Over the past years, there has been a steady rise of grain-free pet food products in the market. Pet parents purchase grain-free pet food believing that it is the best kind of diet for their furries. But do we really understand what a grain-free diet means for our dogs? Here are some things you need to know:
1. Grain-free is different from gluten-free
To make things easier to understand, not all grains contain gluten. Therefore, gluten-free pet food doesn’t mean that it is free of grains. However, if your dog food’s label says grain-free, it is also gluten-free.
A dog food without grains means that it completely has no grains on its ingredients list, like corn, wheat, rice, soy, barley, and rye. Although you may think that some of these grains are healthy, these can be unnatural sources of nutrition for your dog. He may find digesting whole grains, and absorbing the nutrients he needs from them, difficult. This is why many dogs do well in grain-free, protein-rich diets.
2. Some grains may cause allergies in dogs
Depending on many factors, dogs can become allergic to food. Aside from genetics, overexposing your furkid to a certain type of food can cause him to develop an irritation or intolerance to it. And it can be any kind of food, including grains.
Understanding food allergies, knowing the symptoms, and identifying the trigger can help pet parents manage their dog’s allergies. It’s best to work closely with a veterinarian when dealing with food allergies.
3. FDA is investigating grain-free diets and DCM
Recently, there have been reports from the FDA that certain grain-free diets may cause DCM or dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs. However, there are still a lot of things that we do not know about DCM, including what exactly causes the disease.
Further research is needed to fully understand the cause of DCM. But many experts agree that taurine deficiency contributes to DCM. More than the grain-free foods, it’s better to check if your pet food is well-supplemented with the amino acid taurine
Choose your dog food wisely
Being able to choose what’s best for our furkids is any pet parent’s #1 priority. Be it with or without grains, you should consult your veterinarian first about the most suitable type of diet for your dog. He will be able to give you suggestions based on your dog’s size, breed, age, and health-related conditions.
If grain-free pet food is the right one for your dog, choose one that is made with your furkid’s health and overall wellness in mind. At Wishbone Pet Foods, we make grain-free, gourmet recipes that are well-balanced, safe, appetizing, and naturally nutritious.
Our recipes use high quality, highly digestible meats from New Zealand combined with superfoods like fruits (blueberries, cranberries, mangoes, papaya), herbs (basil, rosemary, peppermint), and flaxseed. Check our healthy, gourmet recipes for dogs and cats and you will love all the goodness that’s in Wishbone.
Keep your furkids properly nourished! Learn more about meat- and meal-based pet food and high protein diet.
Is your dog overweight? Here’s how you can help him lose weight. Or learn more about overnutrition in pets.
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