Should Puppies Be Grain-Free?

Traditional dog food is a practical food choice for pups not receiving more or less of one nutrient. That said, some dogs are intolerant to grains, which are the main component of a variety of conventional dog foods.

Mysweetpuppy.net recommends that to be on the safe side, a new dog parent should go for grain-free food. Though more expensive than its traditional counterpart, it’s also as healthy and all-encompassing when it comes to meeting canine food needs. That means it’s safe for dogs with sensitive diets.

Today, we’ll look at what the reality is with grain-free diets, including whether or not your pups should be on them.

Filling the Gap of a Grain-Free Diet

Speculation surrounding the grain-free diet’s contribution to canine heart conditions has been heavy of late, especially among those who erroneously implement the meal plan. The truth is, one may circumvent these potential health challenges by boosting the taurine level in your four-legged companion’s food.

Taurine is a substance found in dairy and meat that improves heart health and prevents muscle loss. When searching for grain-free dog food, look at its ingredients. Ensure it contains a mixture of glucosamine, herbs, chondroitin, and taurine to fill whatever is lacking from a grain-free diet. These substances are particularly beneficial for your dog’s joints and heart.

How To Know if Your Pup Is Grain-Intolerant

Whether to feed dogs grain-free or grain-based food is usually up to the owner. However, there is an instance when grain-free food remains your only option. That is when your pup is intolerant to grains.

Here are some of the signs of grain intolerance from consuming conventional dog food:

• Skin inflammation
• Hair loss or bald patches
• Long-term flatulence
• Vomiting
• Loose bowel movement
• Rashes or sores

Unlike meat and dairy, grains are unlikely to cause allergic reactions in canines. Thus, if your furry companion shows any of the above signs, you want to consider switching to a grain-free diet. There’s a good chance that merely changing to a different traditional dog food brand will not remedy the situation.

On the other hand, the lack of the above symptoms suggests your pup is fine continuing their conventional dog food diet. That is especially the case if your little pooch eats a balanced diet and is enjoying the food.

Grain-Free and Grain-Based Dog Food: A Comparison

Grains are a source of an assortment of vitamins and minerals for your tiny canines. That includes iron, magnesium, selenium, carbohydrates, fiber, and B vitamins. When combined, they can make for healthy muscles and a well-functioning digestive system.

So, how does grain-lacking dog food measure up to that? What grain-free dog food lacks, it makes up for in meat.

While it’s certainly not an all-meat food, the proportion of meat in them is considerably greater than its traditional counterparts. The remaining components of these dog diets that aren’t meat come in the form of carbohydrates.

The heftier price tag attached to grain-free dog food might make one think they’re composed of healthier ingredients, but that isn’t necessarily the case. Like grain-based dog food, grainless options’ quality also varies, depending on the brand.

If your pup is mostly on a balanced diet and isn’t exhibiting symptoms of grain intolerance, they should fare well enough with traditional dog food. If your pet has these symptoms after a veterinary evaluation, the professional is likely to recommend a grainless dog food diet to address the situation.

Of course, this will all be done on a trial and error basis, as a grain-free diet does not necessarily guarantee freedom from food allergies. That said, most dogs are rarely allergic to the grainy contents in traditional dog food. The majority of the time, it’s the protein sources that give rise to canine allergies.

The Controversy Surrounding Grain-Free Dog Food

Yes, we are going to go there. After all, dog owners deserve to know the whole truth about what they might want to feed their four-legged loved ones.

What’s seen as an association between the grainless diet and heart disease in canines is not enough to label grain-free dog food as something to avoid in the market.

That’s because it isn’t just the food that comes into play when determining the sources of these illnesses. Other factors are just as, if not more, contributory to these health conditions.

That said, if there is an inkling of doubt whether to shift to the grainless variety, talk to your vet. No one knows more about your dog’s dietary and health needs than this individual.

What’s It Going To Be, Grain-Based or Grain-Free?

It’s best to reinforce canine dietary decision-making with your vet’s wisdom, though dog diets should be based mainly on the complete and balanced nutrition they provide. If it seems a grain-free switch is in order, let the final word be your veterinarian’s. Furthermore, let the professional decide which brand of grain-free dog food is best for your most loyal companion.