Prior to recently, most pet parents believed grain free dog food to be healthier for their pups – until reports surfaced of Golden Retrievers and other breeds eating grain-free diets becoming sick from Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM).
Many pet owners are now reconsidering the choice of dog food they give to their animals, with grain free foods becoming increasingly popular. But what exactly are the advantages of going grain free?
Contents
1. It’s Good for the Digestive System
Many dog owners report that switching their pup to grain free food has increased energy levels and improved digestion, most likely as a result of upgrading quality over quantity in terms of ingredients – not simply substituting grains with filler ingredients at lower cost.
Grain-free foods offer more nutritional benefits than their grain-based counterparts by replacing cereal grains with nutritious ingredients such as sweet potatoes, peas and vegetables which offer essential vitamins that cannot be found elsewhere in our food supply. By replacing grains with these other nutritious ingredients instead, grain-free meals tend to have lower carb counts, making them an ideal way to manage weight.
Grain-based pet foods provide energy and fiber that promote healthy digestion for dogs. Unfortunately, cheaper grain-based pet food often includes processed grains with most of their value stripped away, meaning your pup burns through energy more rapidly; leading to dramatic spikes and dips in blood sugar levels and sudden energy dips. High-quality protein sources in grain-free pet foods release energy more slowly resulting in more balanced blood sugar levels and providing your dog with plenty of energy throughout their day.
2. It’s Good for Skin and Coat
Contrary to popular belief, grain free dog food does not lack in carbohydrates. Indeed, many of the best kibbles from leading grain-free brands contain carbs from non-cereal sources like potatoes – providing slow release energy sources.
Grain-free foods also tend to contain higher levels of omegas, essential for skin and coat health, making them an excellent option for dogs with dry, itchy skin or flaky coats.
Grain-free diets may help prevent allergies to common grains like wheat, barley and rye while also containing less of the proteins which cause intolerances like gluten and dairy in dogs. Many pet parents opt to switch their dogs on intolerance-prone diets to this grain-free route – just make sure that if your canine suffers heart conditions beforehand; some grain-free diets may not provide enough taurine (an amino acid essential to their heart health)!
3. It’s Good for Weight Management
As grain-free diets have become increasingly popular, it’s essential to recognize that not all grain-free dog foods are created equal. Some include ingredients like quinoa, oats, barley and rye to provide additional fiber-rich carb sources in their diets.
These carbohydrates help to fuel a dog throughout his or her day and should be included as part of its daily diet. However, to practice Full Circle Feeding responsibly it’s also essential that carbohydrate sources be changed regularly in your pet’s meal.
Grain-free dog food recipes often include alternative sources of carbs like potatoes and peas that could potentially contribute to weight gain in less active pets. Furthermore, as some grain-free diets rely on multiple protein sources as opposed to just meat for protein intake, these diets may contain an imbalance of amino acids and nutrients not suitable for healthy dogs – it is always wise to consult your veterinarian prior to making changes to your pup’s diet.
4. It’s Good for Joint Health
Your body requires carbohydrates for fuel, but not all sources are created equal. Grains offer essential vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber benefits.
Grain-free foods typically consist of legumes such as peas, beans and potatoes as a replacement for grains in order to be gentler on a dog’s digestive system and relieve gas and bloat symptoms. Grain-free diets may also help aid with gas and bloat symptoms in particular.
Grain-free diets may also be more effective at supporting joint health. Joint problems can arise due to injury – strains, sprains or dislocations – or overuse; such as when playing sports or performing repeated chores. A high quality no grain food should contain plenty of joint-supportive nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E for maximum support of joint health.
