Is a No Grain Diet Right for Your Dog?

Separating Fact from Fiction Regarding Grain Free Diets for Dogs

Jun 9, 2009

Many grain free dog foods have hit the market lately, and people are wondering if they are worth the expense. Here we'll look at some facts about no grain diets.

No grain diets are the new rage in the pet food industry, and many people are putting their dogs on grain free diets. Grain free diets tend to be more expensive than more traditional dog foods, so many consumers wonder if a no grain diet is worth the extra expense. Here we'll look at some arguments for feeding no grain diets, to help make a decision as to if they are right for your dog.

Dogs are Genetically Related to Wolves

One of the main arguments for feeding a dog a grain free diet is that the wolf is the ancestor of the domesticated dog, and they both have similar dietary needs.

Though dogs and wolves are carnivorous, both animals ingest plant matter. Much of this plant matter would come from eating the internal organs of herbivorous animals, and grazing on plants during the spring and summer months. Carbohydrates that come from plants have always been an important part of the diets of dogs and wolves.

Dogs broke away from wolves thousands of years ago, and have developed different dietary needs as they became domesticated. There are claims that the pet dog of today is only two percent different genetically from the wolf, but this is the same percentage of genetic difference that people share with chimpanzees.

Men and women are also two percent different from each other genetically. A woman does not eat the same foods as a chimp, but probably the same food as a man. Genetics is a relatively new science, so basing nutritional claims on genetic similarities between dogs and wolves may not be the best way to choose a diet for your dog.

Grains Cause Allergies in Dogs

This claim, in some cases, is true. Wheat and soy often do cause allergies in animals, so it is best to avoid these ingredients in dog food.

Corn, on the other hand, is a touchier subject. Once corn is cooked properly, it becomes a very digestible source of protein and carbohydrates for dogs.

Beta-carotene, vitamin E, and lutein are natural antioxidants that are present in corn.

Corn should not be the main source of protein in a dog food, though. Dogs need a varied diet to stay healthy, so pay attention to the first three ingredients on a dog food label to ensure that it doe not contain too much corn.

While too much corn in a dog food can cause health problems, corn in and of itself is not harmful.

Does a Grain Free Diet Contain Carbohydrates, and are Carbohydrates Bad?

Grain free diets still contain carbohydrates, but use a different carbohydrate than corn.

Carbohydrates are good sources of energy, as they free up proteins to aid in muscle and tissue growth and repair.

The use of one carbohydrate over another is up for debate, as the presence of corn in a dog food diet, as previously mentioned, is not necessarily bad. What can be said though, is that carbohydrates are an important part of a dog's diet.

Is a Grain Free Diet Right for My Dog?

When an animal eats the same food day in and day out, it sometimes develops allergies, skin irritations, and digestive problems. Switching the diet of your dog helps to combat these problems, and the alternative carbohydrates sources in no grain diets may do the trick.

A grain free diet is a healthy option to feed your dog, but not necessarily better than any other high quality dog food. If you feed your dog a quality food from day one, and offer them a variety of different diets, your pet will stay healthy throughout the course of their life.

The copyright of the article Is a No Grain Diet Right for Your Dog? in Dog Care is owned by Ian Shoust. Permission to republish Is a No Grain Diet Right for Your Dog? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.