Grain-free diets are one of the largest growing sections of the pet food market with more and more pet owners buying these expensive diets, with claims that they are healthier for pets and less likely to cause allergies. It all sounds great….but it’s just not true! Just because humans are gluten or wheat-intolerant does not mean your pet is too!
There is no reliable evidence that suggests that it is harmful to feed grains as a group to dogs or cats. Whole grains, rather than being “cheap fillers” (as some pet owners are led to believe), do contribute valuable nutrients including vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and fibre to your dog’s diets. Some grain products even provide protein that is easier for your pet to digest than some protein from meat.
Most dogs are very efficient at digesting and absorbing nutrients from grains in amounts typically found in pet foods.
While food allergies in pets are not that common, allergies to grains are even rarer. Pets that do have allergies are most likely to be allergic to animal proteins such as chicken, beef, and dairy (all commonly used in pet food as the pet food market can obtain these by products from the abbatoirs very cheaply).
Gluten intolerance although very common in us humans (I think I may be slightly gluten intolerant as I bloat after eating bread) is also exceedingly rare in pets, with gastrointestinal signs from eating gluten having been confirmed only in one inbred family of Irish Setters and a family of Border terriers that display cramping syndrome if gluten is eaten.
So just remember “grain-free” is a marketing concept designed to sell pet food, not a health solution to help your pet live a long, healthy life with the same intolerances as you may have.
Don’t believe the marketing hype about grain free diets!
Is it harmful to your pet’s heart to feed a grain free diet?
STOP using FLEA DROPS on your pets!
It has been shown very recently that the use of regular flea drops on our pets is having a disastruous effect on our fragile ecosystem – killing off bees, our riverlife and our insects!
How do I get my dog’s plant-based diet fully balanced?
This is one of our biggest concerns as pet owners that we are not getting the balance just right for the health of our pet
I am just so worried about what other people think
When we choose to change our dogs onto a vegan diet, worrying about what other people think is a huge concern to us
Am I being a cruel owner depriving my dog of eating meat?
You are being a compassionate owner by feeding your dog a plant-based diet
Is it safe to feed my dog a vegan dog food diet?
Will my dog’s poo change on a plant-based diet?
The change will be for the better as plant-based food may mean that your dog poos more but it also means that…..
What are the dangers of feeding meat to our pets?
Meat contains dioxins, artificial hormones and TMAO dangerous to not only our pets but to us too
But shouldn’t dogs eat meat?
No dogs do not need eat to eat meat from another animal, they need protein and they can get an ever better protein source from plants
Do I need to cook tofu to feed to my dog?
It can be fed raw or cooked and will be very tasty to your dog in either form as they will smell the high protein content in the tofu
Our Vegan Vet attends Petcare Convention in London
I spoke to other large retailers from Europe and beyond as well as the CEO of Pets at Home and figures that were mentioned were in the billions of pounds, not even in the millions, it blew my mind and frightened me
A vegan junk food addict
What would I binge on at times when I so badly needed that chocolate, or cheesy snack, or fat-laden pastry?
Co-op Incredible Burgers
Co-op Incredible Burgers are delicious….but they contain palm oil so are they sustainable?
