Why/why not grain free? - Poodle Forum - Standard Poodle, Toy Poodle, Miniature Poodle Forum ALL Poodle owners too!

Rusty · 02-07-2013, 10:11 AM

I'm thinking ahead about what adult food to switch my puppy to when we move from puppy to adult food, and have some questions about grain free foods. We're feeding him Acana Puppy & Junior right now. I wanted to try Orijen, but it seemed like it was too rich for his system. Also, I'm not interested in trying a raw diet at this point.

My main question is, if my dog isn't allergic to grains, is there a compelling reason (i.e. evidence) that a grain free food is better for him? I understand that foods with corn and rice aren't desirable, but what about higher quality foods such as Acana that use oats? Is there evidence (for or against) that a high protein, grain free kibble is better for my dog and contributes to greater health/longevity than a moderate protein food with whole grain oats/barley/ or things like lentils? I'm not opposed to a grain-free diet, and the price of the food isn't a factor, I just really want to make an informed decision about the food and don't fully understand why grain-free seems to be such a popular option now.

Thanks!

Dawnsohma · 02-07-2013, 05:36 PM

i was told at mud bay (my favorite pet store) that feeding food with grain would help increase my dogs weight. a little grain doesn't hurt anyone as long as there not allergic but there isnt to much as far as benefits behind it. there is no reason not to feed food with grain (minimal) unless you dont want to from my understanding.

Jacamar · 02-07-2013, 06:24 PM

I'd be surprised if there is any evidence, not because I think grains are healthy but just because I doubt there are many (if any) long term quality studies of the effects of grains on canine health.

We do know that humans have only been farming grains for about 10,000 years, which is not long at all in evolutionary terms. And Im under the impression that modern wheat is highly genetically altered from what it was just a few years ago anyway. So a diet rich in grains is not what dogs (or people) evolved to eat.

I suspect that Dawnsohma's pet store is correct about grains making dogs gain weight. Grains cause a rise in blood sugar, which causes a rise in insulin, which makes the body store fat.

PS.. Mud Bay? Is that a typo or is that really the name?

Lou · 02-07-2013, 06:35 PM

I feed my 9 month old standard puppy 100% grain free Blue Wilderness duck (dry kibble + canned mixed in ) she loves duck, and her poops are way better, healthier lookin too. Her coat color seems deeper and shinier since i put her on this food.... The canned stuff looks and smells like foie gras LOL (just kiddin) something you'd put on a cracker
"she eats better than I do" - hubby says

Dawnsohma · 02-07-2013, 06:37 PM

its Mud Bay i believe its only in WA. i love it the people who work there are very knowledgeable about there products. which they carry mostly natural products its nice.

Mud Bay | Natural Dog & Cat Foods | Pet Supply Stores | Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma - for Healthy Dogs and Cats

Jacamar · 02-07-2013, 06:41 PM

Lou is so cute! What an unusual clip for a poodle. I really like it!

Lou · 02-07-2013, 06:47 PM

Thanks Jacamar!!! The haircut was something I had envisioned for quite a while and a friend here at the poodle forum did an amazing job grooming her - I think she is soooo cute too! Big girl though, and she has been playing ruff with me nowadays whew!! Im gettin her back in more training soon :-) so she calms down some.... please excuse me for posting a picture, but I cant help it when she gets a compliment!! LOL

Ps. Your Panda is the cutest white poodle puppy i have ever seen!! He glows :-)

Sent from my iPhone using PG Free

Arcticfox · 02-07-2013, 07:06 PM

Acana offers several grain free recipes, which are less protein rich than Orijen. Why not try those? I don't think they are too much more than their regular recipes.

kcp1227 · 02-07-2013, 07:17 PM

Isn't there something about grain causing inflammation? Or did I make that up?

mom24doggies · 02-07-2013, 09:14 PM

Dogs are carnivores. Their bodies are designed to digest meat, not grain. Just take a look at their teeth and compare them to say a cow's...big difference. There are of course many other differences but that is the most obvious one. I, personally, prefer to feed my dog what his/her body was designed to eat.

Now that isn't to say dogs can't digest grain, obviously they can. I just feel that grains aren't an optimal source of nutrition since dogs are not really designed to process them. And there is some evidence that grain can encourage things like yeast overgrowth, allergies, and yes obesity. I don't have any one specific source for that information unfortunately, I've picked that stuff up over the course of my studies in dogs.

I will also add that in my own personal experience, some dogs do seem to need a little grain in their diet. Dusty is one, he gets lethargic on grain free food..he gets Blue Buffalo Lamb and Rice (I think, mom buys his food), it's fairly low grain and he does well on it. Sam is a very complicated doggie, she has to eat two different foods. Her tummy was having a hard time with the high protein of Innova Prime (very soft poo) and yet if I fed her anything with less protein and fat she lost weight (due to her high metabolism) if we didn't double or triple her intake, (at one point she was eating 5-6 cups of one brand we tried...and she weighs only 40lbs soaking wet!) which put us right back where we started with soft poo since she was taking in too much food. So I mix Innova Prime with Nature's Recipe. Nature's Recipe is a bit higher in grain then BB, but it gets balanced out with Innova Prime. So far, it's working. She has firm poop and is at a good weight. No itchiness or shedding or allergies either.

All that to say, feed what works best for your dog. Most dogs seem to be healthier after switching to grain free, but as Dusty and Sam prove that is not always the case.