Is Grain-Free Dog Food a Trend or a Necessity?
Having a healthy and enjoyable life that is full of love is all that dog owners want for their furry friends. Giving them the best of the best allows your pooch to thrive. However, it’s not always an easy task, especially when it comes to the key ingredient of dog food.
Having the right food helps to deliver a happy and healthy life. This is because food powers dogs with energy and nutrients. Get what your dog eats right and you’ll support their health and wellbeing through their life.
Dog food has so many options to choose from it can seem overwhelming. It is very hard to know exactly what food is best and which will support your dog the most. There are many heated discussions among dog owners about types of food and which is best. The main one that can add confusion is whether grain-free dog food is a passing trend or if it’s necessary. Pero has cleared this debate up to help you see which is best for your pooch. Discover everything you need to know about grain and grain-free dog food and see if grain-free dog food is better for dogs.
What is grain-free dog food?
The question “What is grain-free dog food?” stumps many owners. It is seen as better for dogs but it's quite unclear why.
Grain-free dog food is what it says on the tin (or bag...). It is food that doesn’t include any grains. This means it is processed without ingredients such as corn or wheat. Instead, they add other ingredients that can give your pooch the same nutrients. These can be extra meat for protein, or vegetables and fruits full of fibre and other goodness for your dog. Having these in the food makes grain-free dog food ideal for pooches with food sensitivities and allergies to grains. Having no grains allows them to have fewer digestive issues and skin irritants.
What is dog food with grains?
Dog food with grains is food that incorporates grains as primary ingredients. They help to provide dogs with the nutrients needed for their bodies. They can have one main grain source within them or include multiple. Grains are tiny seed crops that are used as feed for animals and humans. There are common categories of grains that are used in dog food. Cereals are the most common family of grains in dog food.
- Cereals: These include corn, wheat, oats, rice, barley, sorghum and millet.
- Pseudocereal grains: These include buckwheat, quinoa, amaranth and chia.
- Oilseed grains: These include hemp, sunflower, flax and rapeseed.
- Pulses or legumes: These are members of the pea family which include chickpeas, peanuts, lentils and soy.
Many of these grains can be found in dog food with grains, especially within dry dog food. Dry dog food has plenty of carbohydrates to form the strong and crunchy pellets or biscuits that these foods typically come as. Wheat is usually used as it’s the cheapest option. However, wheat can cause lots of health issues in dogs and is a potential allergen.
Are grains bad for dogs?
Many dog owners will find themselves wondering “Are grains bad for dogs?”, as there seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there. Like a lot of food (for both humans and dogs!) it’s about moderation. Grains aren’t necessarily bad for dogs in themselves but can contain a lot of unhealthy sugars. This means that feeding your dog grains should be about choosing quality and managing quantity. Monitor the amount of food your dog is eating so you are not overfeeding your canine companion; both in terms of the amount of grain-based food they get and what proportion of their overall diet it is.
Dry dog food has more grains in it and therefore more calories per weight or portion, so these need to be kept in mind. And lower-quality dry food tends to have higher grain content. Some pooches have sensitivities or allergies to grains, so this sort of food will be bad for them in any amount. Monitor your dog’s reaction to grains, looking for signs of sensitive tummies, discomfort and allergy symptoms like skin irritation. Make a visit to your vet if you notice any of these issues and discontinue feeding grain-based food until the cause can be confirmed!
Dog food with grains vs grain-free
To help you decide if grain-free dog food is a trend or a necessity, we have compared dog food with grains vs grain-free. You can understand which type is best for your canine companion through this. Explore the benefits and cons of each type of food and find the best source of nutrients for your pooch.
Benefits of dog food with grains
There are multiple benefits of dog food with grains for many pooches. The main benefit is it contains vitamins and minerals that your dog needs. Iron, magnesium and B vitamins make up a large number of nutrients and plenty of fibre is added, making digestion that much easier. Grains are actually a good source of healthy carbohydrates which give dogs a slow release of energy throughout the day.
Dog food with grain gives your dog extra protein and omega-3 fatty acids. These are vital to improve dogs' health while giving a much-needed boost to their wellbeing. They can also make your pooch’s coat healthier, softer and shinier.
Negatives of grain dog food
Grain dog food also comes with some negatives, particularly for sensitive stomachs and dogs with allergies. A huge negative is that grains are the main suspect of triggering allergies, especially in pooches that have itchy skin and digestive issues. The main allergens are wheat, soy and corn that instantly trigger their stomachs and skin.
It has been shown that the majority of dogs with allergies are most likely triggered by protein rather than grains. Ingredients like poultry and pork are huge allergens that set off sensitive stomachs. However, grains are still an allergen for some sensitive pooches. It’s worth considering this and using trial and error for your pooch to get them on the best diet for them.
Benefits of grain-free dog food
Grain-free dog food is helpful for dogs with stomach issues and allergies, providing them with various benefits to soothe their uncomfortable symptoms. Going grain-free helps with the digestive system, aiding pooches with sensitives to grains to digest properly. Usually, if they eat grains, these dogs can experience nasty health issues. This can be bloating, diarrhoea and gas which causes discomfort for your dog. Grain-free food eliminates all the triggers to alleviate these symptoms.
There are also many benefits of grain-free dog food, particularly for sensitive dogs with allergies or stomach issues. The main benefit is that it improves dogs' digestion. This aids with pooches' stomachs that suffer from sensitivities to grains. These dogs can experience a range of digestive issues once they’ve eaten grains such as bloating, diarrhoea and gas. As grain-free eliminates these, it can alleviate these symptoms.
As it lacks grains, many grain-free dog food offers a higher protein content with essential fatty acids. This leads to healthy skin and a shiny coat which aids pooches with allergies or skin conditions. Due to the protein, this type of food also boosts your furry friend’s energy levels as they gain support with muscle growth and repair.
Grain-free food for dogs supports healthy weight management. For dogs that need to lose weight or maintain it, grain-free helps them achieve this. The food eliminates the sugars from grains and replaces them with high-quality protein sources.
Downsides to grain-free dog food
There are a few negatives to grain-free dog food. Knowing these may be a factor in helping you determine if grain-free is best. A downside of grain-free food is that your pooch may lack nutritional balance. This is because some low quality grain-free foods don’t use the essential nutrients that dogs need to be healthy and active. Fibre, vitamins and minerals can be missing in grain-free food, making it important to read the packaging thoroughly.
Another downside is that it can be quite costly over traditional dog foods that contain grains. They are typically at a higher price point as they have been specially formulated for dogs with sensitivities. It provides them with a healthy and better alternative to prevent flare-ups.
There is also limited scientific research on grain-free dog food. The effects of a grain-free diet are unknown. There is very minimal knowledge, meaning it’s difficult to fully understand what going grain-free means and what it does for your dog. Dog owners have seen improvements with this type of diet, but more studies must be done to determine the benefits of grain-free dog food.
Is grain-free dog food better for dogs?
So, is grain-free dog food better for dogs? This is dependent on your pooch and their health requirements. Grain-free dog food is better for those with allergies and sensitive stomachs to grains. Eliminating grains can help to alleviate their sensitivity issues. It is also better for dogs who need a strict diet for weight management. However, dog food with grain is also a perfectly fine option and there’s no need to switch your dog’s diet if they aren’t experiencing any issues from grains. It is best to monitor your dog when eating and see if grains affect them and consult your vet to gain the best advice.
Pero can give your furry friend the ultimate food option with our high-quality dog food. We provide dog food with grains and grain-free dog food. Your dog can have high-quality, healthy food that’s packed full of the good stuff, giving them the essential nutrients they need, no matter which food your canine companion requires.