In recent years, there has been a trend for grain-free pet food, which is often marketed as being healthier. There are, however, no known health benefits for replacing grains with other carbohydrates such as potato, tapioca or peas. Grains offer a wide variety of nutrients, for which pets have daily requirements for optimal nutrition. Pets do not, however, have requirements for specific ingredients. How the nutrients get delivered to the pet, via ingredients, is not as important as the nutrients themselves.
The many benefits of grains in pet food
Wheat, corn, rice, oats and other grains offer a rich source of nutrients that are vital for the health of cats and dogs. These include:
• Complex carbohydrates – for sustained energy
• Highly digestible proteins – to help build and maintain the body
• Omega-3 fatty acids – for skin and coat health
• Essential amino acids – for growth, immunity and more
• Calcium – for strong bones and teeth
• Iron – to help carry oxygen around the body
• Fiber – for a healthy digestive system
• Vitamin B – to help cats and dogs utilize and metabolize other nutrients
• Vitamin E – for antioxidant protection and more
As one of the few ingredients to contain carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins and fibers, grains help to give your pet a well-balanced diet.
Should my cat or dog eat grains?
Despite grains having such a high nutritional value, there are still some myths that cause people to question their inclusion in pet foods. Let’s look at some of the most common concerns.
Is grain a cheap filler in pet food?
Grains are far from filler, an ingredient generally defined as having no nutritional value. In fact, they are nutritional powerhouses that offer a wide range of health benefits in an easily digestible form.
Are grains indigestible for cats and dogs?
When the outer husks have been removed and the remaining portion is very finely ground, grains are actually very easy to digest. This give your dog or cat a higher quantity of protein per portion, it can reduce the volume and smell of feces produced as a result of undigested protein.Are carbohydrates bad for cats and dogs?
Some people look to what cats and dogs ate before being domesticated and mistakenly believe they shouldn’t be fed carbohydrates. This overlooks three important things:
• Despite being strict carnivores, cats in the wild would eat the intestines of their prey, which were often herbivores or omnivores. In doing so, cats would naturally consume some of the carbohydrates their prey had eaten.
• Dogs have similar digestive capacity for digesting carbohydrates as omnivorous species such as humans.
• The nutritional profile of a grain-free diet versus a diet containing grains may be very similar, or the diet containing grains may be more nutrient-rich.
Is gluten-free better for dogs and cats?
Gluten is the protein part of a grain, and wheat gluten is one of the most digestible sources of protein for cats and dogs. There are no reported cases of cats being allergic to gluten, and the most reported cases in dogs are from one breed line of Irish Setters. Most food allergies in cats and dogs are actually related to the animal part of their diet – beef in particular is the most common food allergen.If you want to give your cat or dog a gluten-free diet because of your own gluten intolerance, this still doesn’t mean you have to go grain-free as not all grains contain gluten.
Why grain-free food can be bad for cats and dogs
Too much fat or protein can be a problem
A grain-free diet that’s low in carbohydrates tends to be high in protein and fat, which may cause issues for pets with conditions such as kidney disease or obesity.Potential vitamin and mineral deficiency or excess
Although a purely vegetarian diet isn’t appropriate for cats, neither is a diet of 100% muscle meat. They need the vitamins and minerals that, historically, they would have gained from the bones and intestines of their prey. Grains are a great way to provide these essential elements in the proper proportion.Lower quality carbohydrates
Starch is crucial for the production of dry food. If it’s not provided by grains, it usually comes from simpler carbohydrates such as potatoes, peas or turnips. These don’t always provide the same high-quality proteins, slow-releasing energy and nutrients as grains, and may not be as easy to digest.
