PetHealth

A g rain- free diet

“Generally, grain-free diets have reduced the amount of cheap carbohydrates in the diet and improved the quality proteins,” says Dr Hayes. It’s uncommon for dogs to have allergies to grains, but for those that do, grain-free food is a popular alternative. Pets who have food sensitivities are typically unable to tolerate the protein component of a

Grain-free diets are also an option, and can add nutritional benefits that could help your pet’s dietary health. Grain-free is exactly that; it doesn’t contain refined grains such as corn, wheat and soy. Instead, it utilises

specific meat species, or, less commonly, grains in the diet. “By removing some of the possible allergens of common meat proteins and grains, some dogs can experience real benefits to their gut health,” says Dr Hayes. Signs your pet may not be able to tolerate eating something in their diet can include itchiness or constant licking and biting at their skin, rashes, frequent vomiting, diarrhoea or gas. As these symptoms can also accompany other health issues, it is always best to speak with your vet, as they are in the best position to determine what could be causing these problems and work out if any problems could

vegetable sources, such as legumes and potatoes, as alternative carbohydrate sources. G rai n

Free

be related to what your pet is eating.

Which is better for your dog?

As there’s currently no concrete evidence to suggest that dogs necessarily need grains in their diet, the decision about whether to feed your dog grain or grain-free food comes down to what works best for their individual needs. The question to ask yourself is: what does your dog benefit frommost? When selecting a formula for your dog, what matters most is selecting a complete and balanced food choice for your dog’s lifestyle and life stage that utilises high-quality, natural ingredients.

When choosing between a grain and grain-free diet, there’s no one rule that suits all – what matters is making the right decision for your dog. While it’s true that dogs and their natural diet are descended from wolves, it’s also true that domesticating them has altered what they can eat. T he R e s u lt

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