GRAIN FREE OR LOW GRAIN FOOD – A BETTER CHOICE FOR DOGS AND CATS
NELL OSTERMEIER, DVM, IVAS CERTIFIED VETERINARY ACUPUNCTURIST
Grains are not all bad. However, in many formulated pet foods, the inclusion of grains results in the exclusion of vital nutrients and disrupts the balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates that is appropriate for a dog or cat. They are used as fillers. Dogs and cats do not NEED grains for energy: Meat, vegetables, herbs and fruit can make up a perfectly balanced diet for our canine and feline friends and while providing more essential nutrients than grain.
Here are some reasons to avoid or limit grains in your pet’s diet:
- Grains break down to sugar, sugar is stored as fat. Low to moderate activity dogs and cats
(I think that’s most of the cats out there!) can be prone to gaining weight because they do not use the calories ingested from the grains. Excess fat storage over time leads to disease.
- Grains may incite an inflammatory reaction from the body. In most cases pets are not truly allergic to grain, but they may be intolerant. They do not process the grains effectively, causing an upset of gastrointestinal and/or skin health.
- Grains can trigger mucous production, contributing to chronic and acute health issues such as allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, ear and skin infections.
- Contaminated grains have been involved in many pet food recalls.
- For our clients that utilize Alternative Medicine, including Acupuncture, you may be aware that grains potentiate Heat and Damp in the body. Many syndromes in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) originate from an excess of Heat and Damp. For example, Hot Spots, Ear infections and Lower Urinary Tract Disease. If you do not utilize alternative medicine, you can still appreciate Heat and Damp equal inflammation and oozing in Western terms.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS FOCUS ON HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN IN THE DIET
- Real meat should be the first ingredient.
- Vegetables and fruits can make up all or the majority of the carbs and vitamins.
- The source of protein should be high quality. Researching the integrity of the food company will help you to determine if the quality meets your standards for your pet. We recommend visiting a local, reputable pet food store, such as Healthy Pets Northwest (NE 20th and Alberta) for options and information regarding individual brands.
- Feeding high quality canned food as part of the diet increases water content and benefits digestion and hydration. This is especially important for cats - we recommend 50-100% canned food or a veterinarian formulated home-cooked recipe for our feline friends.
- If grains are included in the food – they should be natural and unrefined.
CALCULATING ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR YOUR PET (kilocalories needed per day):
Maintenance: (Weight in Lbs. X 15) + 70 = ______________________kcal daily
Wt. Loss: Maintenance Kcal X 0.8 (80%) = ____________________ kcal daily
Wt. Gain: Maintenance Kcal X 1.2 (120%) = __________________ kcal daily
*THESE ARE APPROXIMATIONS BASED ON MATHEMATICAL EQUATIONS. EACH PET’S CALORIE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE UNIQUE BASED ON THEIR METABOLISM, LIFE STAGE, AND ACTIVITY LEVEL.
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