What Is Grain Free Dog Food?
You’ve heard about grain-free dog food and how you can either feed a grain-inclusive or grain-free diet, but what is grain-free dog food? In short, grain-free pet foods are recipes that don’t contain ingredients like wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, rye, and soy.
Understanding Grain vs. Grain-Free Dog Food
The difference in grain vs grain-free dog food isn’t just chalked up to the missing grains, though. In grain-free dog food, other ingredients like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and in some cases more protein content in order to make up for missing carbohydrates that grains can provide. So is grain-free dog food good for dogs? Well, it depends on your dog!
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Is Grain Free Better for Dogs?
When it comes to whether or not grain-free is better for dogs, it comes down to your specific dog and what will work better for them. For example, if your dog has allergies a grain-free diet may be better for them as limited ingredient diets are often grain-free to avoid grain allergens.
Should Dogs Eat Grain Free?
When considering if dogs should eat grain-free, it also depends on your own dog. Some dogs thrive on grain-free diets while others tend to do better on a diet with ancient grains. If you’ve been feeding a food with grains and aren’t seeming to have luck, you may switch to a grain-free diet to see if it’s a better fit for your dog.
Health Benefits of Grain Free Dog Food
Now that you know the difference between grain and grain-free dog food, let’s talk about the main benefits of grain-free dog food. According to Petmate, “Additionally, it helps to know that grain-free dog foods basically contain meat-based ingredients, like fish, chicken, lamb, beef, and turkey, along with carbohydrates from non-grain foods like vegetables. It is considerable to note that a majority of pet owners have claimed that they have noticed a significant improvement to their pet’s health and activity levels after incorporating high-protein, grain-free foods in their diet.”
The most important thing is to make sure you’re feeding a healthy grain free dog food with good levels of meat protein and healthy ingredients.
Do Vets Recommend Grain-Free Dog Food?
In some cases, vets will absolutely recommend grain-free dog food for your dog. If your vet suspects your dog has an allergy to grains or gluten or if there is a certain grain-free recipe they believe your dog would do well on, they’re likely to recommend it.
Types of Grain Free Dog Foods
With many types of grain-free dog foods, it’s easy to be confused and wonder which dry dog food is the best. Whether you’re looking for the best grain-free dry dog food for your dog with allergies or just a grain-free recipe in general, we’ve got several great options. From our Venture line to our original grain-free recipes like Coastal Catch, Meadow Feast, and Great Plains Feast, there’s a grain-free Earthborn Holistic recipe your dog is sure to love. And if dry dog food isn’t your dog’s cup of tea, we have grain-free wet dog food recipes too.
How to Incorporate Natural Grain Free Dog Food Into Your Pet’s Diet
If you’re wanting to switch your dog food to grain-free, there’s a certain way to switch recipes that will help alleviate stomach issues for your dog. When switching to a natural grain free dog food (or to any other dog food, for that matter), it’s important to make the transition over time–ideally seven days. Switching your dog’s food gradually will allow their bodies and stomachs to get used to the new ingredients. Switching too quickly could lead to stomach upset.
Here is the recommended breakdown of the seven day switch:
- Days 1 & 2 – 25% new food, 75% old food
- Days 3 & 4 – 50% new food, 50% old food
- Days 5 & 6 – 75% new food, 25% old food
- Day 7 – 100% new food
Learn More About Our Top Rated Grain Free Dog Food
When it comes to top rated grain-free dog food options, we have several great ones to choose from. Our Primitive Natural recipe is ranked among the best grain-free dog foods and is made with tasty turkey protein. For different protein options, you can look to Coastal Catch for flavorful fish, Meadow Feast for delicious lamb, or Great Plains feast for great-tasting bison.
If you’re looking for the best grain-free puppy food, our Coastal Catch, Great Plains Feast, and Venture Lamb and Venture Rabbit recipes are all formulated for all life stages to give your puppy a nutritious recipe to get them started on the right paw.