Blog Are grains bad for dogs? A Q&A with a certified canine nutritionist.
Are grains bad for dogs? A Q&A with a certified canine nutritionist.
It’s a question that frequently pops up when it comes to dog food: Should I be feeding my dog a grain-free diet?
We spoke with Michelle Short, certified canine nutritionist, all about grains in our dogs’ diets and the controversy that surrounds grains in pet food. Read on to see what she had to say about grains in dog diets and whether or not grains are good for dogs.
Q. Which type of diet is healthier for my dog: “grain-free” or “grain inclusive”?
A. The answer to this question depends on whether we are discussing raw food or kibble. The scare in recent years around the potential link between nutrition and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) brought “grain-free” diets into question as the potential cause of this health issue, but it’s important to distinguish between grains in raw diets and grains in kibble. Unfortunately, the DCM investigation was biased and put grain-free foods (both raw and kibble) under fire without equally comparing “grain-inclusive” diets. This led to the incorrect assumption that grains are required in a dog’s diet to keep them at their healthiest. The reality is, grains are not required to include in a dog’s diet to make it complete and well-balanced, regardless of whether you feed raw or kibble. The results of the FDA investigation into this issue are inconclusive at this time and have been discontinued. While there is some evidence suggesting that both certain legumes and some grains can potentially inhibit the absorption of taurine and other nutrients in dogs, this issue typically does not apply to raw diets. Ultimately, a balanced fresh food diet for dogs is an ideal choice over processed dog food, be it “grain-free” or not.
Q. Should I be feeding my dog a grain-free diet?
A. In general, yes, you should be feeding your dog a grain-free diet. However, it’s better to think of it as you should be feeding your dog a starchy carb-free diet. Both highly processed grains (corn, wheat, rice) and the crops used in “grain-free” kibble (legumes) come with similar downsides. Most raw diets are “grain-free” because they provide adequate energy from healthy fats instead of starchy carbohydrates, unlike their kibble and canned food counterparts. Grains are starchy carbohydrates, and these are typically not required in a dog’s diet. There are many reasons why it is generally healthier and more biologically appropriate to avoid both processed grains and other carbohydrates in dog diets, keep reading to learn about three of the most important reasons.
Contaminants are often found in commercial processed kibble.
Both grain-free and grain-inclusive kibbles commonly use commercial crops that are often contaminated with multiple compounds such as glyphosate, acrylamides, and mycotoxins. A diet high in these processed grains or legumes could carry a greater risk of toxicity due to the high amount of these used in kibble.
There’s excess sugar in kibble due to complex starchy carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates are broken down by the body directly into sugar (glucose), while fats are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Carbs for a quick glucose source can be useful in certain situations and in smaller amounts, such as when dogs are conducting sprinting exercises or for pregnant dogs. However, the excessively high amounts of carbohydrates in kibble mean that the diet is high in sugar. While dogs do have a slightly increased ability to digest carbohydrates than their wolf ancestors, this doesn’t mean that a carb based diet is ideal for them. As facultative carnivores, a dog’s body is still designed for utilizing healthy fats as their primary energy source.
A carb-heavy diet can increase inflammation in dogs.
A diet high in carbohydrates from highly processed grains or legumes could potentially increase inflammation in our pets. Part of this can be due to the high amount of sugar in a kibble diet, but there are also multiple compounds present in plants like grains and legumes that are detrimental in high amounts. For example, some grains contain proteins that activate immune cells in the gut and other body tissues. Since inflammation is an immune system response, over-activation from the excessive consumption of these grains could be an issue.
Q. Are grains inflammatory for dogs?
A. It depends. I do not like to vilify specific foods by calling a food “inflammatory” in and of itself, or even categorizing inflammation itself as bad. Inflammation is a necessary part of a healthy immune system reaction to injury, invaders, or disease. It is when inflammation becomes excessive or misplaced that it becomes an issue. Whether a food is “inflammatory” in a negative way frequently depends on the amount consumed, the sourcing quality, and other factors. High heat processed grains fed in high amounts, and potential contaminates such as glyphosate and mold toxins can certainly be an issue, and these issues are common in kibble. However, a higher quality grain homecooked safely at lower temperatures and added to a homemade raw or cooked diet in smaller amounts is a different story and can be perfectly fine for dogs. While I prefer to avoid grains when feeding my own pets and believe they are not an ideal food for dogs, they are not inherently bad for them in appropriate amounts.
Q. Does my dog’s diet need to have grains in it in order to be complete and balanced?
A. No, grains are not required to be included in complete and well-balanced diets for dogs, all of the essential nutrients that dogs need can be provided without grains. Most dogs do not need grains at all. However, there are exceptions and sometimes grains can be useful. For example, if a dog requires a medical diet with carbohydrates and has allergies that prevent the use of non-grain options (like quinoa or sweet potato), but that’s a very specific situation.
Q. What grains are healthy for my dog and what grains should be avoided?
A. It is recommended to avoid highly processed grains and starches, such as corn or wheat. Non-grain starches such as peas and soybeans should be avoided as well. When feeding grains, some better choices would be pre-soaked oats or barley. Additionally, there are also other non-grain options for starchy carbohydrates such as sweet potato, parsnips, or quinoa.
When feeding grains or seeds, the thing to be aware of is anti-nutrients such as phytates – compounds naturally occurring in plants that can inhibit nutrient absorption. Even for our own consumption, it is a somewhat forgotten recommendation to pre-soak and drain seeds and grains to remove phytates before cooking.
Q. Is boiled rice really the best option to feed my dog when they’re having tummy troubles?
A. Rice often gets vilified in the raw feeding community. Again, I prefer to avoid vilifying any specific food. While I think there are some slightly better choices than rice (like sweet potato or quinoa), in reality rice is not particularly problematic, especially not for temporary use. When tummy troubles occur in dogs, it is recommended to reduce fat and increase fiber in their diet to help firm up their stools. Therefore, starchy carbohydrates are useful to provide energy and fiber.
Meet Michelle: Certified canine nutritionist and raw feeding expert.
Michelle has a certificate in Canine Nutrition from the Companion Animal Sciences Institute and a Canine Health & Nutrition Diploma from the British College of Canine Studies. Before joining Carnos, she worked as a professional raw dog food formulator at Perfectly Rawsome! Michelle is passionate about feeding a raw diet and has over 8 years of experience. She currently admins the Raw Feeding University Facebook page and is in the process of obtaining her Pet Master Herbalist Certificate at the Academy of Natural Health Sciences Training Center. In her free time, she loves attending dog shows, participating with her youngest dog, Hooligan (pictured right), braiding dog leashes, and enjoying a night out for dinner and a movie with her husband.
