5 benefits of grain-free dog food

As loving dog owners, we are always trying to find new ways to ensure our canine companions are healthy and happy. For most dogs, regular exercise is a must, and mental stimulation with loads of play and attention goes a long way. But what about your dog’s diet? To live a long and healthy life, does your dog get the best nutrition? The health of your pet depends on the choices you make. Knowing what’s in your dog’s food is the first step towards improving its health.

Grain-free dog food can be a fantastic option for pet parents looking for meals to feed their dogs while cutting out unhealthy ingredients. In this article, we outline what grain-free dog food is, why many people think this is the right choice for a natural diet for dogs of all breeds, what are some of the main benefits of feeding your dog a grain-free diet, and some of the negative aspects of the news recently.

Dogs have evolved to accommodate grain in their diets over generations of domestication, so corn and wheat in normal dog food doesn’t destroy your dog’s digestive system. Low-quality products may rely too heavily on all of these starches as fillers, however, and this is not optimal. They may also use genetically modified corn or wheat, and the impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on dogs is not completely understood. However, if that’s an issue, you can locate GMO-free dog food that has grains.

After reviewing more than 500 recent incidents of canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found a potential link between canine DCM and dogs eating certain grain-free foods. The dogs had consumed a mostly grain-free product regularly in several of these situations, the FDA report said.

5 benefits of grain-free dog food

Grain-free diets are great for dogs if they are competently formulated and balanced. They have high-quality proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and fiber. They also promote a strong digestive system, great skin and coat, and more. Here’s our list of the top five benefits of grain-free dog food.

 

  • Health from the inside out:

 

Your pet’s digestive tract matters for your pet’s health far beyond just processing food. For gut health, most of our grain-free formulas use our exceptional P.B.F. Prebiotic Balanced Fiber mix. The gut plays an important role in natural immunity and a healthy gut can lead to a healthy dog or cat. A recent study demonstrates that having a range of carefully chosen fiber sources can help the digestive tract maintain an ideal equilibrium. Having a varied mixture of prebiotics provides the gut bacteria with nourishment, which in turn nourishes the whole body. From the inside out, our grain-free formulas provide health.

 

 

  • Lower risk of food allergies and intolerances:

 

 

Food sensitivities or allergies can be frustrating, creating health problems and discomfort for the dog. Moreover, many owners of dogs suffering from food allergies do not realize that their dog may be allergic to their food. While food intolerances describe any situation where a dog has trouble digesting a certain ingredient (compare to human lactose intolerance), a food allergy is somewhat different. Food allergies in dogs exist when they have an intense reaction from their immune systems to certain foods. 

As it turns out, wheat, corn, and soy are three of the most common products that create food allergies in dogs. And what are three of the most widespread grains found in dog foods at the grocery store? You guessed it: wheat, corn, and soy. Symptoms of dog food allergies vary considerably, ranging from mild to very severe to life-threatening. If your dog has any of the following symptoms, check with your veterinarian and consider changing to a dog food that is free of grain:

  • Excessive gas
  • Skin rash or irritations
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Diarrhea or loose bowel movements
  • Frequent skin and ear infections
  • Scratching and biting of itchy areas

Even if your canine companion shows none of the above-mentioned symptoms, that doesn’t mean their current diet works perfectly for it. Food intolerance, even if not usually as severe as allergies, still presents a danger to the health of your dog.

 

  • Nutritional value: 

 

High-quality grain-free dog food is a different case altogether. As is the case with most super-premium dog foods, you can reduce the amount of food you give your dog once you switch to grain-free, while maintaining a healthy weight. The feeding guidelines on the dog food packaging provide instructions based on the age, weight, and also the health of your pet. This can help you offset some of the extra cost of feeding a grain-free kibble of excellent quality to your dog. When they see super-premium, grain-free dog food prices, some pet parents feel sticker shock. But if you can make your dog food budget go farther, you can feed your dog as well as reduce overall problems and potential veterinary visits.

 

 

  • Healthy skin and coat: 

 

Did you know that grain-free food can improve the health of your dog’s skin and coat? With healthy fats and oils, your dog can have a healthy skin and coat. To maintain a healthy, shiny coat with soft skin, our formulas provide healthy oil and fats. One of the primary benefits of grain-free dog food is that omega-3 fatty acids tend to increase, which are particularly good for the skin and coat of your pet. High-quality ingredients have a naturally high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, like wild salmon from Alaska, duck fat and flaxseed.

Grain-free Formulas for Life(TM) helps to make the skin and coat of your dog healthier.

 

 

  • Unique and specialized ingredients:

 

The ingredients used as alternatives to grains are another interesting benefit to grain-free dog food. Many of these may not have been part to your dog’s diet before and are great nutritional sources. Sweet potatoes, quinoa, chickpeas, and potatoes, are just a few examples of delicious veggies used to formulate grain-free diets.

Your dog may sometimes experience many challenges you hopefully won’t attribute to a specific condition or cause. Pet parents often try to switch the food of their dog first to see if the condition clears up. Selecting a grain-free dog food is a great choice, because ingredients that might cause problems for your dog are often eliminated. Also, since grain-free dog foods are usually formulated with less common ingredients, simply by making the switch to grain-free, your dog may feel better.  Remember to gradually transition your dog to the new diet, and it won’t experience any digestive issues. Your dog can start to eat the new diet 100% of the time after 7-10 days.

 

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