Have you ever heard your nosy neighbor whining about how you should only feed meat to your pet dog? You might be pretty satisfied with your dog’s current diet plan but let’s face it, the guy next door really pushes your buttons sometimes. You wonder whether you can feed those grains to your dog your spouse bought last week in a moment of doubt. Your quest for “can dogs eat teff and other grains” begins!
Can dogs eat teff?
Yes, dogs can eat teff and other grains. Teff is a gluten-free grain that is much purer than regular wheat.
Teff is a lesser-known grain that originated from Ethiopia and Eritrea. The grains are about the size of poppy seeds and range from brown to dark red in color. Teff is usually ground and is used as any other flour. Injera is the most famous fermented flatbread made out of teff flour.
Unlike regular wheat grains, teff grains are considered to be in its original form, i.e., they are not genetically mutilated. The grains contain higher amounts of calcium and iron. Since teff is gluten-free, people with gluten allergies can easily eat this as a substitute for wheat. The same can be said for dogs because celiac disease and gluten allergy are common in dogs too.
Nutritional value of teff
A half-cup of uncooked teff contains:
| Calories | 354 Kcal |
| Protein | 13 g |
| Carbohydrates | 70.6 g |
| Fiber | 7.7 g |
| Fat | 2.3 g |
Health benefits of teff for dogs
Like any other grain, teff is super rich in protein and fiber. Whole grains may not be the essential part of a dog’s diet, but your dog can eat and digest teff just fine. As a bonus, you won’t have to worry about gluten and GMOs. Following are some of the other benefits of teff for your dog:
- Whole grains like teff have an abundance of fiber in them. Soluble fibers help regulate bowel movement in a dog and prevent constipation.
- Dogs that are on weight watch can also eat teff to reduce and maintain their healthy weight.
- Grains high in carb energy help with diseases like kidney and liver disorders. Such diseases require a low-fat diet. Teff makes a perfect food component in such cases.
Easy teff truffles recipe for dogs
Confused about how to feed teff to your dog? Here’s a quick and easy teff truffles recipe that you can use to make dog treats.
Ingredients
- Brown rice flour – ¾ cup
- Whole wheat or barley flour – ¼ cup
- Whole teff – ¼ cup
- Carob powder – 2 tbsp
- Honey – ¼ cup
- Water or mil – ½ cup
Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Mix all the ingredients and make small balls.
- Cover a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Coat each ball with crushed oats if you like. Or you can simply skip this step and proceed to bake.
- Use a fork to flatten the balls on the baking tray.
- Bake for ten minutes and let the truffles cool.
- Store in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container.
Related FAQs on teff and dogs!
What grains are safe for dogs?
Corn, wheat, sorghum, barley, oats, rice, and rye are safe for dogs. Ensure your dog does not have a gluten allergy before feeding any grain to it.
Is teff hard to digest?
Teff does not contain any gluten. The absence of gluten is what makes teff very easy to digest.
What grains are dogs most allergic to?
Suppose a dog has celiac disease, or it has a gluten intolerance. In that case, it can be allergic to any common grain like wheat and corn.
Final word
It is best to consult your dog’s vet first before introducing teff to your dog. As mentioned earlier, teff is relatively newer, and introducing anything new to your dog might put it off track completely. If you want to introduce a healthy grain like teff to your dog, make sure that it also likes the taste and texture of teff. As responsible pet owners, we want nothing but a healthy diet for our dogs.
