Many humans choose to follow a grain-free diet, whether it’s due to an allergy, intolerance, or personal preference. However, most dog owners don’t consider the impact of including grains in their pet’s diets.
Dog parents worldwide are keen to feed their furry friends the best foods to keep them healthy. Recently, an increasing number of dog owners have asked the question, ‘ Grains or no grains?’
The decision to cut grains out of your dog’s diet is significant. It’s best to ask your vet for their dietary recommendations, as they know your furry companion best!
However, there are some general guidelines that every dog owner can follow when cutting out grains in their dog’s diet.
What are some common grains you should monitor?
You might not see the word “grains” on dog food packaging, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there! Common grains you might find written on dog food labels include wheat, rice, barley, oats, rye, maize, or corn. Grain-free dog foods don’t contain these ingredients.
Mostly, a grain-free diet is also a gluten-free one (but not always). If your dog has been suffering from digestive issues and you haven’t figured out why gluten might be the culprit.
When you switch them to grain free dog food, your dog’s digestion might significantly improve. Again, this is something that your vet can help you determine.
What is grain-free dog food?
Grain-free dog food refers to food that contains no grains. The grains are replaced with other ingredients that ensure the food has an excellent nutritional profile, tastes delicious, and is enjoyable to dogs.
High-quality grain-free dog food products will contain the right amount of carbohydrates to meet your dog’s nutritional needs without disrupting their digestion with grains.
What are the benefits of grain-free diets for dogs?
Dogs can eat grains and, for the most part, can live happy and healthy lives eating wheat, rice, and barley-filled foods.
However, there are many advantages to cutting grains from your dog’s diet, especially if the dog has allergies, intolerances, or digestive issues.
Improvements in skin health have been noted in dogs who suffer from skin issues when fed a grain-free diet. If your dog is persistently getting red, inflamed, or dry patches on its skin, going grain-free may reduce the severity of its condition without medications.
Grain-free diets can also help dogs with sensitive digestion or ongoing digestive issues. If your dog persistently has constipation, diarrhea, or frequent vomiting, cutting out grains could solve the problem.
Grain allergies are common in dogs, and your dog might be suffering from such allergies without your knowledge. By removing the grains from your furry friend’s diet, you might notice significant improvements in their overall health and happiness.
Talk to your vet before switching to a grain-free diet
Before you change your dog’s diet, be sure to consult with your vet so you understand the pros and cons of making that change.
Protect your furry friend with our optimal dog health guide 🐾