Grain-Free Dog Food: Is It Always Better, and Which Brands Are Best?

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You have the world’s best dog, so you want the best dog food, of course. Grain-free dog food sounds like a winning innovation for dogs, and it’s all over the pet store shelves. Dry dog food, wet food, puppy food: they can all be grain-free, along with your dog treats. After all, it’s impossible to imagine our dogs’ wild ancestors going crazy over a field of corn or wheat. Why feed our dogs unnecessary ingredients they don’t naturally hunger after? Should we not free them from the shackles of common grains?!

This logic seems sturdy enough, but the question of grain-free eating isn’t so straightforward.

First, keep in mind that grain-free dog food entered the pet marketplace along with new trends in human dietary thinking. As gluten-free and paleo diets took off in the U.S., dog food followed suit. Marketers made a good bet that shoppers would transfer their own new eating philosophies onto their dogs, counting on the fact that these pet parents would believe that grain is bad for dogs.

That’s not to say grain-free dog food is purely opportunistic, or that it has nothing to offer your pet. It can be an excellent remedy for certain dogs that need a change in their diets. Certainly, many grain-free dog foods use higher-quality ingredients in general, such as real chicken, beef, whitefish, salmon, turkey, tuna, and eggs. These whole protein sources are better than byproducts. (Note that meat meal can be a great, concentrated source of protein, such as chicken meal, but double-check the label for the source.)

That said, it’s these ingredients rather than the absence of grain that make them great for dogs.

So for many dogs, the grain-free option isn’t always superior to other high-quality dog chow. If you’re considering grain-free food for your dog, here are a few facts to help you weigh the options.

Is Grain Bad for Dogs?

Over centuries of domestication, dogs have adapted to accommodate grain in their diets, so the corn and wheat in ordinary dog food isn’t destroying your dog’s digestive system. Lower-quality brands may rely too much on those starches as fillers, and that’s not ideal. They may also use genetically-modified corn or wheat—and we don’t fully understand the effects of GMO ingredients on dogs. If that is a concern, however, you can find GMO-free dog food that uses grains.

There is some controversy about whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores. Their guts have certainly adapted to some grains, however, so it’s not necessarily grains themselves that are the enemy. Instead, consider the proportions. Good-quality foods for dogs should have protein as the first ingredient, and shouldn’t be packed with additives and unnecessary fillers—including low-quality meat byproducts or too much potato, both of which can show up in otherwise grain-free foods. In other words, just because it’s grain-free doesn’t mean a food is healthy or will help your dog maintain a healthy weight to avoid obesity-related health issues.

Concerns About Grain-Free Dog Food

The FDA is looking into a possible link between DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs and the ingredients in certain boutique pet foods. In a recent article of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Lisa Freeman, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN, explained the issue is not just grain-free diets, but rather, “BEG” diets (boutique companies, exotic ingredients, or grain-free diets).

“The apparent link between BEG diets and DCM may be due to ingredients used to replace grains in grain-free diets, such as lentils or chickpeas, but also may be due to other common ingredients commonly found in BEG diets, such as exotic meats, vegetables, and fruits,” Freeman wrote.

More research needs to be done, and for now, it’s best to check with your vet about any concerns. Dr. Freeman also recommends purchasing food from companies that employ veterinary nutritionists and other experts.

Is Grain-Free Good for Dog Allergies?

If you suspect your dog may have allergies of some kind, grain-free dog food may seem like an appealing choice. In fact, some humans choose gluten-free eating to improve their allergy response. Concern about food sensitivity has risen for both people and pets. The thinking is that any small agitation in the body caused by wheat can ignite the immune system. At that point, resources are diverted away from managing the body’s immune response to other allergens. Perhaps the same could be said for dogs?

Indeed, allergies can be a nuisance for dogs, but most of these stem from fleas or environmental conditions. Only 10 percent of dog allergies are food allergies, and most of these are related to beef, chicken, lamb, eggs, and dairy— less often wheat or corn. However, for dogs with a wheat or corn allergy, grain-free food should go a long way in providing relief. But for dogs with other allergies, grain-free food is unlikely to provide the desired result.

There’s another option worth noting: single whole-grain formula dog food. These recipes rely on a single grain (rather than a conglomerate of wheat, corn, or other grains). For this formula, the grain is cooked longer at a lower temperature, making it easier for dogs to digest. This may be a good alternative to run-of-the-mill grain-based foods. It’s difficult to know what’s the best grain for your dog, so some trial-and-error might be in order. Often the single grain is brown rice, which is healthier than corn, wheat, or soy. In general, a limited-ingredient dog food can help you figure out which ingredients your dog is reacting to.

Grain-Free Means Carb-Free, Right?

If you’re leaning toward grain-free food as a way to lower your dog’s carb intake and manage her weight, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Most grain-free dog foods use legumes, potatoes, or sweet potatoes as a replacement for wheat or corn, so you’re not cutting carbs in the slightest. (In fact, you may be increasing carb intake!)

However, some of the carbs used in grain-free pet foods are better options for your dog’s food, because they’re generally healthier than corn or wheat. These include sweet potato, for instance, pea protein, or garbanzo beans.

Dry grain-free food requires something starchy as a binding agent to create the hard kibble our dogs have grown accustomed to. Grain- or gluten-free wet dog food can be higher in protein and contain fewer carbohydrates, so that may be a better (but more expensive) option. These high-protein formulas can be hard on some dogs, so be sure to consult your vet before switching to one. Senior dogs, puppies, and large breed dogs may have different nutritional needs.

Recommended Options for Grain Free Dog Food

ZiwiPeak Air-Dried Dog Cuisine

ZiwiPeak uses exclusively free-range, grass-fed lamb sourced from a sustainable New Zealand farm. The dry food recipe is 98 percent fresh meat, organs, bones, and New Zealand green mussels, which are an all-natural source of minerals that support joint health. On top of excluding grains, the recipe also avoids potatoes, rice, fillers, sugars, and preservatives. The company claims the food is so dense with nutrients that you can feed your dog smaller portions. And that’s a great thing not only for your dog’s food, but for your wallet.

Orijen Adult Dog Food

Acana Dry Dog Food

The Acana low-carb brand contains 60 percent animal protein and 40 percent vegetables and fruits sourced from local prairie farms. Organic sea vegetables and botanicals are also included to enhance metabolism and nourish the digestive tract. They have a wide variety of options, including fish and chicken. They also have single protein options, such as their Lamb and Apple formula.

Other well-reviewed grain-free dog foods include Blue Buffalo, Castor & Pollux, Wellness Core, Merrick Grain Free, and Purina Beyond. Whether your dog prefers a chicken recipe, grain free turkey, or a sweet potato recipe, you’ll find plenty of options. For more recommendations and a deep dive into the dog food world, pet parents can learn a lot from the Dog Food Advisor.

Before You Switch to a Grain-Free Diet

If you do decide to go grain-free, transition gradually between old food and new food. Start out with 90 percent old food / 10 percent new food and slowly alter the proportions until you’re serving only new food. This will help your dog’s digestive system adjust properly. Keep an eye on your dog’s bathroom excursions during the transition and keep an eye out for diarrhea or constipation.

As always, it’s a good idea to consult your vet before making changes to your dog’s diet, and be sure to check for the AAFCO-verified nutritional value on the label. AAFCO, or the Association of American Feed Control Officials, regulates pet foods in the United States an provides health guidelines for manufacturers and pet owners.