Do you want to make homemade dog treats for your dog but are not sure what flour to use? If flour is one of the ingredients in your dog treats recipe, here we recommend the best flours to use in your homemade dog treats.
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While choosing a flour to use in your homemade dog treat recipes seems simple, you may be wondering which flours are the best options for your dog.
The good news is that you can use all type of flour. However, white flour does not provide nutritional value, so it is preferable to avoid it when preparing treats for your furry friend.
When you use flour to prepare dog treats you have to know what your dog’s specific needs are. For example, some dogs do better with a gluten-free or low-glycemic flour option.
Here we give you a list of 16 best flours options to prepare homemade dog treats.
Remember that flour is not a natural ingredient in your dog’s diet, so treats should be given in moderation.
So, what is the best flour to use in dog treat recipes, which is the best option, and what is the difference between them?
BEST FLOURS FOR HOMEMADE DOG TREATS
First, you have to know that there are four types of flour:
- Grain-free flours
- Legume flours
- Pseudo-grains
- Grains (the most used)
Let’s take a look at these four categories to know which is the best option for your pet.
GRAIN-FREE FLOURS FOR HOMEMADE DOG TREATS
What are grain-free flours?
Grain-free flours do not contain grains such as wheat, rice, or barley and can replace whole wheat flours in dog treats.
It’s the best alternative for dogs with gluten sensitivity or autoimmune disease.
Among the grain-free flours that we can find to prepare homemade treats for dogs, we find the following:
Almond Flour
Almond flour is gluten-free flour made from finely ground, blanched, skinless almonds.
This flour is high in plant-based protein, low in carbohydrates, and gluten-free and cholesterol-free. Additionally, it includes vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, zinc, and potassium.
Arrowroot Flour
What is arrowroot flour?
Arrowroot flour is a starchy substance from the tropical plant Maranta arundinacea. This flour is generally safe for making dog treats, and you can mix it with other flours.
Due to its paste consistency, arrowroot has to be mix with other flours such as almond, coconut, or tapioca flour to give the treats more shape.
Chia Seed Flour
What is chia flour?
Chia seed flour is basically finely ground chia seeds. This flour has many nutrients that are beneficial for dogs.
Chia flour replaces the eggs in recipes. If your dog suffers from allergies, chia flour is an excellent option.
The disadvantage of chia seeds is that they cause intestinal inflammation, so give your dog enough water to drink and add water to treats to prevent bloating.
Coconut Flour
What is coconut flour?
Coconut flour comes from dried and ground coconut meat. Coconut flour has less fat and fewer calories than almond flour and has fewer vitamins and minerals.
For dogs on a diet or low-carb diet, coconut flour is a good option.
However, coconut flour is high in fiber, and it is not easy to digest. Make sure your pup has plenty of water when giving him treats with coconut flour.
If your dog suffers from allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, or gas, it is best to avoid coconut flour, which can enhance the symptoms of these conditions.
Potato Flour
What is potato flour?
Potato flour is made from dehydrated, peeled whole potatoes and has a high binding power that is excellent for making dog treats.
Potato flour is high in carbohydrates and may contribute to your pet’s weight gain.
Quinoa Flour
What is quinoa flour?
Quinoa flour is a gluten-free, light powder consisting of dried quinoa seeds or quinoa flakes. This flour is abundant in iron, calcium, phosphorus, fiber, vitamin E, and B complex.
This flour is an acceptable alternative to wheat flour and is naturally gluten-free.
Quinoa flour is difficult to work with as it doesn’t hold its shape as well as other flours, so it may not be the best choice if you want to make cookies with cookie cutters or need to shape your treat.
Tapioca Flour
What is tapioca flour?
Tapioca flour is obtained by grating and drying the cassava pulp. Tapioca flour is a common source of carbohydrates in grain-free dog foods, and is easy to work with in many homemade dog treats recipes.
As it does not have many nutrients, it is not a very healthy option, and it is preferable to use it in combination with other flours.
LEGUMES FLOURS FOR HOMEMADE DOG TREATS
What are legume flours?
If you are looking for an alternative to grain-free flours; or gluten-free flours, legume flours are an excellent option.
Some of the best alternatives to legume flours are:
Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour is nutrient-dense gluten-free flour and is high in plant-based protein with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, B9 (folate), iron, manganese, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and zinc.
When using chickpea flour, you can add coconut flour for better results in your dog treats.
Pea Flour
Pea flour is rich in plant-based protein, iron, calcium, and fiber.
You can easily make pea flour with all kinds of peas, including split peas and yellow peas.
Its flavor is less strong than other legume flours, and most dogs enjoy the taste. However, some dogs are highly allergic to peas.
Lentil Flour
Lentil flour has a lot of nutritional value and is high in protein and fiber.
If your dog is trying to lose weight, lentil flour is an excellent alternative for dog teats as it is low in calories and glycemic index.
PSEUDO-GRAINS FLOURS FOR DOG TREATS
What are pseudo cereals?
Pseudo grains or pseudo cereals are seeds, but they are not biologically similar in nutrient composition to grains.
Most common pseudo-grains are:
Amaranth Flour
Amaranth flour consists of grinding amaranth seeds.
Amaranth flour is abundant in vitamins and fiber and does not contain gluten.
One of Amaranth’s disadvantages is its high glycemic index which can interfere with blood sugar levels and is not the best option for dogs with diabetes.
Combine Amaranth with lighter flour such as almond flour to obtain an adequate consistency in the dog treats.
Millet Flour
Millet is a source of carbohydrates and is high in B vitamins, phosphorous, and iron, and is easier to digest than whole wheat.
Although millet is not rich in protein and fiber, it is an excellent choice for treats due to its consistency.
Buckwheat Flour
Buckwheat flour is a great source of dietary fiber, carbohydrates and vegetable proteins. It also contains antioxidants.
You can safely use buckwheat in dog treats but use it occasionally.
GRAIN FLOURS FOR HOMEMADE DOG TREATS
What are grain flours?
Grain flour is the fine powder from ground cereal and other starchy foods. You can get flour from different cereals such as:
Brown Rice Flour
Brown rice flour comes from finely ground brown rice. This flour resembles white wheat flour, making it a favorite among pet owners for baking treats for their dogs.
Brown rice flour does not have a strong flavor, and many dogs like it.
This type of flour is easy to work with and can give similar results to white flour when baking.
Oatmeal Flour
Oatmeal is a good substitute for many other flours. In addition, it has the advantage that you can easily make it at home.
Oatmeal has protein and fiber, which is excellent for dogs with stomach issues. Since the oatmeal flour does not contain many calories, it is an option for puppies that need to lose weight.
Do not use this flour if your dog is allergic to oat or have digestive issues.
Whole Wheat Flour
Whole wheat flour contains lots of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fiber and is the most popular flour among pet owners who make homemade treats.
Whole wheat flour is great for baking because it holds shapes well and is easy to use in dog treats.
Whole wheat flour has a mild flavor, making it a good choice for most puppies.
However, whole wheat flour it’s not gluten-free, so if your dog can’t tolerate gluten, it’s not the right choice.
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