What is gluten (grain) free dog food? What are the pros and cons?

For those of you with pet dogs, what kind of dog food do you usually feed them?

Cheap and delicious commercial dog food, dog food prescribed by the veterinarian, homemade dog food, etc. It all depends on the owner and the condition of your dog.

So, this time, we'll introduce you to the commonly heard term "grain-free" dog food.

We'll also explain the term "gluten," which is similar to grain, so please read to the end!

1. What is "grain"?

What is "grain"?

Grain refers to grains, especially cereals.

• Rice
• Wheat
• Corn
• Oats

These include:

In other words, grain-free means "grain-free."

Commercial dog food contains a lot of grain and is cost-effective.

It is often added for bulking purposes.

However, dogs have short intestines, making it difficult for them to digest food.

Continuing to feed large amounts of grain can lead to:

• obesity
• allergies
• strain on internal organs

However, dogs also need carbohydrates, a nutrient found in grains.

Gluten is also found in sweet potatoes, and sweet potatoes are increasingly being used as an ingredient in dog foods these days.

2. What is gluten?

The word "gluten" is often heard alongside the word "grain."

Gluten is a protein produced from the endosperm of cereals.

It refers to a type of protein produced in cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye.

It is also said to be a protein that causes food allergies.

Gluten is formed by the entanglement of two proteins found in wheat flour, glutenin and gliadin. When wheat flour is kneaded with water, the two proteins bond together to form gluten.

From the above, it follows that "gluten-free" and "grain-free" are the same.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of grain-free (gluten-free) dog food?

So, what are the actual benefits of going grain-free (gluten-free)?

If your dog has a grain allergy, there's the added benefit of being able to prevent food allergies before they occur.

Also, because grain (gluten)-free dog food primarily contains easily digestible animal protein, it can help alleviate intestinal problems like constipation and diarrhea, and even improve the shine of your dog's coat!

On the other hand, grain (gluten)-free dog food can be expensive.

Furthermore, because the carbohydrate content is reduced, the protein content is inevitably high, and the nutritional composition can be unbalanced.
Depending on the product, it may put a strain on the internal organs of elderly dogs.

Even though dogs need protein, giving them too much protein alone is of course not a good idea.

Dogs also need a balanced diet and food that suits their physical condition.

Grain (gluten)-containing dog food contains a balanced blend of various nutrients and is inexpensive, so if your dog does not have food allergies, there should be no problem feeding it to your dog.

4. What grain (gluten)-free dog food do you recommend?

There are many grain (gluten)-free dog foods available.

Which of these do you recommend?

・POCHI The Dog Food Basic Wild Salmon

Source: POCHI

Made with safe, fresh meat (meat meal-free), this dry food is grain-, gluten-, potato-, and GMO-free.
It provides a well-balanced nutritional intake whether eaten alone or topped with other ingredients.

・Now Fresh Grain-Free Small Breed (Puppy shown)

Source: POCHI

This grain-free dry food features small pieces that are easy for small dogs to eat, and is made with fresh meat, berries, vegetables, and fruit. (Small grain type)

・Wellness Core (High Protein, Grain-Free) for Small Dogs of All Ages

Source: POCHI

This series was created based on the idea that dogs are naturally carnivores.

This is a grain-free, high-protein dry food.

Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Small Bites Grain-Free Formula

Source: POCHI

This is an upgraded, grain-free, small-grain version of Original Ultra Whole Body Health.

・Absolute Holistic Air-Dried Dog Food Beef & Venison

Source: POCHI

Made with 93% meat and fish, this jerky-style food is made with carefully selected ingredients from New Zealand.

Inspired by the natural diet of carnivores, this jerky-style food is made to resemble shredded meat,
making it a delight for dogs.

Back to Basics Kia Ora Kangaroo Dog Food

Source: POCHI

This is a grain-free dry dog ​​food that maximizes meat ingredients and minimizes the use of plant ingredients to suit dogs' natural eating habits.

5. Summary

What did you think?

Grain (gluten)-free dog food is less likely to cause allergies.

If your dog is prone to allergies or you're concerned about them developing allergies, we recommend grain (gluten)-free dog food.

However, as mentioned above, grain-free dog food can have disadvantages such as unbalanced nutritional content and poor cost-effectiveness.

When choosing food for your dog, be sure to consider not only allergies, but also nutritional content and cost-effectiveness.