Grain-free diets can be great options for dogs with allergies to grains; however, they shouldn’t be your sole solution for their nutrition.
Grain-free foods often employ inexpensive vegetables like potatoes and peas as fillers that add calories and may lead to weight gain in dogs.
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1. Look for a Variety of Flavors
Grain free dog foods come in an assortment of flavors to meet the needs of every pup. Look for recipes with meats, vegetables, fruits and other ingredients as well as probiotics and prebiotics added for healthy digestion.
Whole Earth provides this recipe using deboned chicken, sweet potatoes, kale and beet pulp as key ingredients. It provides ample fiber while being completely free from corn, wheat, soy and poultry byproducts along with artificial preservatives and colors.
People often opt to feed their dogs grain-free diets to manage allergies, intolerances and sensitivities. But it’s important to remember that dogs evolved alongside people as omnivores; left to their own devices they would likely consume a mixture of animal- and plant-based foods, with carbohydrates like grains also providing energy. As such, when selecting grain-free pet food options it should contain high quality animal proteins as well as an appropriate balance of carbohydrates.
2. Look for a Variety of Ingredients
The highest quality grain-free dog foods contain multiple sources of protein. While some brands use meat-based proteins, others rely on plant proteins. Some manufacturers add additional nutrients like fish oil, flaxseed, apples, turmeric, ginger, kelp mixed tocopherols and vitamins for maximum nutritional benefit – these ingredients may even be freeze dried to maximize nutritional retention.
Another key element to look out for in grain-free food is a selection of vegetables and fruits. This will ensure your pet receives all of the essential vitamins and nutrients. For instance, The Honest Kitchen grain-free dog food features turkey, sweet potatoes carrots kale as part of its selection – as well as being grain-free, corn-free and soy-free!
American Journey and Rachel Ray Nutrish are two additional grain-free brands offering high-quality ingredients at a reasonable cost, without artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners; plus they don’t contain GMOs so canine allergies can benefit greatly from them.
3. Look for a Variety of Nutrients
Grain-free diets have often been promoted as healthy diets because they forgo fillers like grains that provide vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids – however these replacement grains tend to be high in carbs which may lead to overeating and weight gain in dogs.
Some ingredients found in commercial dog food could lead to your pup producing too much starch, so it’s wise to opt for food with high levels of meat proteins rather than plant proteins as your dog food source.
As a general guideline, try and select food with a ratio of 30% protein, 63% fat and 7% carbohydrates – this approximates their natural diet. Furthermore, avoid food that contains “byproducts”, such as chicken feet or feathers that could pose health risks to your dog.
4. Look for a Variety of Costs
Grain-free diets may seem healthier for our dogs, but not all grain-free foods are created equal. Some contain grain substitutes like potatoes and peas that alter nutrient balance by replacing high quality protein sources with cheaper vegetables that may not provide as many essential benefits for their bodies.
Purchase grain-free dog food that provides ample protein from animal sources. Dogs have evolved with this food type and often prefer it over any others.
Rachael Ray has created a grain-free dog food recipe packed with animal proteins for her celebrity chef dogs that is free from grains, corn, wheat and fillers, while also being rich in omega-3 fatty acids from salmon oil and flaxseed – plus all artificial ingredients, flavors and preservatives! Perfect for puppies as well as adult dogs of all sizes. Although more costly than its competitors, it offers quality ingredients worth your while.
