In short, these are the question I hear most:
Should I feed my dog grain free?
What protein should I choose?
Should I feed my dog raw food?
What brand is “the best”?
So let’s get in it:
Grains vs grain-free?
Grains vs grain-free
In the past there has been quite the discussion on grains causing allergies and that they are “bad for dogs”. The truth is Dogs are natural omnivores and should have a diet that meets those requirements, which includes grains.
Now grains can definitely be an allergen issue in some cases but in reality grains are a good source of nutrients.
Of course there are good grains and not so good grains so let’s start with that.
Good grains
Grains are actually beneficial for most dogs and offer a good source of carbohydrates, fats, and antioxidants. This can actually help promote healthy skin and coat, plus support a healthy immune system.
Corn, rice, oats, barley, wheat, rye, and sorghum. These are the standard grains in most dog foods, unless of course they are truly “Grain free”.
If I were to rank these grains in order of best to worst here’s what it would look like:
Corn & corn meal.
This is almost every dog food and is so hard to get around. There are also many discussions on corn or corn meal being a filler food or not but I can’t help but lean toward it being a filler.
If you think about what happens after we eat corn just think about what happens when your dog is eating large amounts every day. Not great things.
Although Corn does have some nutritional benefits it also could be replaced by some better choice grains
Corn pros:
- Source of carbohydrates and energy
- Some Antioxidant properties
Corn cons:
- Higher glycemic index
- Not easily digestible as a whole grain
- No protein value
- Low nutrient balance score
In a nutshell corn is in fact a cheap source of carbs and vital to the kibbling process.
Proteins
These are the most common sources of animal proteins in most dog foods:
Chicken, lamb, fish meal, and beef
Subs Corner 