Grain-Free Diet
Lots of pet parents who want to be responsible and give their dog the best diet and lifestyle. As a result, they have turned to grain-free pet foods. Most commercial dog food and kibble are filled with corn, wheat and soy, but grain-free dog food cuts out all these common ingredients and boosts the content with more meat, animal fats and protein with much fewer carbohydrates compared to popular commercial dog foods.
Although most dog people will agree that these are definitely positives for your dog’s health and wellbeing, there’s still a lot of debate around whether or not a grain-free diet is a right choice for your dog. The truth is that while it is generally better for most dogs, every dog is different and diet requirements will vary. It’s important to be aware of what your individual dog needs and it’s worth consulting with your vet before you make the switch to a grain-free diet for your dog. Read on for some of the benefits of going grain-free?
Better Digestion:
Dogs have problems digesting most grains, which can lead to digestive problems when a dog is fed a diet that is high in ingredients such as wheat. Since grain-free dog food has higher levels of protein and fewer carbohydrates, it tends to be easier to digest for dogs compared to food that is rich in carb-heavy grains. The reason for this is that dogs do not produce enough amylase, the enzyme that is needed to break down starchy carbohydrates, to fully break down and digest a lot of carbs. Therefore, most dogs with digestive issues tend to benefit from a grain-free diet.
Try grain free dog food from Bella and Duke, a raw feeding company dedicated to providing your dog with a nutritious diet that meets their needs. Along with a range of tasty foods your dog will love they also provide plenty of useful information on safely switching your dog’s diet.
Improved Nutrition:
Many commercial pet food brands will pack their products with unnecessarily large grain quantities in a bid to bulk the product up and produce it as cheaply as possible in order to make a profit. As a result, many of the cheap commercial dog food options on the market tend to be quite low in nutritional value since their main ingredient is carbohydrate-heavy grains. On the other hand, grain-free dog food tends to be much higher in vegetables, healthy meat and fish proteins, and fibre, which ensures that your dog gets a balanced, nutritious diet.
Better Coat Condition:
Switching to a grain-free diet can seriously benefit your dog’s coat health and condition. The sad truth is that grains simply cannot provide your dog with the proper range of nutrients and oils necessary to maintain a healthy coat and skin. Since grain-free dog food is much higher in protein, it also tends to be quite rich in omega-3 fatty acids, particularly in meals containing fish. An increase of these fatty oils in your dog’s diet tends to improve the coat and make it thicker, shinier and healthier. And, the protein increase in your dog’s diet will lead to a stronger coat, which can reduce shedding and moulting.
Allergies:
If your dog suffers from a food allergy, making the switch to a grain-free diet can be very beneficial. Wheat and corn are two very common foods that dogs are allergic to, and these are also very common ingredients in dog foods that contain grains. Your dog might have a food allergy if you have noticed some symptoms such as excessive licking of their feet, diarrhoea that lasts longer than a day, or has an itchy bottom. While some dogs are allergic to proteins and other ingredients in the food, grains tend to be a popular culprit. An elimination diet under the supervision of your vet will help you determine exactly what your dog is reacting to in their food. If the result comes in that your dog is allergic to grain, your vet will likely advise you to make the switch to grain-free food.
Increased Energy:
If your dog isn’t as energetic as you feel they should be for their age and breed, switching to a grain-free dog food can benefit them. Protein is a dog’s main source of energy, and unfortunately, regular commercial dog food does not always provide your dog with enough protein or energy and as a result, mostly comes out as waste. As an alternative, grain-free dog food is very high in protein and therefore is an excellent source of energy. Grain-free food is also a great option for pregnant and lactating dogs as it provides the energy to produce and give birth to healthy puppies.
Weight Benefits:
Another key benefit of grain-free food is that it can be incredibly helpful in controlling your dog’s weight. When a dog consumes a lot of carbohydrates in their diet without getting enough exercise, this is often a common cause of weight gain. Most grains are very rich in carbohydrates, so feeding them to your dog regularly can cause them to put weight on. On the other hand, grain-free dog foods tend to be much higher in meat and vegetables and any carbohydrates they contain tend to be healthier, such as sweet potatoes, which have a lower carbohydrate content than regular potentials and include more vitamins and minerals.
Better Breath:
Most dog pet parents have experienced a time when their pet’s breath isn’t very pleasant. However, bad breath can be a sign of a bad diet and eating grain-free dog food can actually improve their breath. Nutrition can have a large impact on your dog’s dental health and in many cases, poor nutrition can lead to bad breath. A dog that eats a highly nutritional diet such as grain-free food will have much nicer breath when they pant in your face.
Tips for Switching to Grain-Free:
If you have decided that your dog will benefit from a grain-free diet compared to what they are currently eating, it’s important to make the switch gradually to give your dog’s body time to adjust to the changes. Suddenly changing your dog’s food can lead to stomach upset and digestive problems, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your dog while making the changes and slow down where necessary if you feel that your dog needs to be introduced more gradually. Begin by mixing a little bit of grain-free food into your dog’s regular food and gradually increase the amount of grain-free, while reducing the amount of their regular food over the period of a few weeks. This gives your dog’s digestive system a chance to get used to the changes.
To summarise, grain-free dog food is becoming increasingly popular as a beneficial option for most dogs. Not only is it easier for most dogs to digest, but it leads to additional health benefits such as more energy, a healthier coat, better weight, better breath, and the prevention of allergies due to the high content of fibre and healthy protein.
If you believe that your dog may benefit from switching to a grain-free diet, speak to your vet first to discuss your plans and put together a healthy feeding plan for your dog.
