Is grain-free pet food just a fad or something you need to know more about? First you should know what grain-free means. Grains are things like corn and wheat and are not bad for your dog unless they have allergies. Grain-free would be dog food without those ingredients. Dog food allergies is the primary reason dog food companies started to create grain-free food. Grains should still be a small part of their diet (or a small part of their processed dog food).
Their diet should contain primarily quality meats and proteins (remember they are carnivores, even though they have evolved from being the wild animals they once were). Grains are often used as filler for processed dog foods. They are used to hold the dough together as well (sort of like we use bread crumbs for meatloaf).
Is Grain-Free Dog Food a Fad or a Healthy Change?
Dogs can have food allergies just like we do. Some dogs are allergic to grains like wheat and corn, so they need to consume a diet that is grain-free. But why all the hype lately on grain-free dog food? It is simple: because there is hype in grain-free people food. As much as we like to think of our dogs as being like us, their digestive system is not like ours. Just because more people are being diagnosed with celiac disease, does not mean that our dogs will see a rise in that as well.
Here is a little test. Before you jump on the grain-free bandwagon and think your dog has a gluten allergy, switch his food. Switch to a grain-free product (yes I said use a grain-free product). Feed him this for a week, then introduce a little pasta to his diet. If he does not have any reactions then he is not gluten intolerant, he was allergic to something else in the other dog food you were feeding him. Now I am no veterinarian, so please do not take my word for it, consult your doc if you think your dog has issues with food.
If grain-free is not for you, you could try a raw diet for your dog. Before changing your dog’s diet you want to consult your vet first. There are certain things your dog needs in his diet and if you are going to be doing a raw diet or making him homemade food, you want to be sure he is getting all the nutrients he needs to be healthy and live a long life with you.
Have you switched to grain-free for your furry pet? What was your reason behind your choice to switch? Post your stories below and share with us your thoughts on grain-free dog food!
