Grain-free dog food - why choose it?

For some time now, there has been a lot of talk on internet forums and dog groups that grain-free dog food is much healthier than grain-free. Is it really true? What is its phenomenon? We check!

Grain-free dog food - what is it?

As the name suggests, grain-free dog food should grain-free, i.e. a food group that primarily provides nutrition with carbohydrates. It includes, among others, wheat, barley, oats, spelt corn and rice, which are often included in budget pet food, as well as in a processed version, for example (in the case of wheat) in the form of pasta.

Grain-free dog food (often referred to as grain-free) contains other sources of carbohydrates—mainly vegetables and fruits. It consists of meat, plants and natural oils in proportions that provide the animal with access to all the nutrients it needs.

An example of a grain-free wet dog food and its composition

For a better understanding of the topic, it is worth taking a look at a specific product, we will look at the banks of the German brand Animonda from the GranCarno lineFor example: beef and lamb.

The first three places are occupied by beef (53% of the total composition), broth (31% of the total) and lamb (constituting 15% of the feed). In total, this is 99% of the entire interior of the can. The remaining 1% is the last item on the list, that is, calcium carbonate and separately listed nutritional supplements: vitamin D3, iodine, manganese and zinc. Therefore, there are no grains or soy in the composition, and there are also not enough vegetables and fruits - therefore it is a very low carbohydrate product.

An example of dry grain-free dog food and its composition

If your dog likes to chew some dry food from time to time, it is definitely worth reconsidering its composition. As an example, we chose grain-free dog food. Brit Care Grain-Free Adult Large Breedseasoned with salmon and potatoes.

First comes dried salmon (34%), then potatoes, and exactly the same amount of salmon protein (10%), chicken fat and additives: dried apples, natural flavors, salmon oil (2%), brewer's yeast, hydrolyzed shellfish shells. , cartilage extract, mannano-oligosaccharides, herbs and fruits, fructooligosaccharides, yucca schidigera, inulin and milk thistle. This formulation ensures that the dog gets carbohydrates (from vegetables), but there are no grains or soy in the formulation.

Should I choose grain-free dog food?

It is worth noting that cereals in the dog's diet are not bad and it is not necessary to avoid them at all costs. The reason why grain-free foods are so popular and recommended by many experienced veterinarians is that grain-free foods tend to be too high in this nutrient.

A healthy grain content in a dog's diet is about 10%., a maximum of 20% - then these ingredients are responsible for providing the right portion of carbohydrates. In the products in which they appear, they usually come first in the composition, which means a much higher content compared to the rest of the ingredients - they can even contain cereals in excess of 80%! Such dishes for a mongrel are fattening. You can compare it to the constant human consumption of chips: they can be eaten, they contain fat and carbohydrates, they are made from vegetables ... but the content of these fats and carbohydrates is too high.

Although dogs are omnivores, meat is the most important part of their diet. In order for the food to be really good and provide the pet with the right dose and quality of nutrients that he needs, the meat content should not be below 60%.

So, if the grains themselves are not harmful and may even be good for your pet because they will provide him with the carbohydrates he needs, then what is the point of a completely grain-free dog food? A large number of dogs are allergic to wheat or other ingredients in this group. It is also the type of food recommended for pets with extremely sensitive stomachs or intestines. The most common symptoms of such ailments are skin changes, itching, alopecia areata, diarrhea, gas, or constipation.

This is not to say that grain-free dog food is not suitable for healthy pets – quite the contrary. In addition to being easily digestible, it has the already mentioned very high meat content, which is why it is recommended by so many nutritionists.

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