Grain Free For Dogs Or Not

Grain free and low carb do not go hand in hand.

Grain free for dogs or not. This could result in unintentional weight gain. According to the veterinary nutrition specialists at tufts it s not only grain free foods that have been associated with heart disease but also foods containing exotic ingredients for dogs. When they looked into what these dogs were eating they found that 90 were on a grain free food and 93 were on diets that contained peas and or lentils. Grain free does make sense.

This is true whether or not the food contains grains. Also grain free does not mean that the meat sources are trustworthy grain free foods can also use animal by products that are not necessarily healthier than grains. Therefore grain free foods are not carb free. In fact some dog foods without grains are higher in alternative carbohydrate sources like potatoes and peas.

The foods were tested for minerals metals and amino acids and no significant abnormalities were found. Hope this information helps. Veterinarians also frequently hear from pet parent confusion regarding grain free and low carb. Despite the benefits for some dogs there are downsides to feeding a grain free dog food.

Many people assume grain free means low carb but that s not the case. While grain free dog foods do not have grains they do substitute other carbohydrate sources such as potatoes sweet potatoes lentils peas or quinoa. They d sooner grab the chicken or the steak than the granola bar. Overall it may be a suitable choice for some dogs but not necessary for most dogs and there are a few other reasons why feeding grain free dog foods may not be the best option for your pooch.

In some cases a grain free food may be equal to or higher in carbs than dog foods with grains. Unfortunately her other dog has a enlarged heart also not looking good was also on grain free diet. Dogs would likely not naturally take it upon themselves to chew on wheat or oats. In the fda s july 2019 update on diet and canine heart disease they examined labels of dog food products reported in dcm cases to determine whether the foods were grain free defined as.

Please research about grain free dog food associated with heart disease in dogs. While they aren t obligate carnivores like cats and can and do benefit from an omnivorous diet meat is meant to be the primary source of nutrition for them and many. That was enough for me to realize to get my dogs off the grain free diet i went back to a quality grain dog food.