what about grains (oats, wheat, corn) etc? in diet

[Glenn]

Hi,
Searching the net I read that some people believe that grains (such as; oats, corn, wheat etc) are not good for puppies and dogs. In the book 'Meals for your dog, 175 gourmet receipes' that comes with the Kingodom of Pets 'package' I see that grains are included in some of the receipes. Would you mind justifying/explaining why you believe that grains are ok for dogs to eat?
Thanks

[KOPcaroline]

Hey Glenn,

Its my personal opinion that grains are good for dogs! My own dog is on a biscuit diet made of beef, veggies, and grains.

Grains help with digestibility of foods, and are easy on the stomach so dogs on them absorb nutrients and pass the food through their digestive tract easier.

Dogs are not, contrary to many peoples beliefs, obligate carnivores. They are actually omnivorous, meaning they eat meat and vegetable matter. In "the wild", dogs' ancestors and relatives commonly eat all sorts of things, including veggies and grain products. Many vets will recommend an increase in grains after surgery to help ease digestion and put less stress on the dogs potentially compromised immune function. They can also help with coat condition and health, making the hair shinier and softer

Overall, I'd say grains can only help a dogs digestive function. You might see grain content in a dogs poo (especially corn), but thats natural/normal, and would happen with any animal really. Just my opinion, I'm sure others have their own input

[Glenn]

Hi Caroline,

That puts my mind at ease and sounds logical. I have been feeding our puppy some grains and have not noticed any visible concerns at this stage.

Thanks

[kjd]

Hi Glenn,

I'm one of those people who is against giving grains. Sunna has been on Orijen 6 Fish since I got her. OTOH, she also gets treats and, I can assure you, there is grain in those treats! Veggies, she definitely gets as I am a poor eater. What I don't eat she gets to finish. Is she healthier than my dogs that had more grain in their diets? I cannot tell.

In the past, when my dogs have been sick, my vet has recommended chicken broth and rice. I would not hesitate to give the same diet today if so recommended. For humans, food has become a "religious" issue and it is no wonder that it is being extended to their animals.

I'm also a believer in a varied diet. What I have noticed is my dogs can change foods suddenly, without digestive upsets. I credit this to a varied diet. [I was on the original Atkin's diet, where you ate only limited foods for a long time. When I first added other foods, my digestion was upset! I figure the same thing works for animals. And, after all, on the street these dogs would be eating garbage and road kill!]

My recommendation would be to feed a good quality food with as few chemical additives as possible (the websites that pushed grain-free should also tell you of the additives to watch out for, and here I don't think it is "religion" but fact). Watch Aslan's weight -- that is probably the most important thing you can do; don't let him become pet-pudgy. Don't worry too much about the type of food unless Aslan has a problem. Enjoy him.

kjd

[StevieM]

I really prefer to feed grain free to my dogs. over the years I've fed many many kinds and qualities of kibble, and a raw food diet. I do love the raw food option, but that's a very controversial subject...

Right now, because of limited space where I live, the kibble is the better option. I have 4 dogs, and they have all thrived on the grain-free foods. Poops are smaller and less stinky. When they were on food with grain (esp corn) they were more prone to diarrhea. They were also always hungry. Now I feed Taste of the Wild and they are not always begging for food. It's the cheapest of the grain-free foods I've found too.

Stevie

[Luv_my_Pitbull]

Grain-free for my dogs!!
But my reasons are more due to allergies than anything else. My pitbull is allergic to grains/chicken/beef...basically she's allergic to cheap food! I cannot feed her Kibbles N bits or Puppy chow due to all the fillers and grains. I have learned that even though the bag says beef is the protein by the time the manufacture finishes adding fillers, grains and cooking down the product all the true protiens are gone. I feed my baby Blue Buffalo *Grain Free* and she has greatly improved since the food chg.

A good place to look is the Blue Buffalo website. It will do a food comparison for almost every brand of dog food and the info is unbiased...you can find all the same info on each individual brand's website & food bags. I'm not promoting Blue Buffalo, I'm only sharing the info I have learned and the food I chose. Hope the info is helpful!