats.

White Flour Substitutes with Gluten

The following flours contain gluten, so they are easier to work with when making

biscuits:

• Barley Flour: Barley is high in fiber, and the flour is slightly sweeter than wheat flour. It can be substituted for an equal amount of wheat flour.
• Rye Flour: Rye is an excellent source of manganese and fiber. It also contains a good amount of magnesium. It is good for the heart and the high fiber content makes it low glycemic. However, rye dough is sticky and rather difficult to handle.  Consider combining rye with another flour.
• Spelt Flour: Spelt flour has a slightly sweet, nutty taste and bakes up lighter and softer than whole-wheat flour, but it's still fiber-rich. It absorbs liquids more readily than wheat flour, so use up to 25% less liquid.

Flour Binders

When using white flour substitutes that are gluten-free, extra binder is usually needed.

While eggs are commonly used as a binder, there are other binders that work very well

too. For example:

• Flax Seed Meal: Use one tablespoon of ground flax meal with 3 tablespoons of water for each egg called for in a recipe. Combine the flax meal with the water and let it sit in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes.
• Chia Seeds: Chia seeds can also be used as a gel for gluten-free baking. Mix one tablespoon of chia seeds with 3 tablespoons of water. Let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Use this gel-like mixture as a binder (It substitutes one egg).
• Banana: Mashed banana can be a good binder for dog biscuits as well. Use half a ripe banana (mashed) plus 1/4 teaspoon baking powder for each egg.
• Applesauce: Unsweetened 100% applesauce is another nutritious flour binder. Use 3 tablespoons of applesauce plus 1 teaspoon baking powder for each egg.
• Nut and Seed Butters: Unsweetened butters (e.g. almond butter, sunflower seed butter) are another binder choice. Use one-quarter to one-third cup nut butter for each egg.
• Pumpkin Puree: Unsweetened 100% pumpkin puree can act as a binder although not as well as banana or applesauce. To substitute 1 egg, add 1/3 cup pureed pumpkin.

Happy baking!

RAW Diet for Dogs

 

Cooked bones run the risk of splintering - NEVER feed cooked bones!

Natural food suitable for pets:

• Chicken: whole or any parts (backs, necks, wings, etc. or carcasses after meat has been removed for human consumption)
• Turkey: whole or any parts
• Fish: whole fish, fish heads or canned sardines in water, jack mackerel
• Cornish game hens: whole
• Beef: any cuts
• Oxtail
• Pork: any cuts
• Buffalo, kangaroo, goat, sheep, deer, calf can be sawed into large pieces of meat and bone.
• Rats, mice, rabbits, quail can be fed whole
• Organ meat: liver, lungs trachea, hearts, stomach of ruminants, tripe.  Your dog needs organ meat for its high nutrient content.  Feed organ meats as 10% of thier diet.
• Raw carrots, bananas, rice, apples, watermelon, strawberries, blueberries.
• Canned/cooked pumpkin
• Eggs, fruit, yogurt, vegetables.  Eggs, like bones are a good source of calcium.

AVOID: 

• Excessive meat off bones
• Excessive vegetables
• Small pieces of bone
• Cooked bones
• Mineral and vitamin additives
• Processed food
• Excessive starch, bread and pastries
• Onions, chocolate, coffee, grapes, raisins, sultanas, currants
• Milk

OTHER TIPS: 

• Liver should not be fed more than once a week.
• Offal (stomachs, hearts etc.) should not exceed 50% of the diet.
• Avoid feeding the same meat consistently.
• Avoid a large amount of grain as it has no nutritional value in dog food.
• Feed a healthy dog between 2-4% of it's weight daily (adjust as needed)
• Puppies may require up to 10% of their weight daily during growth.
• Introduce one protein source at a time.  Feed chicken for a week, then beef for a week etc.  This helps detect allergies.
• Raw meaty bones can be fed frozen.  Small carcasses for example rats, mice, birds can be fed frozen with entrails.  Larger carcasses should have entrails removed before freezing.
• Feeding bowls are unnecessary: Food will be dragged across the floor so feed pets outside.
• Low-fat game animals, fish and birds provide the best source of food for pets.  If using meat from domesticated animals avoid excess fat and bones.
• Feed meat and bone together.  Dogs can break their teeth on large knuckle bones if it's not covered in meat.
• Feed meat and bone ration in one piece so that ripping, tearing and gnawing is required.  This cleans teeth.
• Table scraps can be 1/3 of their diet.   Liquidize scraps, both cooked and raw to increase digestibility.
• Puppies can eat minced chicken at around 6 weeks. 
• Puppies get their adult teeth between 4 and 6 months.  This is a good time to feed raw meaty bones.

Safe handling!

• Immune compromised individuals should not handle raw meat.  
• Use gloves to cut and process meat.
• Thaw out enough meat only for 1-2 meals.  Keep the rest frozen.
• Wash your hands after handling meat with soap and hot water.
• Wash all utensils used in preparing dog meals.
• Give your dog a short time to finish its meal and throw away any left overs

Chicken, Rice and Veggies

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 1 lbs ground chicken or turkey
• 2 cups white rice
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 cup diced broccoli, carrots and/or cauliflower

Bring water, chicken, rice and rosemary to a boil in a pot.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes.  Add frozen vegetables and cook for an additional 5 minutes.  Remove, cool and refrigerate.

Yummy Liver Treats

• 1 egg
• 1 cup corn meal
• 1 cup flour
• 1 pound of chicken or beef liver 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Liquify the livers.  Add the egg and mix well.  Add the blended ingredients into a bowl and add the corn meal and flour.  Mix well.  Grease a deep cookie sheet pan and pour the mixture into the pan.  Bake for 15 min.  Cut them into small squares while they are still hot.  Keep them in an airtight container and freeze excess treats.

Frozen Banana Dog Treats

• 4 cups plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 3 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed 

Blend all ingredients into a puree.  Pour into ice trays and freeze until firm.