Is a grain-free diet healthy or harmful for pets?
Grains have been used in pet food for more than a century.
Commercially-prepared pet food has contained a mix of grains, vegetables, and proteins since businessman James Spratt first introduced his self-stable dog biscuits in 1860. The most common grains used in manufactured cat and dog food include:
- Wheat
- Corn
- Rice
- Oats
- Barley
- Rye
- Soy
What is grain-free pet food?
Grain-free pet food gained popularity after a series of 2007 recalls of products from China contaminated with melamine. By 2011, grain-free dog food made up 15% of sales in U.S. pet stores, and by the end of 2017, grain-free dog foods accounted for nearly half of all dog food sales.
The rise of grain-free pet foods didn’t just ease concerns about contaminated products. Ingredients like peas, red lentils, and sweet potatoes paired with exotic meats like bison and wild boar sound more appetizing and healthier to people who consider pets family more than animals. In other words, grain-free pet foods are marketed to people, not pets. However, just because grain-free products seem more enticing to humans, it doesn’t follow that they’re actually healthier for every dog or cat.
Are there health issues related to a grain-free diet for pets?
In 2018, the FDA began investigating cases of harmful effects potentially linked to grain-free diets. In a public press release, the FDA stated, “We are concerned about reports of canine heart disease, known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), in dogs that ate certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes as their main ingredients. These reports are highly unusual as they are occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease.”
Are there health issues related to a grain-free diet for pets?
In 2018, the FDA began investigating cases of harmful effects potentially linked to grain-free diets. In a public press release, the FDA stated, “We are concerned about reports of canine heart disease, known as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), in dogs that ate certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legumes or potatoes as their main ingredients. These reports are highly unusual as they are occurring in breeds not typically genetically prone to the disease.”
DCM is a condition that weakens and enlarges the heart. Symptoms include fatigue, respiratory problems, coughing, and fainting. For some dogs, DCM can induce fatal heart failure. During the investigation, the FDA found that some cats on a grain-free diet were also being affected by DCM. These announcements had an immediate effect on the sale of grain-free diets, and now, pet food manufacturers are marketing “grain-inclusive,” “legume-free,” and “potato-free” products to address fears associated with grain-free cat and dog foods.
When is a grain-free diet healthy for a pet?
Contrary to what pet food marketing might have you believe, the ancestors of dogs and cats did consume quantities of grain found in the stomachs of their prey. More importantly, over the hundreds of years they’ve lived among humans, cats and dogs have evolved to digest a more varied, starch-rich diet. In fact, veterinary nutritionist and Tufts University researcher Lisa Freeman told the New York Times that grains provide an important source of proteins and other nutrients in meat-based pet foods.
A handful of dogs and cats are gluten intolerant, and a wheat-free diet can improve their health. However, grain allergens are not the most common offenders in the pet population. One study found that the most commonly reported food allergens among dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, and wheat. A very small number of dogs are allergic to soy, corn, and rice. The same study found beef, fish, and chicken to be the most common offending allergens among cats.
So is a grain-free diet healthy or harmful for pets?
Most pet owners simply want to know what pet food is healthiest for their fur babies. Unfortunately, what qualifies as “healthy” depends on whose health you’re talking about. Different pets have different needs, and because they can’t tell us what those needs are, it’s important they we pay attention to symptoms that suggest a food allergen. How do you know if your pet’s current diet is good for them?
- Are they active and thriving?
- Is their coat shiny?
- Are they lean and muscular?
- Do they have solid stools?
If you answered yes to those questions and your pet seems healthy and happy, their diet is probably a good one for them.
Talk to your vet if you’re concerned about your pet’s diet.
If you answered no, it may be time to find a new pet food for your cat or dog. Give us a call at 518-725-8117 or (518) 627-9762 to discuss pet food options that give your dog or cat all the health benefits and tail-wagging deliciousness they deserve.
