Grain Vs. Wheat in your Dogs Diet
The words “grain-free,” “wheat-free” and “gluten-free” are often used as though they mean the same thing. From a nutritional and scientific perspective, they are different.
WHAT IS A GRAIN?
Grains are the edible seeds of cereal plants. Common grains used in dog food include:
• Wheat
• Rice
• Oats
• Barley
• Corn
• Millet
• Sorghum
Wheat is only one member of the grain family. Therefore, a wheat-free dog food may still contain nutritious grains such as oatmeal, barley, brown rice or millet.
WHAT DOES GRAIN-FREE MEAN?
A grain-free food contains no cereal grains. To provide carbohydrates and help give dry food its structure, manufacturers commonly replace grains with ingredients such as peas, lentils, chickpeas, potatoes, sweet potatoes or tapioca.
Removing grains does not remove carbohydrates. It simply changes the ingredients supplying them.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND GRAINS
Dogs do not require one particular grain, but they can efficiently digest properly cooked starches. Cooking breaks down the structure of starch, making it more accessible to digestive enzymes.
Depending on the grain and how it is processed, grains can provide:
• Digestible carbohydrates for energy
• Fibre to support digestion and stool quality
• Protein
• Essential fatty acids
• B vitamins
• Minerals and antioxidants
Fibre also helps support the beneficial microorganisms living in the intestinal tract. Different fibres behave differently in the digestive system, which is why the overall formulation of a food matters more than whether it contains one particular ingredient.
Grains are not automatically inexpensive fillers. A filler would contribute little or no nutritional value. Properly selected and prepared grains can serve specific nutritional purposes in a balanced dog-food formula.
FOOD ALLERGY VS. FOOD INTOLERANCE
A true food allergy involves an immune-system response, usually to a protein in the food. Wheat contains proteins, including gluten, so it can cause an allergic reaction in an individual dog. However, animal proteins such as beef, dairy and chicken are also frequently associated with food allergies.
A food intolerance does not involve the immune system. It may occur when a dog has difficulty digesting a particular ingredient and can result in gas, vomiting or loose stool.
Possible signs of an adverse food reaction can include:
• Persistent itching or paw licking
• Recurring ear irritation
• Ongoing skin problems
• Vomiting, gas or chronic loose stool
These symptoms can also be caused by parasites, environmental allergies, infections, sudden dietary changes and other health conditions. Symptoms alone cannot confirm that wheat or another grain is responsible.
The most dependable way to investigate a suspected food allergy is a veterinarian-supervised elimination diet followed by a controlled food challenge. Blood, saliva and hair tests are not considered reliable methods of diagnosing canine food allergies.
GRAIN-FREE DIETS AND HEART HEALTH
Grain-free does not automatically mean healthier.
Veterinary researchers and the United States Food and Drug Administration have investigated cases of non-hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, in dogs eating certain diets. Many of the reported foods contained peas, lentils or other pulses high on their ingredient lists.
The science has not established that every grain-free food causes heart disease. DCM is complex and may involve diet formulation, nutrient availability, genetics, underlying health conditions and how ingredients interact.
However, the research does provide an important reminder: ingredients cannot be evaluated in isolation, and a food should not be selected simply because “grain-free” appears on its packaging.
OUR CHOICE AT LAKEWOOD RANCH DOODLES
At Lakewood Ranch Doodles, TLC Whole Life Puppy Food and TLC Whole Life Dog Food are our foods of choice for our puppies and adult dogs.
TLC is wheat-free, but it is not grain-free. Its formulas use grains such as oatmeal, whole-grain barley, whole brown rice and millet. These ingredients provide sources of complex carbohydrates and fibre as part of the complete formula.
We have selected TLC because it offers complete and balanced nutrition for the appropriate life stage while including animal-based protein sources, grains, fats, vitamins, minerals and other carefully selected ingredients.
We recommend that our families continue feeding TLC when their puppy first goes home. Maintaining the same diet provides consistency during a period that already includes changes in surroundings, routine, water and activity. This can help avoid digestive upset caused by an unnecessary sudden food change.
If a family decides to change foods later, the transition should be made gradually rather than switching overnight.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Wheat is one type of grain.
• Wheat-free does not mean grain-free.
• Grain-free food still contains carbohydrate sources.
• Most dogs tolerate properly prepared grains well.
• A reaction to wheat does not mean a dog must avoid every grain.
• Grain-free is not automatically healthier or more nutritious.
• The quality and nutritional balance of the complete formula matter more than marketing claims on the package.
Every dog is an individual. Dogs experiencing ongoing digestive, skin or ear problems should be assessed by a veterinarian before major dietary restrictions are introduced.
Lakewood Ranch Doodles
Partnering with you for successful dog ownership.